Crossposted from the Noxious Weeds blog
2025 has been a bittersweet year for the Noxious Weed Control Program. After long careers with the Program, both the Program Manager, Steve Burke, and County Lands and Regional Supervisor, Roy Brunskill, made the choice to retire. To reflect on their time with the program, and to celebrate their incredible achievements, this post will reflect back on how the Program has grown since its inception in 1997.
The jump from six part-time staff with paper maps and an inkling of where weeds might be, to 22 full time staff with GIS maps on their phone and a database of information was no fast feat. This change took time, and was largely thanks to community support, funding increases, specialized staff, and technological advancements. Read more.
When scientists study a lake, they usually expect more people to mean more phosphorous in the water, often from fertilizer, detergents, septic systems, dog poop, and other human-related sources. And more phosphorous can mean more problems for water quality, as nutrient-hungry algae thrive when there is more phosphorus to feed them.
But between 1998 and 2022, something different happened in Lake Washington, even as the surrounding population boomed. Read more.
Crossposted from the DES Express
King County International Airport (KCIA), along with the Northeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), hosted the third Inclusion in Aviation Conference last month. Held in Bellevue, the conference’s first visit to the West Coast attracted more than 100 attendees from across the country, with some coming from as far away as Virginia and Pennsylvania.
The conference was jam-packed with sessions, including a keynote by Valerie Alexander, founder and president of Valerie Alexander Ventures, breaking barriers and building bridges, several panel discussions, and much more. Read more.
The atmospheric river and associated flooding events this month have impacted King County and other areas across Washington State in ways we have never experienced before. We hope you and your community are safe during this time. King County has created a series of resources and ways to deal with flood damage safely and effectively – go to kingcounty.gov/flood-recovery for more information. Read more.
Happy New Year to all our employees, their families, and the people of King County. May you have a happy, safe, and rewarding 2026!
Crossposted from the DES Express
Airport travelers rarely see them, but a specialized team of firefighter-deputies stands ready every day for the worst-case scenario: an aircraft emergency. The crew also responds to structure, vehicle and dumpster fires on and around airport property. Call volume is much lower than in a typical fire district, but the stakes are high.
Most emergencies are medical. About 70% of calls involve passengers, airport staff or contractors needing medical help, according to Clint Herman, a sergeant in the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting unit (ARFF) of the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), based at King County International Airport-Boeing Field. Calls can also shift into problem-solving and customer service, such as helping with disabled aircraft that blocks a runway.
The sergeant said the most rewarding part of his job is the human side. Read more.
Crossposted from King County Local
King County is taking swift action to restore reliable access and essential services for residents in northeast King County after historic storms and flooding damaged key transportation routes in December. To address urgent needs, the King County Department of Local Services’ Road Services Division and Finance and Business Operations Division have expedited a construction contract to install a temporary bridge just downstream from the historic Baring Bridge. The bridge over the South Fork Skykomish River serves as the only access point for about 170 properties. Read more.
Crossposted from DNRP Field Notes
Major floodplain restoration projects completed in recent years by the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks has reduced flood risks along the Green, Cedar, and Snoqualmie rivers, getting people out of harm’s way long before the current flooding began earlier this month.
Applying a multi-benefit approach to floodplain restoration has reduced flood risks for people, homes, and infrastructure while also improving habitat for fish and wildlife. The Department of Natural Resources and Parks has partnered with the independent King County Flood Control District to restore natural systems that absorb and slow the flow of rivers during floods in addition to offering home buyouts so residents in flood-prone areas can choose to relocate to safer ground, decreasing the need for emergency evacuations. Read more.
Due to the New Year’s Day holiday, the next payday will be on Wednesday, Dec. 31. This will also be the third payday of the month. If you view your paystub in PeopleSoft, you may see that the net dollar amount of your Dec. 31 paycheck is larger because not all deductions are taken out. For example, Deferred Compensation, supplemental insurance premiums, Benefit Access Fees, and Employee Giving donations will not be deducted from this check.
Note: Next year, Deferred Compensation contributions will be deducted every pay period—even on three-payday months. To make changes to your Deferred Compensation Plan, contact T. Rowe Price at 888-457-5770.
While you are in in PeopleSoft, it’s a good time to complete the following important tasks:
For more information about your paycheck, go to Payroll or speak with your department Payroll representative or timekeeper.
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC
Unfortunately, the cat building at Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) sustained significant damage from falling trees during the recent storm and the structure has been deemed unsafe for occupancy. As a result, we have lost more than half of our available cat housing. This has a tremendous impact on our ability to help animals and serve our community. As a result, RASKC will temporarily adapt operations to focus our limited resources on priority situations where immediate intervention is necessary. Read more.
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