King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks

Earth Week is a time for action — and reflection. It’s easy to lose sight of just how much we’ve achieved when we’re all head down, doing the work. That’s why we’re taking a moment to look back at some of the environmental stewardship progress made during former Executive Dow Constantine’s administration. See progress we’re making each day to protect water quality, preserve open space, restore habitat, reduce floods risks, promote a circular economy, support the local food economy, and expand access to regional parks and trails – all of which contribute to the quality of life in King County. https://lnkd.in/gMxAKcpe

We are so back! (salmon edition)  Young Chinook salmon are growing considerably well in the restored habitats of King County’s largest-ever floodplain restoration project along the Snoqualmie River. In a first-of-its-kind King County study, our team tracked salmon growth and diet in restored habitats along the Snoqualmie River. The results? Some fish gained over half their body weight in just six weeks. Our ecologists studying the effectiveness of the 145-acre Fall City Floodplain Restoration Project site determined that the restored habitats promote the growth of young salmon and provide abundant food sources.  https://lnkd.in/gMxAKcpe

Let’s give it up for the 12s—our 2025 Operator-in-Training cohort that is! Selected from over 600 applicants (a record in program history!), these 12 bright individuals bring a wide range of experience and fresh perspectives to WTD. Some are new to the industry, while others have dipped their toe in the wastewater world, but they all share the passion for protecting water quality. Over the next several months, they’ll dive into a mix of classroom learning and hands-on experience, rotating through our regional treatment plants and training alongside our seasoned staff. The goal is to prepare the trainees for certification and launch them into long-term careers in King County, protecting our region’s public health and the environment. Learn more about the program: www.kingcounty.gov/OIT

Earth deserves more than a day. We’re partnering with Rainier Avenue Radio for a weeklong series of events focused on environmental justice, climate resilience, and community-driven solutions. Earth Deserves More Than a Day takes place April 21–26, with free, all-ages programming at Columbia City Theater and online. The schedule includes panel discussions, youth activities, a King County Parks volunteer event at Skyway Park, and an outing to the Duwamish River. 📍 April 21–26 | Columbia City Theater + online 🔗 Full schedule and details: https://lnkd.in/gf9NDyuK RainierAvenueRadio.World #EnvironmentalJustice #EarthWeek #PublicService #ClimateResilience #CommunityEngagement #KingCounty #Sustainability #EarthDeservesMoreThanADay

🌊 Help Restore Rivers and Habitat in Scenic King County! King County’s Habitat Restoration Unit is seeking a Senior Geologist (Environmental Scientist III) to support innovative river and floodplain restoration projects that protect people, enhance salmon habitat, and build climate resilience. Bring your fluvial geomorphology and engineering geology expertise to a collaborative team of engineers, ecologists, and planners. You’ll help design and implement multi-benefit restoration projects while expanding your technical skillset and contributing to real-world environmental solutions. About the Role: You’ll assess river conditions, analyze geomorphic and geological data, and guide project teams through identifying risks and opportunities in dynamic floodplain systems. This role blends fieldwork, technical analysis, and collaborative design—and is an excellent opportunity to apply your science background in a meaningful way. What You’ll Be Doing: - Conduct studies to assess the impacts of restoration projects on rivers and streams. - Analyze data, evaluate previous studies, and predict future conditions. - Partner with planners, engineers, and scientists to design solutions that support habitat restoration and flood risk reduction. Why Join Us: The Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) is at the forefront of salmon recovery, stormwater management, forestry, and farmland conservation in King County. We’re guided by equity, science, and service—working on high-impact initiatives like the Clean Water Healthy Habitat plan and Strategic Climate Action Plan. This position offers hybrid work flexibility with both field and remote work. Join a team where your work makes a lasting impact—apply using the link below and help shape the future of King County’s rivers. https://bit.ly/42uBEUb 📅 Apply by: 04/27/2025 at 11:59 PM (PDT) Please help us get the word out by liking, sharing, and leaving an encouraging comment! #GeologyJobs #EnvironmentalScience #FluvialGeomorphology #HabitatRestoration #PublicServiceCareers #Hydrology #RiverRestoration #EcologicalEngineering #KingCountyJobs #EnvironmentalCareers #EngineeringGeology #StormwaterManagement #FloodRiskReduction #ClimateResilience #WaterResources #NaturalResources #PNWJobs #HybridJobs #FieldWork #ScienceCareers #GoPublic #GreenJobs

