Environment

Water from the Snohomish River spills onto a road on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Reporter’s Notebook

How we covered the record-breaking flood

A special edition of Eliza Aronson’s newsletter detailing her and photographer Olivia Vanni’s week of flood coverage.

 

Snohomish PUD crews repair a power line that was hit by a downed tree along Cypress Way on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Breaking news

High wind warning in effect for northwest Snohomish County

Key developments:

  • “Damaging” wind gusts of up to 55 mph are expected.
  • Residents should prepare for downed trees and widespread outages.
  • Flood warning extended for Skykomish River near Gold Bar

 

Bob Hammond wades through the water covering Main Street on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 in Sultan, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Live Updates: Boating home on Skywall Drive

Key developments:

  • Snohomish Regional Fire Rescue: 26 people rescued since Wednesday evening.
  • Rescue swimmers help evacuate Snohomish residents and pets.
  • Skykomish resident: “To see the waves rolling along is just like, wow, it’s incredibly powerful.”

 

Floodwater from the Snohomish River partially covers a flood water sign along Lincoln Avenue on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Flood resources: Where to find emergency shelter, sandbags

As the county remains under flood warnings due to record-breaking river flows, cities are offering resources for those affected.

Floodwater from the Snohomish River partially covers a flood water sign along Lincoln Avenue on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Andrea Gould-Linder carries out her uncles’ cat Diva as she helps her family evacuate their home on Ebey Island on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Ferguson declares state of emergency; National Guard to be deployed

Key developments:

  • More than 400 Guard members to be deployed in the next two days.
  • Latest forecast: Stilly River predicted to reach near-record-breaking heights
  • Shelter was in the process of placing the last few dogs Wednesday.
  • Dikes around Ebey Island are expected to overtop by midday Wednesday.

Andrea Gould-Linder carries out her uncles’ cat Diva as she helps her family evacuate their home on Ebey Island on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Drivers attempt to navigate floodwater from the Skykomish River covering Mann Road on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 in Sultan, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Weather updates: Red Cross shelter opens at fairgrounds in Monroe

Key developments:

  • After a brief lull, heavy rain expected to return Tuesday night.
  • Red Cross shelter open in Monroe.
  • Snohomish River expected to crest at the city of Snohomish at 33.31 feet on Thursday, almost 6 feet above flood stage.

Drivers attempt to navigate floodwater from the Skykomish River covering Mann Road on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 in Sultan, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Brian Loomis and Michelle Moch browse for a live Christmas tree from Adopt A Stream on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Adopt A Stream kicks off annual holiday tree fundraiser

Visit the stream center on weekends through Dec. 23 to purchase a potted pine or spruce to support the foundation’s educational programs.

Brian Loomis and Michelle Moch browse for a live Christmas tree from Adopt A Stream on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The Climate Commitment Act, passed by the Legislature in 2021, is designed to reduce pollution to 95% of 1990 levels by 2050. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

New Climate Commitment Act spending report released

The Department of Ecology has published a new report detailing where revenue generated from the state law has supported climate solutions and resilience projects.

The Climate Commitment Act, passed by the Legislature in 2021, is designed to reduce pollution to 95% of 1990 levels by 2050. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
An excavator moves a large bag at the site of a fuel spill on a farm on Nov. 19, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

BP’s Olympic Pipeline fully restarts after 2-week shutdown

The oil giant has recovered 2,300 gallons of oil so far at the site of the leak east of Everett.

An excavator moves a large bag at the site of a fuel spill on a farm on Nov. 19, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Kicking Gas Campaign Director Derek Hoshiko stands for a portrait Thursday, Sep. 7, 2023, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Climate justice group Kicking Gas is expanding efforts to Snohomish County

The nonprofit aims to switch residents to electrical appliances and can help cover up to 75% of installation costs.

Kicking Gas Campaign Director Derek Hoshiko stands for a portrait Thursday, Sep. 7, 2023, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Information panels on display as a part of the national exhibit being showcased at Edmonds College on Nov. 19, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Edmonds College hosts new climate change and community resilience exhibit

Through Jan. 21, visit the school library in Lynnwood to learn about how climate change is affecting weather patterns and landscapes and how communities are adapting.

