Surface Water Management Division

Water Quality Facility Plan (WQFP) Program   Natural Drainage Project: Parkway Enhanced with Rain Garden Strip   Surface Water Management (SWM) is currently developing a Water Quality Facilities Plan to improve water quality in County drainage systems. SWM is starting with a pilot study in the Silver Creek watershed and plans to expand to other areas of the county in the future.  The purpose of the WQFP program is to: Recommend specific drainage projects and maintenance actions that can be used to improve water quality, particularly projects and actions that the County can do, such as projects within public road rights-of-way. Implement the higher priority drainage projects and maintenance actions as County funding allows. Help fulfill the requirements of the County’s federal stormwater permit, known as the NPDES permit.  WQFP Pilot Study: Silver Creek Watershed The WQFP program will eventually include other parts of the county, but for now SWM is focusing on a portion of the North Creek watershed, specifically the area within the Silver Creek basin. SWM has developed some pilot project ideas for this area that would improve water quality in the County's drainage system by enhancing existing ditches, road edges, and curbs in County road rights-of-way with Natural Drainage features, such as rain gardens.   Learn more about the Silver Creek WQFP Pilot Study  Natural Drainage   Natural Drainage is a key component of the WQFP, and includes features such as rain gardens, rain terraces, enhanced soils, reduced pavement, and porous pavement. Natural Drainage (sometimes called Low Impact Development, or LID) uses soil and vegetation in small engineered features to collect and clean water that runs off roads, roofs, and driveways after a storm.  Natural Drainage allows stormwater runoff to soak into the ground, so it more closely mimics drainage patterns that existed before the land was developed.  Benefits of Natural Drainage Natural Drainage can help to: Reduce local drainage problems Improve water quality by removing pollutants from stormwater Reduce erosion and damage to local fish habitat Increase the attractiveness of your neighborhood  Public Involvement As the County prepares to implement some Natural Drainage pilot projects in the Silver Creek basin, we would like to hear your ideas and comments about these projects and the WQFP. We will use your input to help prioritize projects and to help customize project designs for specific neighborhoods. To submit your ideas and comments or to ask questions, contact Craig Young at 425-388-6464 or c.young@snoco.org.  Additional Resources NPDES permit SWM Local Natural Drainage Projects Rain Garden Manual for Western Washington Homeowners Puget Sound Starts Here Puget Sound Partnership LID Information  (back to top)

Highlights    Public Meeting  Documents  On November 18, 2009, SWM held a public meeting to discuss and gather input from residents on potential Natural Drainage projects in the Silver Creek Watershed. Documents from the meeting are posted below. Informational flier sent to residents in the Silver Creek watershed Pilot project summaries Presentation Meeting summary      Contact SWM   Craig Young SWM Project Specialist Phone: 425-388-6464 Email: c.young@snoco.org