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗗𝗡𝗥𝗣 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗜𝗜’𝘀!♻️🌎 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 This is an exciting opportunity to take a mission-critical role in managing stormwater compliance and traffic control during major construction projects at Cedar Hills Regional Landfill over the next five years—including landfill cell closures, gas system upgrades, leachate lagoon improvements, and the potential construction of a permanent facility relocation. As a key member of a dynamic team, you’ll manage stormwater permit compliance and enforce the traffic control plan in a fast-paced environment—directly contributing to the protection of human health and the environment while serving the residents and businesses of King County. Learn more and apply - https://bit.ly/4lsmUxV 𝗔𝗶𝗿 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 This is an exciting opportunity for an Air Quality Program Lead to drive meaningful climate action by leading air quality compliance, greenhouse gas reporting, and emissions reduction efforts across King County’s active landfill, closed landfills, and transfer stations. You’ll collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, ensure regulatory compliance, support innovative environmental programs, and play a key role in implementing Washington State’s new Landfill Methane Emissions rule. Learn more and apply - https://bit.ly/44myJj3 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆. 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀, 𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆! #GoPublic #KingCountyJobs #EngineeringCareers #ConstructionManagement #StormwaterManagement #AirQuality #AirQualityEngineering #AirQualityManagement #ClimateAction #EnvironmentalCompliance #SustainabilityCareers #EngineeringOpportunities #SolidWaste #EnvironmentalEngineering #ClimateLeadership

We’re excited to announce that our  Coal Creek Sewer Upgrade project received Salmon-Safe certification—a first in the nation for a wastewater infrastructure project! The certification recognizes our commitment to restoring ecological function to the salmon-bearing Coal Creek while replacing nearly 2 miles of sewer pipeline to better serve the growing populations in City of Bellevue, Washington and Newcastle. Many thanks to our capital and sustainability teams who took this critical infrastructure project to the next level to deliver multiple benefits for people, fish, and wildlife.  The five-year construction project begins this spring with what will be the nation’s longest trenchless tunnel digs!

When stormwater and flood management meet 🤝  $13 million in grant funding is now available from the King County Flood Control District for projects that reduce the impact of flooding! Eligible applicants include homeowner associations, schools, non-profits, tribes, cities and towns, and King County agencies. Apply by May 23, 2025! https://lnkd.in/gKnP9nHA Photos are from the Delridge Wetland Park in West Seattle. The project restored a small, neighborhood wetland near an elementary school and added gathering spots for outdoor education. 

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 – 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 🔥⚒️ Be a driving force in our Solid Waste Division by leveraging your welding expertise to maintain, repair, and fabricate critical equipment that ensures operational safety and efficiency. 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙙𝙚 ⚙️ 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Apply your welding skills to maintain and enhance essential equipment, ensuring reliable performance. 💡 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Utilize a variety of tools and materials to create structural modifications and custom fabrications. ⚠️ 𝗘𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆: Contribute to safety and efficiency by ensuring equipment is in top working condition, preventing hazards for both employees and the public. 💬 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: Work closely with the team to address safety concerns and enhance operational efficiency. 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀! - https://bit.ly/4kZO27c   #KingCountyJobs #SkilledTrades #MetalFabricator #WeldingCareers #Metalwork #WelderJobs #WeldingSkills #Welders #Metalwork

A toxic chemical in tires — 6PPDQ — is killing coho salmon in our region before they can spawn. But a solution may be within reach. Our scientists have tested a special bioretention soil mixture that filters this toxic chemical from stormwater. In lab tests, coho salmon exposed to filtered stormwater had a 100% survival rate. This potential breakthrough builds on years of regional collaboration and scientific innovation — and it’s just the beginning. Watch the video and learn more about the research, next steps, and King County’s plan to make stormwater safer for people and fish: https://lnkd.in/gchSWGHW