Confronting climate change aboard a floating classroom
Crossposted from Inside Transportation The King County Water Taxi functioned as a floating classroom recently for a firsthand lesson on how King County is confronting climate change. On an unusually hot day on the waterfront, in the midday hours when our vessels are docked, the Marine Division hosted 13 high-schoolers from the Woodland Park Zoo’s Seattle Youth Climate Action Network (Seattle Youth CAN). They boarded the Sally Fox for our new “Floating Classroom” program, designed to engage students of all ages in environmental and climate change education, and introduce them to internship and job opportunities in both King County… Read More
Monitoring the environment during West Point restoration
Crossposted from Clean Water Stories King County shared good news April 27 that West Point Treatment Plant is back online. Employees and contractors worked around the clock to restore critical mechanical and electrical systems that were damaged by severe flooding on Feb. 9. Whenever clean water infrastructure is affected, King County Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) gets in front of environmental monitoring. The scale of the West Point incident called for increased environmental monitoring and close coordination with the State Department of Ecology. King County knows how much people in our region care… Read More
Kudos to employees who care about our residents and our environment!
This piece was featured in the Seattle Times’ Rant and Raves list. Kudos to a DNRP employee for saving a bird’s day! “RAVE To the woman working for King County who took my Saturday call about a coot (bird) trapped in a storm drain in Covington. She reached someone in Covington public works, who called me and said they were closed, but they were there first thing on Monday freeing the trapped animal. Public-sector heroes!
From deckhand to climate change manager
Crossposted from Inside Transportation What Alex Adams saw in the waters of Southeast Alaska, and closer to home in Elliott Bay, impressed upon him the urgency of confronting climate change. “It became clear to me that globally, we’re in deep trouble, and we need to work collectively to change the course we’re on to ensure our oceans continue to host a diversity of species, and to ensure people on land are able to lead productive, happy, and healthy lives. The direction in which we’re headed is putting those things in jeopardy.” Adams was… Read More
Walk in the Shoes with Doug Dobkins, Department of Permitting and Environmental Review
A few months back, I spent some time in Snoqualmie with staff at the King County Department of Permitting and Environmental Review (DPER). DPER ensures that folks are building in ways that are safe for people and for the environment. They are the keepers of a land use code that was developed with input from thousands of stakeholders in our region. With millions calling King County home, and scores more arriving each day, it is important to ensure that we are smart about our growth. So I was excited to visit DPER,… Read More
Recycled Water Climate Preparedness Lunch and Learn February 8
Join us to hear from King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division about how the Recycled Water Program is preparing the county for climate change impacts. Thursday, February 8, from noon to 1 p.m. King Street Center, 6th Floor, King and Chinook Rooms All King County employees welcome, but space is limited. Please sign up here.
From the Hip: John Starbard, Director, Department of Permitting and Environmental Review
On-line, not in line The Department of Permitting and Environmental Review (“Permitting”), like all County agencies, has been on a years-long journey of continuous improvement. This year, we will be expanding some service enhancements that we launched last year so that nearly every applicant can gain the benefits of easier application. Those enhancements are: 1) adding more permit types that will be available for on-line permitting, and 2) offering credit card payments in the office and on-line. Last March, we launched on-line permitting for a select family of our easiest permits: residential… Read More
How Biosolids are Preparing us for Climate Change Lunch and Learn January 12
Hear from our Wastewater Treatment Division about the biosolids programs and how biosolids are preparing us for climate change. Learn how biosolids sequester carbon and how the biosolids team does their carbon accounting. Thursday, January 12, from noon to 1 p.m. King Street Center, 6th Floor, King and Chinook Rooms All King County employees welcome, but space is limited. Please sign up here.
Featured Job: Environmental Scientist III
Closing Date/Time: Tue. 01/24/17 5:00 PM Pacific Time Salary: $38.71 – $49.07 Hourly Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week Location: King Street Center – 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, Washington Department: Department of Natural Resources & Parks – Water and Land Resources Division Description: This position will be part of a team of river engineers, scientists, planners, and other program staff in the River and Floodplain Management Section (RFMS) in the Water and Land Resources Division. In collaboration with other professionals, the position will participate in design, permitting, monitoring, construction management, and technical analyses to support the implementation of projects and… Read More
How is the Office of Emergency Management preparing for climate change impacts?
Join us in a monthly Lunch and Learn Series to discuss Climate Preparedness and what King County is doing to prepare. Thursday, December 8, 2016 from noon to 1 p.m. – King Street Center, Sixth Floor, Rooms King/Chinook All King County employees are welcome. For more information, please email Jessica Engel or call 206-477-3132.
Employee News 