News releases

December 16, 2024
VIDEO: ‘If a field is starting to produce, it’s because of biosolids’: Farmers credit King County’s Loop biosolids for stronger crop yields, better soil retention
For 30 years, a mutually beneficial partnership between King County and the Boulder Park Inc. farming consortium in Douglas County has improved soil conditions, boosted crop yields, and become one of the longest-running and successful programs of its kind in the nation promoting a sustainable economy that turns wastewater into a valuable resource.

December 12, 2024
VIDEO: In partnership with Refugee Federation Service Center, King County completes a unique research project with immigrant and refugee communities on which fish are safer to eat
Leer en Español | Đọc bằng tiếng việt | អានជាភាសាខ្មែរ
King County Water and Land Resources Division researchers and the Refugee Federation Service Center partnered with local fishers from immigrant and refugee communities on a three-year research project monitoring toxic chemicals in fish from King County lakes and shorelines of Puget Sound.

December 10, 2024
Sediment cleanup begins in upper reach of Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund Site to remove legacy pollution
Led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and implemented by the City of Seattle, King County, and Boeing, sediment cleanup work has begun in the upper reach of the Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund Site, where over a century of urbanization and industrial activity has polluted the riverbed with toxic contaminants.

November 26, 2024
King County biologists report the strongest return of Lake Sammamish kokanee salmon in a decade, a possible breakthrough after a near extinction
At least 6,800 adult kokanee salmon have returned from Lake Sammamish to their spawning ground this season following an eight-year period when an average of less than 400 kokanee returned. King County biologists say the sharp increase is the result of several actions that include restoring access to historic habitat.

November 20, 2024
King County’s new onsite battery system at West Point Treatment Plant proved its effectiveness during ‘bomb cyclone,’ providing operators with reliable power amid voltage sags
During Tuesday night’s powerful windstorm, King County’s new 16.8-megawatt battery system provided West Point Treatment Plant operators with the clean, reliable power supply they needed to protect Puget Sound even as voltage sags occurred.

November 14, 2024
VIDEO: Executive Constantine’s budget proposal builds on King County’s momentum for removing barriers to high-quality salmon habitat while restoring ecological functions
King County is off to a strong start restoring access to historic salmon habitat while also making county roads safer and offering more outdoor recreation opportunities. Executive Constantine’s proposed 2025 budget would maintain that accelerated pace.

October 30, 2024
See how King County will use large wood to reduce flood risks and restore habitat for fish and wildlife
An online presentation Nov. 6 will highlight upcoming King County projects on the Cedar, Snoqualmie, Green, and Tolt rivers, and Issaquah Creek where placing large wood will be used to reduce flood risks, restore floodplains, and improve habitat.

October 18, 2024
Kokanee salmon recovery partners release record-high number of young fish into Lake Sammamish while new research shows a potentially faster path toward stabilization
As a recovery team coordinated by King County released a record-high number of young salmon into Lake Sammamish, new research shows that the population would recover much sooner if lake conditions improve.

October 16, 2024
King County’s comprehensive new flood plan capitalizes on the latest climate science, adapts to increased flood risks in urban and coastal communities
King County’s new flood plan – shaped by frontline communities during an extensive public engagement – capitalizes on the latest climate science to better prepare communities for changing flood risks.

September 30, 2024
King County Parks opens a scenic bridge crossing the White River to connect King County and Pierce County communities with 22 miles of paved trail
King County Parks’ new weathered steel bridge crosses the White River to connect two completed segments of the 22-mile Foothills Trail with scenic views of Mount Rainier.

September 17, 2024
VIDEO: How King County is reducing waste generated by building demolition and creating more equitable access to green jobs
King County’s Solid Waste Division is building a workforce trained in deconstruction, an effective alternative to demolition that dramatically reduces the amount of worksite material that end up in the regional landfill.

September 13, 2024
Fully charged to protect Puget Sound: King County team delivers on Executive Constantine’s emergency declaration to provide West Point Treatment Plant with high-quality power
King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division delivered on an emergency declaration signed by Executive Constantine to provide West Point Treatment Plant with onsite batteries for high-quality power to Puget Sound’s largest wastewater treatment facility.

September 4, 2024
More young people will have access to outdoor recreation, refurbished aquatic centers, and enhanced sports fields with $5 million in King County Parks funding
Sixty-three projects throughout King County will receive a combined $5 million in King County Parks grant funding that will make it possible for more young people to stay healthy and connected, particularly in underserved communities.

Aug. 28, 2024
VIDEO: ‘We’re pivoting from a take, make, and waste economy:’ A highly successful paint recycling program shows how extended producer responsibility reduces waste, protects human and environmental health
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.

Aug. 15, 2024
King County crews quickly stop wastewater overflow at sewer pump station in Bellevue
King County crews quickly stopped a wastewater spill due to an underground force main break in an east Bellevue neighborhood this morning.

Aug. 6, 2024
Refuge Outdoor Festival offers a camping and outdoor recreation experience led by the BIPOC community at Tolt-MacDonald Park & Campground Aug. 16-18
Refuge Outdoor Festival, a three-day weekend of events geared toward BIPOC participants interested in exploring and learning more about camping and outdoor recreation, returns Aug. 16-18 to King County’s Tolt-MacDonald Park & Campground.

Aug. 1, 2024
VIDEO: Storing carbon, protecting tree canopy, improving water quality, enhancing habitat: 5 years of progress for King County’s Forest Carbon Program
King County’s Forest Carbon Program has produced lasting results in the five years since Executive Constantine launched the first-of-its-kind initiative.

July 24, 2024
King County study of Lake Washington sediment shows decline in once-common dangerous chemicals, offering a roadmap to address newer health risks
King County researchers studying sediment from the bottom of Lake Washington found levels of PCBs dramatically declined once the widely used toxics were banned more than 50 years ago – giving hope that ending the use of other harmful chemicals will lead to a healthier environment for people and fish and wildlife.

July 2, 2024
After five consecutive years of drowning deaths staying at historically high levels, King County officials encourage the public to be cautious at lakes, rivers, and Puget Sound
Recent data from Public Health – Seattle & King County identifies dangerous trends for preventable drownings. Officials from multiple King County departments urge caution this summer when open water temperatures remain dangerously cold even as air temperatures rise.

2024 news releases