Environment

Items are sorted for recycling inside the Waste Management Cascade Recycling Center in Woodinville, Washington on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Legislators want to boost state’s recycling rate, but they disagree on how

Two recycling bills are on the state’s upcoming legislative agenda. One could change who pays for curbside recycling.

Items are sorted for recycling inside the Waste Management Cascade Recycling Center in Woodinville, Washington on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
A derelict boat seen in Union Slough on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

‘My river’: Locals take it upon themselves to clean up the Snohomish

Pollution in the Snohomish River isn’t new. But out of love for the waterway, residents and rowers serve as environmental stewards.

A derelict boat seen in Union Slough on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
NO CAPTION. Logo to accompany news of Washington state.

Gasoline pipeline leaks in Skagit County, spilling into creek

The Olympic Pipeline leaked on the north side of Highway 534 just north of the Snohomish County line, closing part of the highway.

NO CAPTION. Logo to accompany news of Washington state.
A person sits and looks out at Mt. Index in Index, Washington on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023.  (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Near Mt. Index, Forterra secures key piece in conservation puzzle

The nonprofit has been acquiring land in the region for decades. Now the project is complete, with funding from the county.

A person sits and looks out at Mt. Index in Index, Washington on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023.  (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Clark Wood, right, starts repairs on a record player brought in to the Repair Cafe on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Fixers from Sustainable Community Stewards divert waste from landfills

Volunteers in the group lead “Repair Cafes” and other sustainability events to educate and engage with the community.

Clark Wood, right, starts repairs on a record player brought in to the Repair Cafe on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Darrington Elementary School fourth grader Brayden Parris, 9, fills up his cup with chocolate milk from one of the schools new milk dispenser during lunch on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Darrington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Darrington school reduces lunchroom waste with new milk dispensers

Milk cartons generally aren’t accepted by recycling centers in Snohomish County. Dispensers could be a solution. And they save milk too.

Darrington Elementary School fourth grader Brayden Parris, 9, fills up his cup with chocolate milk from one of the schools new milk dispenser during lunch on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Darrington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A man pauses to look out over the flooding along Old Snohomish Monroe Road on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Why are Snohomish County rivers susceptible to flooding?

The short answer: Geography. Our proximity to Puget Sound and the mountains makes our rivers sensitive to big storms.

A man pauses to look out over the flooding along Old Snohomish Monroe Road on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Alexis Burroughs holds a bigleaf maple leaf while guiding her participants through sensory observation during a forest bathing session Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, at Lord Hill Regional Park near Snohomish, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

To restore human bond with nature, locals lead forest bathing sessions

A yoga instructor in Bothell and Adopt a Stream in Everett say the meditative practice evokes emotion, health benefits.

Alexis Burroughs holds a bigleaf maple leaf while guiding her participants through sensory observation during a forest bathing session Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, at Lord Hill Regional Park near Snohomish, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The sun turns a deep red as it sets beyond the Port of Everett and the Olympic Mountains on a hazardously smoky evening on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, in Everett, Washington. Following the start of the Bolt Creek Fire and other wildfires in the region, air quality in Snohomish County was seemingly always hazardous through September and October. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Climate report aims to answer: Who is most harmed by climate change?

Puget Sound contributors to the National Climate Assessment say the region needs to brace for lower snowpack and more looming climate issues.

The sun turns a deep red as it sets beyond the Port of Everett and the Olympic Mountains on a hazardously smoky evening on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, in Everett, Washington. Following the start of the Bolt Creek Fire and other wildfires in the region, air quality in Snohomish County was seemingly always hazardous through September and October. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Skykomish River flows calmly westward on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, in Monroe, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Farmland, salmon habitat find delicate balance in county program

Over 12 miles of habitat have been restored via the Floodplain Solutions program — like the Roth family farm near Monroe will soon be.

