Snohomish County

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Link to List of Workgroups Link to List of Topics Link to List of Places

Link to List of Efforts Link to List of Products Link to List of Documents Link to List of Graphics Link to List of Websites

Link to Headwater Sites Link to Lowland Watershed Sites Link to Floodplain Sites Link to Delta Sites Link to Embayment Sites Link to Beach Sites Link to Rocky Headland Sites

Snohomish County includes large portions of the Snohomish River and Stillaguamish River systems, the east shore of the Port Susan Bay Ecosystem and long reaches of coastal BNSF Railroad Grade.


  1. Public Works is responsible for the development and maintenance of the transportation system, the control and management of surface water quantity and quality, and the disposal of solid waste generated within all of Snohomish County.
    • The Surface Water Management (SWM) Division of Snohomish County Public Works provides a comprehensive approach to managing surface water in order to respect and preserve the county's streams, lakes and other waterbodies; protect water quality; control, accommodate and discharge storm runoff; provide for groundwater recharge; control sediment; stabilize erosion; establish monitoring capability; and rehabilitate stream and drainage corridors for hydraulics, aesthetics, and fisheries benefits.
      • Within Surface Water Management Lead Entity actively participates in local and regional salmon recovery efforts. As lead in the Snohomish Watershed and co-lead with the Stillaguamish Tribe in the Stillaguamish Watershed, Surface Water Management staffs the citizen-led efforts to restore healthy, harvestable salmon populations.
      • SWM applies for and implements NPDES permits that regulate pollution from county ditches and drainage networks.
  2. Planning and Development Services
    • Comprehensive Plan Update (2015)
    • Critical Areas Regulation
    • Shoreline Management Program - Ecology approved update in 2012.
    • The Agricultural Advisory Board is an advisory body to the council, Planning Commission, Hearing Examiner, and county staff. The board’s continuing mandate is to support and reinforce the county’s agricultural preservation plan. The board is made up of 11 members who meet very specific criteria, who serve four-year terms and may not serve more than three consecutive terms. Members are appointed by the council on recommendation of the county executive.
    • The NPDES municipal stormwater permit contains two kinds of requirements that must be implemented through Snohomish County codes. Prohibitions against discharging pollutants to water and requirements for pollution control measures at currently-developed sites are found in:
      • Chapter 7.53, Water Pollution Control
    • Stormwater mitigation measures required for new development and redevelopment projects are found in:
      • Chapter 30.63A SCC - Drainage
      • Chapter 30.63B - Land Disturbing Activity
      • Chapter 30.63C - Low Impact Development
  3. Snohomish Health District tracks water quality, and provides technical assistance visits that "are generally non-regulatory" (?). They manage septic and waste water systems, including staffing the Stillaguamish Clean Water District. The Health District monitors water quality at beaches, lakes and rivers.
  4. Agriculture - Within the executives office there is also an County Agriculture Coordinator that staffs an Agricultural Advisory Board.
  5. Department of Emergency Management