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Public engagement
Discover how King County is engaging the community in the West Duwamish Wet Weather Storage project.
Our commitment to you
We are dedicated to listening to the community. Since 2018, our team has sought opportunities to engage our project neighbors in the design process and support local community-driven initiatives. The feedback you shared helped shape the look and feel of the new building and landscaping, identify community priorities, and refine public art projects. Here is just a sampling of ways you and your neighbors engaged with our team over the past six years.
How we work with the community
As we prepare for construction, we will continue to share schedule updates and information about what you can expect. Once construction begins, we will provide regular updates on progress and share advance notice leading up to any construction impacts.
Community members can expect the following during construction:
- 24-hour construction hotline
- Email list updates (subscribe here)
- Briefings to community and neighborhood groups
- Construction notices delivered directly to impacted neighbors
- News releases
- Newsletter mailings, fact sheets, and FAQs
- Project team members at community fairs and festivals
- Social media updates
- Temporary informational signage on the project site
- Web page updates
Community partnerships
In partnership with Villa Comunitaria, a local organization supporting project engagement with Latinx community members, King County is working to advance workforce development opportunities in project area neighborhoods. Leading up to the start of construction, King County will raise awareness and increase participation among project neighbors in clean water workforce opportunities, including the Clean Water Ambassadors internship program.
Learn more about King County’s Workforce Development Program on the program website and explore our workforce development resources on the project documents page.
Between October 2022 and August 2023, King County partnered with Mujeres Conectoras to engage Latinx community members in the project area in two focus group discussions. Mujeres Conectoras also participated in trainings and attended a tour of the King County South Treatment Plant.
In the focus group discussions, Mujeres Conectoras connected with 25 Latinx community members and their families. The groups discussed the project and other clean water infrastructure topics. Most of the focus group discussion participants learned about the project for the first time in these conversations and several community members expressed feeling inspired to support water quality activities with their families.
Since 2022, King County has hosted annual tree giveaway events in partnership with DIRT Corps and the Duwamish Valley Youth Corps. Across these events, king County has shared over 1,000 free native trees with South Park and Highland Park community members and places of worship.
Outreach meetings and events
Clean Water, Sustainable Building, and Green Jobs Symposium
When: March 12, 2025 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Where: South Seattle College Georgetown Campus
King County Wastewater Treatment Division partnered with the South Seattle College – Georgetown Campus to host a Clean Water, Sustainable Building, and Green Jobs Symposium. Over 100 community members attended the event to connect with in-demand employers and explore training programs in the fields of clean water, sustainable building, and green jobs. The project team attended the event to share information about the post-design survey and provide an update on upcoming construction.
The event was free and open to the public, including people in all stages of careers and education. It included hands-on demonstrations, networking opportunities, resume-building workshops, and other skill-enhancing activities.
Trees-giving
When: Saturday, November 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Seattle Public Library – South Park Branch, 8604 Eighth Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98108
The event will include free trees, treats, and a Halloween costume contest for pets.
We are teaming up with the Dirt Corps, Duwamish Valley Youth Corps, and Highland Park Improvement Club to host our third annual tree giveaway to support community goals around neighborhood greening. Join us at one of our upcoming events in Highland Park and South Park to pick up a free native tree and learn about King County’s efforts to reduce pollution into the Duwamish River. Trees are available for community members and organizations based in South Park and Highland Park, on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. No registration is required.
Trick or Trees
When: Saturday, October 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Highland Park Corner Store, 7789 Highland Park Way Southwest Seattle, WA 98106
The event will include free trees, treats, and a Halloween costume contest for pets.
We are teaming up with the Dirt Corps, Duwamish Valley Youth Corps, and Highland Park Improvement Club to host our third annual tree giveaway to support community goals around neighborhood greening. Join us at one of our upcoming events in Highland Park and South Park to pick up a free native tree and learn about King County’s efforts to reduce pollution into the Duwamish River. Trees are available for community members and organizations based in South Park and Highland Park, on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. No registration is required.
