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The 2020 SWM Highlights report shows how we’re putting local dollars to work for county residents. You can access the six-page report to read more about projects, stories and other SWM accomplishments in 2020. The report also describes how SWM adjusted its approach to providing services during the COVID pandemic as well as the move of SWM into a new Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
 Resilient in the face of challenges, SWM staff continued to provide essential services to Snohomish County residents in 2020.
The Snohomish County Fish Passage Culvert Program works to restore aquatic habitat by removing culvert barriers to fish passage owned or maintained by the County. To accomplish this, we maintain a database of fish passage culverts, identify barriers and prioritize them for replacement, and collaborate regionally to support salmon recovery. Of the 1,715 culverts owned by the County, we have made barrier determinations on 45% of the culverts. At the start of 2021 we partnered with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to collect data on the remaining 947 culverts that currently have an unknown barrier status. Since 2010 Snohomish County has constructed 59 fish passage projects restoring fish passage through 70 culverts.
Learn more about the issue of fish passage barriers in Snohomish County here.
View a time-lapse video to see construction of a fish passage culvert replacement project.
 Upstream end of restored fish passage culvert on Golde Creek.
 Inside channel of restored fish passage culvert on Golde Creek after construction.
Our drainage investigation team works hard all year providing assistance to county residents with local drainage problems, with winter and spring being the busiest seasons. However, late 2020 and early 2021 brought a lot of rain and a higher than usual number of requests for assistance.
- December’s average number of drainage complaints received by SWM for the past ten years is 32. Our total for December 2020 was 54.
- January’s average for the past ten years is 37. Our total for January 2021 was 82.
- Combining the two months, we average 69 requests for assistance. During December 2020 and January 2021, we investigated 136 resident concerns.
If you need to report a drainage problem click here.
As shown below, there was widespread above-average rainfall in the western lowlands of Snohomish County late last year and early this year. December 2020 rainfall was on average 18% above usual for all reporting county gauges (ranging from 9-28%). Rainfall was also on average 27% above usual across all reporting county gauges for January 2021 with the highest at 57% above average. For January, most of the precipitation occurred in the first half of the month including some high daily totals.
For more information on rainfall, visit the interactive Water Data Map (select Object Type "Hydrology" and Station Parameter "Precipitation").
 Table above shows heavier than average rainfall for selected gauges in Snohomish County.
 Flooded front yard and driveway after a heavy rainfall in 2020.
New Street Sweepers Protect Water Quality of Local Surface Waters
Snohomish County has advanced its street sweeping fleet by acquiring high-efficiency (HE) street sweepers, to better protect the water quality of local streams and creeks. Road Maintenance, with SWM support, received a $1.5 million grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology in 2019 to purchase four new street sweepers and to develop a watershed-focused program. In addition to these, three additional HE street sweepers are being acquired by Road Maintenance, to complete the fleet modernization. With the new machines, the program will launch in neighborhoods starting this spring.
By investing in new technology, the County is taking another step toward improving water quality while addressing Clean Water Act requirements. The new, high-efficiency machines will pick up 65 percent more material under 250 microns than mechanical street sweepers (about the size of a medium grain of sand or smaller). The new street sweepers will be able to pick up not only these particles, but also attached pollutants including heavy metals, which can be toxic to fish, preventing such pollutants from ending up in our local waters or getting captured in storm drains.
For more information about Snohomish County Public Works, visit www.snohomishcountywa.gov/PublicWorks
 Look for one of the county's newest high efficiency street sweeper trucks in your neighborhood this spring.
Upcoming Public Events and Workshops
Learn more about upcoming SWM co-sponsored events and workshops on our events webpage.
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Natural Yard Care Workshops – Free & Online** – April 20 to May 6:
Six Tuesdays and Thursdays in April & May, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Register today for one or more of the workshops. Each workshop covers easy, least-toxic ways to grow a healthier garden. Workshops are held live, not recorded.
* Tuesday, April 20 - Sustainable Gardens
* Thursday, April 22 - Natural Lawn Care
* Tuesday, April 27 - Natural Pest, Weed & Disease Control
* Thursday, April 29 - Grow An Edible Garden
* Tuesday, May 4 - Right Plant, Right Place
* Thursday, May 6 - Healthy Soil, Great Compost
** Pre-registration is required. Participants must have an email address and internet access.
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Earth Day Shoreline Cleanup – April 22: Join volunteers from the Marine Resources Committee (MRC) to pick up litter from a local shoreline (Puget Sound, river, or lake)! On Earth Day, 2:00 - 6:00 p.m., bring it to a disposal and sorting location to see what was diverted from local waters. On-site volunteers will sort the litter to better understand how it affects our environment. Visit the MRC's project webpage for more information, including a map of suggested cleanup locations and locations where you can drop your collected trash for free!
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Septic System Care Workshop – July 20 or 22: SWM is hosting free, online Septic System Care Workshops. Register today to attend either Tuesday July 20 or Thursday July 22, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
 Attendees learn how to care for their system, avoid expensive repairs and more about Savvy Septic grants, rebates, and affordable loans for septic care.
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