Sustainability and the Environment

Sponsor spotlight: How to reduce your home winter fuel costs

It is that time of year when temperatures drop, and home heating bills often go up. As a homeowner, you can reduce your winter fuel costs in several ways, ranging from simple, inexpensive changes to significant home modifications. Here are some simple tips to stay cozy, and comfortable and keep your winter fuel costs down…

Reminder: Community updates on Unocal Edmonds cleanup set for Dec. 12, Feb. 13

The Washington State Department of Ecology and Chevron Environmental Management Company will host two community updates — one Dec. 12 and the other Feb. 13 — to provide information and answer questions about the Unocal property cleanup next to the Edmonds Marsh. In January 2005, WSDOT and Unocal entered into a purchase and sale agreement…

Students complete annual salmon surveys in Shell and Lunds Gulch Creeks

The adult coho and chum salmon spawning migration into local creeks appears to be over for this year, according to a salmon survey conducted by student members of the Edmonds Stream Team. Edmonds Stream Team members from Meadowdale High School’s Eco Club completed their last salmon survey last Sunday, said Project Leader Joe Scordino. According…

Young people, veterans eligible for Washington Climate Corps

Young people and veterans are eligible to participate in the Washington Climate Corps, a program aimed at putting people to work statewide to help their neighborhoods and communities manage the effects of climate change. Last spring, Gov. Jay Inslee successfully requested legislation to create the Serve Washington Climate Corps Network. The Legislature budgeted $7.5 million…

West Coast leaders urge feds to reverse decision allowing natural gas pipeline expansion

State attorneys general in Oregon, Washington and California and two Oregon-based environmental groups are asking federal energy regulators to reconsider their approval of a natural gas pipeline project that would increase the flow of gas through the Northwest. Federal regulators voted unanimously Oct. 19 to allow Calgary-based TC Energy to expand the capacity of its…

Scene in Meadowdale Beach Park: Salmon returning

The Edmonds Stream Team is continuing its spawning salmon surveys in Shell Creek and Lund’s Gulch Creek (in Meadowdale Beach Park) into December. Project Leader Joe Scordino said team members from Meadowdale High School’s Eco Club have sighted coho salmon and chum salmon in both creeks since early October, but have yet to see any…

Petitions filed for initiative to erase Washington’s ambitious climate law

Washington’s controversial carbon pricing scheme drew fire and praise Tuesday as critics turned in signatures for an initiative to repeal the program, while its architects, including the governor, vowed to fight the measure should it reach the ballot. Shortly before 1 p.m., opponents, led by a hedge fund manager and the leader of the state…

Scene in Edmonds: Native plant giveaway at Willow Creek Hatchery

On Saturday, the Edmonds Stewards — with assistance from other local environment-focused groups — hosted a native plant giveaway at Edmonds’ Willow Creek Hatchery. Native plant experts were on hand to provide valuable information to help with choosing a location, planting, and care of native plants. Several hundred native plants were given to local residents….

Washington sets out to merge its carbon market with California and Québec

Washington’s campaign to aggressively curb climate-damaging air pollution entered a new phase last week with a decision to pursue linking the state’s  carbon market with ones in California and Québec. Washington Director of Ecology Laura Watson made the expected announcement, calling it “the best path” to addressing the “moral imperative of protecting Washington and the…

Protecting public art from natural disasters

The natural world can inspire artists. But it’s also capable of damaging or destroying works of art, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, where threats range from flooding to earthquakes to volcanic eruptions. With this in mind, the Washington State Arts Commission has embarked to better gauge and prepare for the risks that different types of…

Scene in Edmonds: Students looking for salmon

Student members of the Edmonds Stream Team from Meadowdale and Edmonds-Woodway High School have started their annual surveys for spawning salmon in Shell Creek and Lunds Gulch Creek (in Meadowdale Park).  Two coho salmon were sighted on Friday, but not on Saturday and Sunday.  However, students did have a unique sighting on Sunday at the…

