King County Parks adds 56 acres to popular south King County park, preserving forested wetlands, improving recreation opportunities
With the addition of the 56-acre forested property on the edge of the City of Maple Valley, King County Parks’ popular Black Diamond Open Space gets more protected green space and more room for recreation – and an online survey is available for public comment about potential uses and features on this property.

King County considers four potential sites for its Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station set to open in late 2027
King County’s Solid Waste Division has identified four properties in Kirkland, Woodinville and Redmond for further study in its search for a site for the new Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station, which is set to open to the public in 2027.

King County receives $96 million low-cost loan to improve Puget Sound water quality
The King County Wastewater Treatment Division has received a $96.8 loan by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to construct a project that will help improve water quality in the Lake Washington Ship Canal and surrounding waters. The low interest rate loan will save King County an estimated $32.8 million in finance costs.

Update: Discovery Park beaches reopen after water testing confirms safe conditions
Discovery Park beaches were reopened to the public on Jan. 18 after water quality testing showed safe results. The beaches, near West Point Treatment Plant, were closed out of an abundance of caution on Jan. 13 following a stormwater and sewer overflow caused by a power outage during heavy rains. Consecutive days of testing confirmed that the water is safe.

Update: Medina, Richmond Beach, Golden Gardens, and Carkeek park beaches re-open after water testing confirms safe conditions
UPDATE: The beaches and waters near Medina, Richmond Beach, Golden Gardens, and Carkeek parks were re-opened to the public on Jan. 15 after water quality testing showed safe results. The beach was closed out of an abundance of caution on Jan. 13 following a stormwater and sewer overflow caused by a power outage during heavy rains. Consecutive days of testing confirmed that the water is safe.

Update: Madrona beach re-opens after water testing confirms safe conditions
Update: Madrona Beach has been re-opened to the public after water quality testing showed safe results. The beach was closed out of an abundance of caution on Jan. 13 following an overflow, and testing confirmed that the water is safe.

King County Flood Warning Center closes as rainfall ends and river flows stabilize
The King County Flood Warning Center closed at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, after opening early in the afternoon on Jan. 12 to monitor widespread flooding from a major rainstorm. County employees will continue to monitor weather forecasts and stream conditions.

King County Flood Warning Center: Minor flooding possible on portions of White and Green rivers as storm’s impacts continue
The King County Flood Warning Center says minor flooding is possible along stretches of the Green and White rivers following a long stretch of heavy and widespread rainfall. The Flood Warning Center opened a midday on Tuesday, Jan. 13 to monitor potential flooding along the Tolt and Snoqualmie rivers.

King County Flood Warning Center issues Phase 3 flood alert for Snoqualmie River as powerful rainstorm continues
The King County Flood Warning Center issued a Phase 3 flood alert for the rain-swollen Snoqualmie River at 2:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, as a powerful winter rainstorm continued to push river flows higher.

Power outage causes overflow into Lake Washington from East Pine pump station
A power outage caused King County Wastewater Treatment Division’s East Pine pump station to experience an overflow in the early morning of Wednesday, Jan. 13.

Extensive power outages push regional wastewater system to its capacity and onto back up power: overflows into Puget Sound and Lake Washington from West Point, Richmond Beach and Medina pump stations
Power outages throughout the service area caused overflows at King County Wastewater Treatment Division’s West Point Treatment Plant, and Richmond Beach and Medina pump stations.

King County Flood Warning Center opens to monitor minor flooding along rain swollen Tolt, Snoqualmie rivers
The King County Flood Warning Center opened at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12 to monitor potential minor flooding from heavy rainfall along the Tolt and Snoqualmie rivers.

WaterWorks Grants will provide over $2 million for community water quality projects for 2021-2022
King County Wastewater Treatment Division’s WaterWorks Grant Program is offering $2.2 million in grants to support local water quality projects. Three free online information sessions for prospective applicants will take place Jan. 21, Jan. 26, and Feb. 1.

King County Noxious Weed Board seeks input on the annual noxious weed list
To protect people and the environment from harmful plants, the King County Noxious Weed Board will be adopting the 2021 noxious weed list at a public meeting on Jan. 27 in order to set the priority level of noxious weeds in King County, as directed by the state noxious weed law.

King County Flood Warning Center closes as rain eases and flows stabilize on Snoqualmie River
The King County Flood Warning Center closed at 3:45 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 3, after opening earlier that morning to monitor minor flooding along the Snoqualmie River. County employees will continue to monitor weather forecasts and stream conditions.

King County Flood Warning Center opens to monitor minor flooding along rain-swollen Snoqualmie River
The King County Flood Warning Center opened at 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 3, to monitor potential minor flooding from heavy rainfall along the Snoqualmie River.