Environment

Brenda Bolanos-Ivory and her cat Piccolo, left, along with Gail Chism look over a section of cleared plant growth at Lowell Riverfront Park on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, in Everett, Washington. The two Lowell residents feel the clearing of trees and undergrowth at the park is unacceptable. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Trees cut down near Lowell Riverfront Trail to contain freeway runoff

Neighbors were concerned when they noticed felled trees. Official says the work will protect the surrounding waterways.

Brenda Bolanos-Ivory and her cat Piccolo, left, along with Gail Chism look over a section of cleared plant growth at Lowell Riverfront Park on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, in Everett, Washington. The two Lowell residents feel the clearing of trees and undergrowth at the park is unacceptable. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Keith Binkley, Natural Resources Manager at Snohomish County PUD, right, stands along the edge of the Sultan River while discussing habitat restoration efforts at Osprey Park on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, in Sultan, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

In Osprey Park, salmon embrace Sultan River’s newly restored channel

Snohomish County PUD promised in 2011 to create 10,000 feet of habitat in the Sultan. It has since established over 12,000.

Keith Binkley, Natural Resources Manager at Snohomish County PUD, right, stands along the edge of the Sultan River while discussing habitat restoration efforts at Osprey Park on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, in Sultan, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
One of the Stillaguamish Tribe’s salmon habitat restoration projects off of Moran Road on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Stillaguamish Tribe to ‘repair, restore’ river with salmon funding

Over $1 million in grants will help the tribe to restore the Trafton floodplain and plant trees along the North Fork Stillaguamish.

One of the Stillaguamish Tribe’s salmon habitat restoration projects off of Moran Road on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Fourth and fifth graders from Hazelwood Elementary School participate in an orca parade at their school on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Orca Fest connects students to ‘water world’ at Hazelwood Elementary

Ahead of Orca Recovery Day, students participated in aquatic activities in Edmonds. Educators said kids will never forget it.

Fourth and fifth graders from Hazelwood Elementary School participate in an orca parade at their school on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A birder watches waterfowl with a pair of binoculars at the Edmonds Marsh on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023, in Edmonds, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Advocates of Edmonds Marsh want salmon back, but they disagree on how

Property next to the marsh could be up for sale in 2024. Some believe only state ownership would ensure salmon recovery there.

A birder watches waterfowl with a pair of binoculars at the Edmonds Marsh on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023, in Edmonds, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
FILE - Two brown bears look for salmon at Brooks Falls at Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska on July 4, 2013. Alaska's most watched popularity contest, picking your favorite brown bear which has been fattened up for winter by noshing on salmon they just caught in the park, could become a victim if the federal government shuts down Oct. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

Editorial: North Cascades need return of grizzly bears

Absent for more than a century, the apex predators are key to the North Cascades ecosystem’s health.

FILE - Two brown bears look for salmon at Brooks Falls at Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska on July 4, 2013. Alaska's most watched popularity contest, picking your favorite brown bear which has been fattened up for winter by noshing on salmon they just caught in the park, could become a victim if the federal government shuts down Oct. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
Spada Lake is seen from Culmback Dam on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, near Sultan, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Helicopter crash in Copper Lake sparks environmental, health concerns

Rangers hadn’t heard of fly-in tourism in the area — which can harm the wilderness and people downstream, advocates say.

Spada Lake is seen from Culmback Dam on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, near Sultan, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
A person walks by a recently planted sapling along Beverly Lane next to the Four Corners Apartments development on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Millions of dollars for ‘tree equity’ head to Snohomish County

Trees will go to areas with little canopy cover in Everett, Marysville and elsewhere. “We’re doing 100% underrepresented communities.”

A person walks by a recently planted sapling along Beverly Lane next to the Four Corners Apartments development on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A salmon leaps out of the water while migrating up Wood Creek on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

As Woods Creek railroad trestle comes down, a new doorway for salmon

The trestle was a toxic, physical barrier for salmon since 1939. Now, migrating fish will benefit from its removal.

A salmon leaps out of the water while migrating up Wood Creek on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mt. Baker visible from the summit of Mt. Dickerman on a late summer day in 2017. (Caleb Hutton / The Herald)

Hornets pester hikers on popular Mountain Loop trails

“You cannot out run the stings,” one hiker wrote in a trip report. The Forest Service has posted alerts at two trailheads.