Washington one of 16 states to receive $7 billion for clean hydrogen hubs

The Biden administration is directing $7 billion from the bipartisan infrastructure law to build seven regional hydrogen power hubs in 16 states, including Washington, the White House announced Friday. The projects, each of which is a cluster of assets that produce and process hydrogen fuel as an alternative to fossil fuels, will benefit the climate,…

Edmonds Marsh volunteers conclude their restoration work for the year

The Edmonds Marsh Volunteer Restoration Project concluded its work for this year in restoring freshwater connections into the marsh and estuary to promote the fresh/salt water mixing necessary for a fully functional estuary and providing an open channel for future return of spawning salmon. This all-volunteer project to restore freshwater circulation and reestablish the Shellabarger…

City of Edmonds hosting rain garden tour and information session Oct. 14

Thinking of putting in a rain garden, but don’t know where to begin? Join staff from the City of Edmonds to explore rain gardens in the Perrinville Creek Watershed on Saturday, Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to noon. Using the Rain Garden Handbook for Western Washington as a guide, the tour will explore the process…

Celebrate Arbor Day with Edmonds events in October

Edmonds is celebrating Arbor Day 2023 with multiple events throughout October because fall is the best time for planting trees in the Pacific Northwest. By celebrating Arbor Day, Edmonds meets Tree City USA requirements that recognize communities for their urban forestry efforts. On Saturday, Oct. 7, the Edmonds Tree Board is giving away free trees…

Snohomish County to treat invasive plants in Edmonds Marsh Oct. 2

As part of an ongoing effort to restore native plant communities in the Edmonds Marsh, specialists from the Snohomish County Noxious Weed (SCNW) program will visit the marsh Monday, Oct. 2 to continue the process of eradicating an infestation of common reed known as phragmites australis. Phragmites is a noxious weed requiring control in Snohomish…

New tree-planting projects to sprout in Washington with help from $36M in grants

Call it seed money. More than a dozen Washington communities — including Lynnwood — will receive a combined $36.3 million from the federal government for urban forestry projects. The funding is part of about $1.1 billion in competitive grants the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded across the country last week to plant and maintain trees…

Council approves Ballinger Park agreement; OKs marsh letter despite mayor’s warning

The Edmonds City Council at its Tuesday night meeting unanimously approved an interlocal agreement between the cities of Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace supporting improvements at Ballinger Park. The park borders both cities, and under state law, interlocal agreements allow local government agencies to share resources for their mutual benefit. During the 2023 budget process, the…

Release of final cleanup documents delayed for Unocal property next to Edmonds Marsh

  The Washington State Department of Ecology this week announced another delay in the release of final cleanup documents for public review and comment related to the Unocal site, adjacent to the Edmonds Marsh. These documents include an updated feasibility study, a cleanup action plan, a consent decree and a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)…

Reminder: Windermere Edmonds shredding event Sept. 9

The annual Windermere Edmonds shredding event is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 9.  The event will be at 210 5th Ave. S. in downtown Edmonds. When you arrive, follow the arrow signs to the drop-off location. Shredding materials may contain these items: paper clips, staples, metal prongs, binder clips, rubber bands,…

Green Drinks Edmonds to meet at Salish Sea Brewing Aug. 24

Green Drinks Edmonds meets the fourth Thursday of each month at the Salish Sea Brewing Boathouse in Harbor Square at 6 p.m. This month’s meeting is set for Thursday, Aug. 24. There will be a brief introduction to the League of Women Voters of Snohomish County and their environmental work. Following Green Drinks Edmonds, the Sidekickers…

Scene in Edmonds: Volunteers chip in at the marsh

Community volunteers were at it again on Saturday, assisting with restoration work at the Edmonds Marsh. But this time they were also moving wood chips onto the banks of the newly opened creek along Highway 104. Marsh restoration volunteers have reopened about 400 feet of creek so far this year by removing invasive bitter-sweet nightshade….

State seeks public feedback on municipal stormwater permits and guidance manuals

Stormwater runoff is a leading pollution threat to rivers, streams, lakes and Puget Sound in urban areas of Washington. As rain and snowmelt runs off buildings, paved roads, and parking lots, it increases in speed and volume, and can pick up pollution such as oil, fertilizers, pesticides, tire wear, trash, and pet waste. These pollutants…