Information panels on display as a part of the national exhibit being showcased at Edmonds College on Nov. 19, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen congratulates Kaleb Wolde (left to right), Avery Postal, Takumi Tanimara and Malia Nymeyer, on winning the President’s Environmental Youth Award that recognizes outstanding K-12 youth environmental stewardship projects across the nation on Nov. 20, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Edmonds students win President’s Environmental Youth Award for their Salish Sea documentary

Four former Hazelwood Elementary fourth and fifth-grade students helped create a documentary highlighting the Edmonds Underwater Park, a marine protected area located just off the city’s shore.

Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen congratulates Kaleb Wolde (left to right), Avery Postal, Takumi Tanimara and Malia Nymeyer, on winning the President’s Environmental Youth Award that recognizes outstanding K-12 youth environmental stewardship projects across the nation on Nov. 20, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The recent Olympic Pipeline leak spilled an undisclosed amount of jet fuel into a drainage ditch near Lowell-Snohomish River Road in Snohomish. (Photo courtesy BP)

BP’s Olympic Pipeline partially restarted after a nearly two-week shutdown

The pipeline is once again delivering fuel to Sea-Tac airport, and airlines have resumed normal operations.

The recent Olympic Pipeline leak spilled an undisclosed amount of jet fuel into a drainage ditch near Lowell-Snohomish River Road in Snohomish. (Photo courtesy BP)

Judge invalidates legal rights for Snohomish River approved by voters

Snohomish County Superior Court ruled the initiative granting the river legal rights exceeded local initiative power.

An excavator moves a large bag at the site of a fuel spill on a farm on Nov. 19, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Update

BP says both pipes remain closed at site of fuel leak near Snohomish

State Department of Ecology and the oil giant continue to clean site and assess cause of leak on the Olympic Pipeline.

An excavator moves a large bag at the site of a fuel spill on a farm on Nov. 19, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Joshua Wright / Aberdeen Daily World A King County court halted the Wishbone Timber Sale in 2024. On Oct. 31, the state Department of Natural Resources argued its appeal on the decision.

DNR appeals ruling that it must account for climate change in individual timber sales

The appeal calls into question the priorities of newly appointed Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove.

Joshua Wright / Aberdeen Daily World A King County court halted the Wishbone Timber Sale in 2024. On Oct. 31, the state Department of Natural Resources argued its appeal on the decision.
A stormwater diversion structure which has been given a notice for repairs along a section of the Perrinville Creek north of Stamm Overlook Park that flows into Browns Bay in Edmonds, Washington on Thursday, July 18, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Edmonds

State approves Edmonds permit to do flood mitigation work on Perrinville Creek

The permit is the latest controversy in the years-long saga over Edmonds’ management of the stream.

A stormwater diversion structure which has been given a notice for repairs along a section of the Perrinville Creek north of Stamm Overlook Park that flows into Browns Bay in Edmonds, Washington on Thursday, July 18, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
State Trooper Isaiah Oliver speaks to a BNSF worker at mile marker 31.7 as road closures and evacuations mount in response to the Bolt Creek Fire on Saturday, Sep. 10, 2022, on U.S. 2 near Index, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Snohomish County adopts its first Community Wildfire Protection Plan

The document analyzes wildfire risks throughout the county and provides resources for people to engage with wildfire resiliency work.

State Trooper Isaiah Oliver speaks to a BNSF worker at mile marker 31.7 as road closures and evacuations mount in response to the Bolt Creek Fire on Saturday, Sep. 10, 2022, on U.S. 2 near Index, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
A male Anna’s hummingbird chirps as it perches in a thorny bush Wednesday, March 30, 2022, along the water at the Port of Everett in Everett, Washington. Anna’s hummingbirds, which measure around 4 inches long and weigh only a few grams, are the most common of four local species and the only hummingbird to remain year-round in the Pacific Northwest. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Adopt A Stream hosts hummingbird ecology class

Western Washington University instructor Greg Green will lead a class on hummingbirds on Saturday at the Northwest Stream Center.

A male Anna’s hummingbird chirps as it perches in a thorny bush Wednesday, March 30, 2022, along the water at the Port of Everett in Everett, Washington. Anna’s hummingbirds, which measure around 4 inches long and weigh only a few grams, are the most common of four local species and the only hummingbird to remain year-round in the Pacific Northwest. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
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