Mt. Baker visible from the summit of Mt. Dickerman on a late summer day in 2017. (Caleb Hutton / The Herald)
A girl walks her dog along a path lined with dandelions at Willis D. Tucker Community Park on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Spraying in Willis Tucker Park resurfaces debate over herbicides

Park staff treated about 11,000 square feet with glyphosate and 2,4-D. When applied correctly, staff said they aren’t harmful.

A girl walks her dog along a path lined with dandelions at Willis D. Tucker Community Park on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A great blue heron hunts along a channel on as the tide comes in on Spencer Island on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

On Spencer Island, groups aim to balance saving salmon, recreation

Tidal wetlands are crucial for Chinook salmon. But efforts to restore habitat may erase many of the island’s trails.

A great blue heron hunts along a channel on as the tide comes in on Spencer Island on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Homeowners Jim and Chris Hall stand beneath their new heat pump, at right, inside their Whidbey Island home on Thursday, Sep. 7, 2023, near Langley, Washington. The couple, who are from Alaska, have decreased their use of their wood burning stove to reduce their carbon footprint. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Whidbey Island is ‘kicking gas’ in push for all-electric homes

In eight months, the Kicking Gas campaign helped 118 Whidbey Island homes install energy-efficient heat pumps. That’s just the first step.

Homeowners Jim and Chris Hall stand beneath their new heat pump, at right, inside their Whidbey Island home on Thursday, Sep. 7, 2023, near Langley, Washington. The couple, who are from Alaska, have decreased their use of their wood burning stove to reduce their carbon footprint. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Rucker Hill Reservoir on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

New Everett reservoirs built to weather big earthquake in $23M project

Two new reservoirs on Rucker Hill are nearly complete. The city plans to replace another off Evergreen Way in phases.

The Rucker Hill Reservoir on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
An EA-18G Growler taxis down the airstrip on Naval Air Station Whidbey Island during the squadron’s welcome home ceremony in August 2017. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Scott Wood/U.S. Navy)

Judge orders new Growler jet study on Whidbey Island

The Navy must redo an environmental study on the impact of expanded EA-18G Growler operations.

An EA-18G Growler taxis down the airstrip on Naval Air Station Whidbey Island during the squadron’s welcome home ceremony in August 2017. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Scott Wood/U.S. Navy)
A black-tailed deer gazes at Plummer Mountain on a remote stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail, north of Glacier Peak in August 2019. (Caleb Hutton / The Herald)

20-mile section of Pacific Crest Trail reopens in Snohomish County

Officials closed a stretch between Suiattle Pass and High Bridge due to the Dome Peak Fire. But rain has helped moderate it.

A black-tailed deer gazes at Plummer Mountain on a remote stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail, north of Glacier Peak in August 2019. (Caleb Hutton / The Herald)
A female common merganser speeds off along the Snohomish River on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, at Bob Heirman Wildlife Park at Thomas’ Eddy in Snohomish, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

State awards $10 million to Snohomish County for floodplain projects

The funding will help decrease flood risk and preserve farmland near Monroe and Sultan.

A female common merganser speeds off along the Snohomish River on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, at Bob Heirman Wildlife Park at Thomas’ Eddy in Snohomish, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
A fair-goer drops off some trash at one of the Evergreen State Fair’s many zero-waste stations during opening day Thursday, August 24, 2023, in Monroe, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Evergreen State Fair aims for zero waste, with mixed results

Program leaders had hoped to reroute all of the fair’s waste from landfills. Almost a decade later, they’ve achieved 45%.

A fair-goer drops off some trash at one of the Evergreen State Fair’s many zero-waste stations during opening day Thursday, August 24, 2023, in Monroe, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Mikael Jacinto (left) and Garrett Oliphant gather samples from Blackmans Lake for testing Saturday morning at Hill Park in Snohomish on February 2, 2019. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Suspected toxic algae bloom found in Blackmans Lake

The City of Snohomish said people should avoid swimming in the lake and boating through algae scum.

Mikael Jacinto (left) and Garrett Oliphant gather samples from Blackmans Lake for testing Saturday morning at Hill Park in Snohomish on February 2, 2019. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Several fires in the Glacier Peak Wilderness are ongoing as of Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. The Dome Peak fire grew to more than 750 acres in recent days. (Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest)

Wildfire smoke floods Snohomish County, Puget Sound region

Air quality dropped Saturday in Everett as winds shifted, pushing smoke from the Cascades and Canada into the lowlands.

Several fires in the Glacier Peak Wilderness are ongoing as of Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. The Dome Peak fire grew to more than 750 acres in recent days. (Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest)