King County’s first complete update of its Flood Management Plan since 2006 capitalizes on the latest climate science to describe how flood risks in urban and coastal communities and along tributary streams are expected to change in the future. It also identifies actions that will reduce flood risk, improve habitat, and enhance the resilience of communities. Severe flooding – already the most common natural disaster in King County – is expected to occur more frequently due to climate change. The comprehensive plan will guide investments, strategies, and actions to mitigate increasing flood risk. The… Read More

Crossposted from Keeping King County Green Whether you’re a DIY home repair expert, a vintage furniture aficionado, or just in the market for some lightly used plumbing fixtures, home reuse stores are an irreplaceable resource to find hidden gems at a reasonable price. They also give items ranging from lumber to lighting a second life, keeping valuable materials out of the landfill. This important waste reduction potential led King County’s Solid Waste Division to team up with Second Use, a local business that sells reclaimed building materials at locations in Seattle and Tacoma,… Read More

A new training program offered by King County is helping the local construction industry transition from demolition to deconstruction, a modern approach that dramatically decreases the amount a material the ends up in the regional landfill while creating more equitable access to green jobs. Unlike traditional demolition that relies on heavy machinery to turn buildings into piles of mixed debris, deconstruction carefully dismantles structures so materials can be salvaged and put back into the economy or, in some cases, completely rebuilt or relocated. The approach taught by King County can reduce the… Read More

Crossposted from the DES Express In a partnership with the Port of Seattle, King County International Airport’s fire engines are being cleaned of PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroakyl substances, found in firefighting foam. These chemicals stick around for a long time, possibly thousands of years, and can build up in the environment and people’s bodies, causing harmful effects.  Among the health effects are developmental problems, immune system issues, and links to certain cancers. PFAS are man-made chemicals used in things like non-stick cookware and fire-retardant materials. The presence of PFAS is pervasive in… Read More

More young people will have access to outdoor recreation, after-school activities, refurbished aquatic centers, and enhanced sports fields and playgrounds thanks to a combined $5 million in King County Parks funding proposed by Executive Dow Constantine and approved by the County Council. The 63 funded projects include summer backpacking trips for underserved young people, after-school sports and wellness programs in South King County cities, a new synthetic baseball infield in Seattle’s Central District, and improvements for aquatic centers in Des Moines and White Center. “With support from King County Parks, more young… Read More

Cross-posted from Department of Natural Resources and Parks. The success of a statewide rule that holds producers responsible for their own products, such as leftover paint, is a key component of Re+, King County’s initiative to prevent pollution, protect human and environmental health, and keep waste management costs in check. A state law that went into effect in 2020 promoting product stewardship dramatically reduced the amount of oil-based paint sent to the regional landfill in Maple Valley, preventing waste and protecting the natural environment in King County. An estimated 15,000 gallons of… Read More

Crossposted from Public Health Insider What happens when we flush a toilet, or turn off a sink tap? For most of us, we don’t give much thought to it – out of sight, out of mind. But once we walk away, what goes down the drain begins a whole new journey through the wastewater system. In King County, over 85,000 homes and businesses rely on septic systems to treat their wastewater and protect their health every day. But what is a septic system? What happens when it fails, and what happens to… Read More

King County and local partners recently announced a new countywide strategy to prepare for and respond to the impacts of extreme heat. Development of the Extreme Heat Mitigation Strategy began two years ago following the unprecedented heat wave in 2021 that killed over 30 people in King County, marking the deadliest climate-related disaster in the region’s history. The strategy includes 20 immediate and long-term actions that range from increasing urban tree canopy and expanding access to parks and green space, to creating community cooling locations, making schools more resilient to heat, updating building codes… Read More