Surface Water Management Division
Water Quality Management Programs
SWM staff respond to citizen and agency requests for investigation of possible violations of water pollution ordinances. This includes pollution such as oil, sediment, and paint discharged into lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, wetlands, ditches or drainage systems.
SWM developed a Business Inspection Program to help business owners comply with Snohomish County's Water Quality Code and control existing and potential pollution sources or activities in an effort to protect storm, surface, and ground water quality.
The Stillaguamish River Clean Water District Advisory Board is a citizen advisory board that makes recommendations to organizations working on water quality and quantity-related issues in the Stillaguamish River Clean Water District. The board reviews funding levels and annual work plans primarily of the Snohomish County Surface Water Management Division and the Snohomish Conservation District.
SWM's Ambient Monitoring Program assesses the biological, chemical, and physical health of streams in the County. The program supports SWM's mission through working in partnership with the public to protect and enhance water quality for future generations. Through long term monitroing of surface waters, resource managers can determine whether the health of aquatic systems is stable, improving or declining. Waterbodies in a healthy state deserve protection, while those in decline deserve prioritization for habitat restoration or application of improved land use practices.
Surface Water Management is responsible for the County’s compliance with requirements of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System, including countywide monitoring, compliance with the water quality law, public outreach, and preparation of the Stormwater Manual which contains required drainage engineering standards.
Related Programs:
Ground Water Management Program
Surface Water Management developed a Groundwater Program to manage and protect the groundwater resources in Snohomish County. Current program objectives include: providing the public with data on the groundwater resources of Snohomish County by compiling groundwater data and creating an on-line groundwater database and providing management, policy, and technical expertise to help protect the quality and quantity of the groundwater resources in Snohomish County.
Lake Management Program
Surface Water Management provides a variety of lake monitoring and management services, including: monitoring the water quality of lowland lakes, conducting detailed lake restoration studies, taking actions to control invasive aquatic plants, providing public education, volunteer monitoring and technical assistance to lake groups and lakeside residents, and preparing reports analyzing the condition of county lakes.
Online Data