Building Your Sustainable Future: Fall Job Fair and Workforce Training Symposium
When: Wednesday, October 23, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Where: South Seattle College Georgetown Campus: 6737 Corson Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98108
We are partnering with South Seattle College this fall to host a job fair and workforce training symposium. Jobseekers can explore diverse career and paid training opportunities in clean water, sustainable building, and construction! The event will feature hands-on “day in the life” job demonstrations, networking, resume assistance, and more. It’s a great chance to meet employers hiring now and in the near future. Refreshments and Spanish interpretation will also be available. This free event is open to the public, welcoming people at all stages of careers and education. Register by Friday, October 18, to receive a printed name tag at the event.
Duwamish River Community Coalition Job Fair
When: Saturday, October 19, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Where: Concord International School, 723 South Concord Street, Seattle, WA 98108
Are you looking for job or internship opportunities? Duwamish River Community Coalition and partners are working to connect youth and adults in South Park and Georgetown with hiring employers in the Duwamish Valley. This event includes resources for resumes, work clothing, driver’s licenses and IDs, interview skills, and more. This event is free and open to the public, including people in all stages of career and education.
Learn more about the job fair.
SOPASUPA summer Party, August 17, 2024
The project team will host an information booth at the SOPASUPA Summer Party on Saturday, August 17, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the intersection of South Cloverdale Street and 14th Avenue South (8601 14th Avenue South, Seattle, WA, 98108). SOPASUPA is a neighborhood party with live bands, lucha libre performances, a zone for kids, a swap meet market, and much more!
18th Annual Duwamish River Festival, August 3, 2024
Join us for the 18th Annual Duwamish River Festival on Saturday, August 3, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Duwamish River People’s Park and Shoreline Habitat (8700 Dallas Avenue South, Seattle). Duwamish River Festival features free food, family-friendly activities, arts, culture, advocacy, and entertainment to celebrate a healthy Duwamish River.
The West Duwamish Wet Weather Storage project team will host a table with other King County project teams to share information about our commitment to the Duwamish River. To learn more about the event and how to volunteer visit the event website at https://www.drcc.org/duwamish-river-festival-
Date: October 28, 2023
Time: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Highland Park Corner Store
King County is partnering with Highland Park Improvement Club and Dirt Corps to host our second annual tree giveaway event in the Highland Park neighborhood. The event will provide 250 free trees to community members and organizations based in South Park and Highland Park. The event will also include a Halloween costume contest for pets and other goodies. The West Duwamish Wet Weather Storage Facility project team will host a table at the event to share information about how King County is working to reduce pollution into the Duwamish River.
Call or email Demmelash Adera:
Phone: 206-263-2340
Email: deadera@kingcounty.gov
Date: October 21, 2023
Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Location: həʔapus Village Park & Shoreline Habitat
Join us for Duwamish Alive! for a fun day of family friendly watershed restoration activities. This twice annual event brings volunteers together to plant native plants, remove invasive weeds and trash, and support mulching efforts. The West Duwamish Wet Weather Storage Facility project team will host a table at the event to share information about our investment in pollution control and combined sewer overflow reduction. Visit Duwamish Alive Coalition – Improving our river and watershed to learn more about the event and how to volunteer on land or water.
Call or email Demmelash Adera:
Phone: 206-263-2340
Email: deadera@kingcounty.gov
Duwamish River Festival
When: August 5, 2023
Where: 8700 Dallas Ave S
The Duwamish River Festival is an annual community event in South Park. The project team hosted an information booth at the event with boards illustrating the project purpose and current design stage, project newsletters, giveaways, and informational materials related to environmental protection and workforce development. Representatives of Rainwise and the Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund Cleanup projects joined the project team to share information about other water quality programs in the Duwamish Valley. The team also shared information related to recent flooding in South Park.
