Category: Environment and Sustainability

Summary  King County awarded $2.75 million in capital grants to local food banks and food assistance programs to strengthen food security in the region.  Story  Today, Executive Girmay Zahilay announced a combined $2.75 million in capital grant funding for 30 local food assistance providers and community food programs to improve food security in King County.  The grants, which range from $11,000 to $450,000, will address long-term infrastructure needs and enhance the local food system.…

Summary  A new toolkit developed by King County climate, forestry, and emergency management experts is now available to help residents prepare their families, homes, and neighborhoods for increasing wildfire risk in Western Washington.  News King County, in a partnership with Eastside Fire and Rescue and King Conservation District, developed a customized toolkit to help residents better prepare…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…