Surface Water Management
Habitat Evaluation and Monitoring
Snohomish County Surface Water Management staff assess stream habitat conditions for four work areas: monitoring, special projects, support for salmon recovery, and capital improvement project feasibility.
Support for Salmon Recovery
Surface Water Management staff assess salmon habitat conditions in smaller streams and along mainstem rivers, which supports salmon recovery efforts in Snohomish County watersheds. This effort provides data about baseline conditions and trends as salmon recovery efforts take place over time.
Monitoring
Monitoring takes place on three levels, following several aspects of an adaptive management framework: status and trends, project effectiveness, and implementation.
Capital Improvement Project Feasibility
Staff performs habitat analysis for capital projects. Feasibility analysis provides assistance for developing alternatives and often streamlines the permitting process by improving habitat while improving the function of infrastructure.
Capital Improvement Projects (or CIP) are larger-scale projects that either repair or replace infrastructure, or improve habitat conditions. CIP projects often have several phases. With respect to project feasibility and habitat, Surface Water Management staff provide assessment of current conditions and recommend project alternatives for habitat improvement. Staff also provide technical assistance to the watershed stewards and salmon recovery project sponsors.
Right of Way
The Right of Way project develops data and information that are used to prioritize fish passage projects on Snohomish County roads. The objectives of the program are to conduct an inventory of critical habitat for Chinook salmon and bull trout where affected by County roads; gather biological data; identify and assess condition of sensitive habitat; locate sensitive habitat and alert road maintenance staff; and make data and other information available for project prioritization, biological assessments and future planning.
Drainage Needs Program
The Drainage Needs Program began in 2000 with a comprehensive, two-year effort to assess impacts from surface water runoff within the urban growth areas of Snohomish County. In December 2002, at the conclusion of the assessment period, the Drainage Needs Report was published. The report contains a prioritized list of construction and acquisition projects to solve drainage problems, improve salmon habitat, improve water quality, and predict the impacts of development was published. Habitat staff performed the habitat assessment work for this project.
Publications
Publications specific to each habitat work area are linked within that area’s page. Check the full list of Surface Water Management publications.
Contacts
Bob Aldrich, Project Specialist-Rivers, 425-388-6424
Andy Haas, Principal Habitat Specialist, 425-388-3464 extension 4656
Frank Leonetti, Senior Habitat Specialist, 425-388-3464 extension 4659
Michael Purser, Senior Habitat Specialist, 425-388-3464 extension 4561
Mike Rustay, Senior Habitat Specialist, 425-388-3464 extension 4666