The Skykomish River flows calmly westward on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, in Monroe, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
A person walks their dog along a flooded Old Snohomish Monroe Road on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Flood-resistant floors and sandbags are price of riverside life in Sultan

Flooding is a threat every year for 75,000 locals — and the long-term forecast suggests it’ll only get worse in the coming decades.

A person walks their dog along a flooded Old Snohomish Monroe Road on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sam Tabbutt and Jason Wood from SMRU Consulting connect an acoustic release to the hydrophone, so the boat can lower the device to the seabed and then disconnect from it. (Rachel Aronson)

To protect orcas, group launches from Everett to gauge noise pollution

A team of scientists will analyze how big ships drown out communication for endangered whales — and how to make the waters more quiet.

Sam Tabbutt and Jason Wood from SMRU Consulting connect an acoustic release to the hydrophone, so the boat can lower the device to the seabed and then disconnect from it. (Rachel Aronson)
Crows gather during Crow Watch 2023 at the UW Bothell campus in Bothell, Washington on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. Thousands of crows come to roost annually. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

‘Bird-watcher’s paradise’: Countless crows swoop in to Bothell Crow Watch

Thousands of crows roost every night on the UW Bothell campus. Even longtime locals are awed by the spectacle.

Crows gather during Crow Watch 2023 at the UW Bothell campus in Bothell, Washington on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. Thousands of crows come to roost annually. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
A gaggle of geese graze outside of Edmonds United Methodist Church on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Over 70 geese have died of suspected bird flu in Monroe park

State officials said outbreaks of this size are common in fall. People can help by not feeding birds at Lake Tye.

A gaggle of geese graze outside of Edmonds United Methodist Church on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The view from the top of Index Town Wall in Spring 2021. (Caleb Hutton / The Herald)

Climbers purchase 20 acres of famed climbing walls in Index

Climbing groups bought the parcel Monday, including Lower Lump and Inner Walls, calling it “the final big piece of the puzzle.”

The view from the top of Index Town Wall in Spring 2021. (Caleb Hutton / The Herald)
Items are sorted for recycling inside the Waste Management Cascade Recycling Center in Woodinville, Washington on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Trash Talk: A new column on waste, recycling in Snohomish County

What can you recycle, really? Confusion about waste guidelines inspired a new monthly series to answer readers’ questions.

Items are sorted for recycling inside the Waste Management Cascade Recycling Center in Woodinville, Washington on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
A Black Hawk helicopter aids in the removal of a crashed helicopter in the Spada Lake watershed on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023. (Snohomish County Public Utility District)

Crashed tourism helicopter removed from Copper Lake

Officials saw a small sheen on the surface of a lake that provides drinking water to the county. But it dissipated quickly.

A Black Hawk helicopter aids in the removal of a crashed helicopter in the Spada Lake watershed on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023. (Snohomish County Public Utility District)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service State Supervisor Brad Thompson speaks during a meeting for public comment on the topic of bringing grizzly bears to the North Cascades at Darrington High School Auditorium in Darrington, Washington on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

‘Hell no to grizzlies’: Darrington locals give federal agencies an earful

At a public meeting, a chorus of residents aired fears over what reintroducing the bears could mean for safety and salmon.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service State Supervisor Brad Thompson speaks during a meeting for public comment on the topic of bringing grizzly bears to the North Cascades at Darrington High School Auditorium in Darrington, Washington on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Copper Lake as seen from Vesper Peak on Oct. 8, 2023. A helicopter trying to land on the south end of the lake — the nearest shoreline in the image — crashed into the water in early September, where it remained weeks later. (Caleb Hutton / The Herald)

Crashed tourism helicopter in Copper Lake could stay there until 2024

Officials need good weather to remove the aircraft from the lake that provides drinking water to the county. But time is running out.

Copper Lake as seen from Vesper Peak on Oct. 8, 2023. A helicopter trying to land on the south end of the lake — the nearest shoreline in the image — crashed into the water in early September, where it remained weeks later. (Caleb Hutton / The Herald)
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)