Category: Environment and Sustainability
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King County officials urge extra caution on rivers after December flooding created new potential drowning hazards
Summary King County officials are urging residents to be extra cautious at rivers due to the historic December flooding that changed conditions and created new potential hazards in rivers throughout the region. Story King County officials are urging the public to be extra cautious on rivers this summer after major flooding this past December changed conditions and created new potential drowning hazards. They…
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Trailhead Direct returns Memorial Day weekend with transit service to popular hiking destinations
Summary Beginning Memorial Day weekend, hikers can once again leave the car at home and take transit to some of the region’s most popular outdoor destinations with Trailhead Direct, King County’s seasonal transit-to-trails service. The 2026 season begins Saturday, May 23, and operates weekends and holidays through August 30. Story Trailhead Direct, King County’s transit-to-trails service, returns for its ninth season…
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Executive Zahilay joins partners for a tour of Wilburton Trestle, a project transforming the 1,000-foot-long wooden structure into a scenic trail bridge for Eastrail
Summary A unique capital project that is converting the 122-year-old Wilburton Trestle into a scenic trail bridge for Eastrail in Bellevue has reached a major milestone. News King County Executive Girmay Zahilay joined partners for a tour of a unique capital project that is transforming the 1,000-foot-long Wilburton Trestle in Bellevue – the longest wooden trestle in the Pacific Northwest – into a trail bridge for the emerging 42-mile Eastrail. Crews are now installing the 20-foot-wide trail surface, railing,…
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VIDEO: A unique salmon recovery partnership in King County has proven to be an effective model for collective impact
Twenty-five years after creating a first-of-its-kind regional partnership for salmon recovery, King County and a coalition of partners are celebrating progress and renewing the alliance for another decade. The partners have so far reconnected 730 acres of floodplain, completed 719 salmon recovery projects, and planted native vegetation in nearly 1,500 acres of riparian areas while…
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King County turns eye toward recovery after historic flooding and severe weather hazards
Summary Following weeks of flooding and hazardous weather conditions, King County has begun shifting from rapid response to recovery, working closely with partner agencies and state and local governments. Story King County Executive Girmay Zahilay announced today that King County has begun shifting from 24/7 emergency response to monitoring and recovery, following weeks of flooding…
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VIDEO: How King County’s on-the-ground Flood Patrol is helping reinforce levees before they break and mobilize rapid repairs if they breach
King County’s Flood Patrol has provided on-the-ground monitoring night and day throughout the historic flood, coordinating with partner agencies to reinforce levees before they break and mobilize rapid repairs if they breach. Coordinating emergency responses with King County’s Flood Warning Center and Emergency Operations Center, the Flood Patrol has likely prevented levee failures and made…
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Executive Zahilay issues statement regarding King County’s ongoing emergency response actions as region continues to be impacted by hazardous weather conditions
Story As ongoing hazardous weather and flooding continue to impact the region, Executive Zahilay issued the following statement regarding King County’s emergency response efforts: “King County and much of Washington state experienced severe and dangerous weather last week, resulting in historic flooding that has put lives, homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure at risk across our…
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Executive Zahilay issues emergency order granting authority for additional action regarding severe weather and flooding
Summary Executive Zahilay issued the following emergency order granting authority for additional actions related to a proclamation of emergency earlier this week addressing the severe weather and river flooding impacting the region. Story WHEREAS, on December 8, 2025, in my capacity as King County Executive, I issued a Proclamation of Emergency regarding a significant civil…
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‘A healthy lake sends a powerful message’: Landmark King County study of Lake Washington finds that cities can grow without harming water quality
Summary A study by King County scientists – recently published in a national scientific journal – found surprising improvements in Lake Washington’s water quality this century, even as the watershed’s population increased by 350,000 people. News A landmark study by King County scientists found that Lake Washington has become clearer this century even as the…
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Executive Zahilay issues Proclamation of Emergency regarding severe storms and river flooding
Summary King County Executive Girmay Zahilay issued a Proclamation of Emergency today regarding the severe storms and river flooding anticipated to have a major impact on the region. Story WHEREAS, the King County Office of Emergency Management has reported to me on December 8, 2025, that King County has activated the King County Regional Emergency…