El Mercadito
When: July 11, 2023
Where: 1253 S Cloverdale St
El Mercadito is a weekly neighborhood farmer's market in South Park. The project team hosted an information booth at the event with boards illustrating the project purpose and the current design status, project newsletters, giveaways, and informational materials related to environmental protection and workforce development.
Seattle Folklorico
When: June 24, 2023
Where: Highland Park Playfield
The project team hosted an information booth at Seattle Folklorico to meet community members in this celebratory setting. The information booth included boards illustrating the project purpose and final design, the project newsletter, RainWise program, giveaways, and information about Wastewater Treatment Division programs related to water quality, environmental protection and workforce development. Project event staff engaged with attendees in both Spanish and English, and distributed project materials in simplified and traditional Chinese, English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
South Treatment Plant Career Fair
When: May 6, 2023
Where: South Treatment Plant
The project team held three informational sessions at the South Treatment Plant Career Fair for high-school aged youth. These sessions included information about careers paths, the West Duwamish Wet Weather facility project, and the Lake Hills Sewer Relining project to demonstrate the work of community services. This event supported Equity & Social Justice (ESJ) and workforce development goals.
Hai Ba Trung Celebration
When: February 25, 2023
Where: Vietnamese Cultural Center
The project team attended Hai Ba Trung, a celebratory event at the Vietnamese Cultural Center, to share information about the West Duwamish Wet Weather Storage Facility, RainWise, and the Side Sewer Program. The project team shared information in Vietnamese and answered questions about the project and how it will fit in with the existing wastewater infrastructure.
Lunar New Year Celebration
When: February 4, 2023
Where: Hing Hay Park
The project team attended the Lunar New Year celebration at Hing Hay Park on February 4, 2023, to meet with community members and share project information. The project team shared information in four languages (English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Spanish).
Trick or Trees
When: October 29, 2022, from noon to 4 p.m.
Where: Highland Park Corner Store
The project team partnered with Dirt Corps, the Duwamish Valley Youth Corps, HPIC, and HPAC to host a tree giveaway event and pet costume contest. The event supported neighborhood greening goals by sharing free native trees for homes, businesses, and places of worship. The project team hosted an information booth at the event to provide a project update for Highland Park neighbors.
West Duwamish Wet Weather Storage Facility Online Open House
September 30, 2022
View online open house.
Marra Farm Fest
When: August 27, 2022, from 2 to 5 p.m.
Where: Marra Farm
The project team attended Marra Farm Fest on Saturday, August 27, from 2 to 5 p.m. to share information about the project and increase participation in a project design survey. The event included free food, art and activities, and an apple cider press for attendees to enjoy. The project team set up an information table with boards illustrating the project purpose and preliminary design, the project newsletter, giveaways, print surveys, and information about other Wastewater Treatment Division programs, including RainWise. Attendees had the option to gather project materials in Chinese (simplified and traditional), English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Duwamish River Festival
When: August 6, 2022
Where: Duwamish River People’s Park
Project staff attended the Duwamish River Festival at the new Duwamish River People’s Park in South Park. More than 55 booths with different agencies and community groups were there to share information about different projects and resources.
The project team attended to share information and resources about the different King County projects underway within the Lower Duwamish watershed, careers at WTD, the RainWise program, and GSI Mini Grants. The project team also advertised an upcoming boat tour hosted by the Lower Duwamish Waterway program.
Duwamish River Festival
When: August 19, 2016
Where: 7900 10th Ave S
The project team hosted a booth at the Duwamish River Festival to share information about King County’s plan to control combined sewer overflows (CSOs) into the Duwamish River and next steps for the project.
Cine en el Parque
When: August 5, 2016
Where: 1321 SW 102nd St
The project team hosted a booth at Cine en el Parque to share information about King County’s plan to control combined sewer overflows (CSOs) into the Duwamish River and next steps for the project.