Blog – Edmonds Environmental Council

News Release – State proposes restrictions on toxic “forever chemicals” in common consumer products

June 4, 2025
Dept. of Ecology

Department of Ecology seeks public comment on restrictions and reporting requirements for PFAS in 12 product categories

OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology is proposing a rule to restrict the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – better known as PFAS – in common consumer products including clothing, cleaning products and car wash soap. The rule would also require manufacturers to report if they use PFAS in nine other product categories.

KOMO News reports on PFAS in stormwater at Madrona K-8 School

June 2, 2025
KOMO News

Link to KOMO News video

EDMONDS, Wash. — The Edmonds School District is facing a possible lawsuit over contaminants that could potentially put the community’s water source at risk.

Water district says it intends to sue over chemicals found in Edmonds school’s stormwater system

by Rick Sinnett
Posted: May 29, 2025

Link to My Edmonds News article

Madrona K-8 School sits on top of the Deer Creek Aquifer, the source of the area’s drinking water. (Photo courtesy of the Edmonds School District.)

The Olympic View Water and Sewer District has issued a letter of intent to sue the Edmonds School District over chemicals found in the stormwater system at Edmonds’ Madrona K-8 School.

Olympic View may sue Edmonds School District over PFAS at Madrona K-8

It gives the school district 60 days to comply with Safe Water Drinking Act

By Brian Soergel
Edmondseditor@yourbeacon.net
May 28, 2025

Link to Edmonds Beacon article

**(Photo courtesy Olympic View Water and Sewer District)**

Olympic View Water and Sewer District (OVWSD) has issued a notice of intent to sue the Edmonds School District to protect the drinking water aquifer that is threatened by PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) pollution at the Madrona K-8. This legal action cites violations of environmental laws and follows the school district’s inaction in addressing the pollution, said OVWSD general manager Bob Danson in a news release.

Sewer district notifies Edmonds schools of intent to sue

The letter of intent alleges the school district has failed to address long-standing “water pollution issues” at Madrona K-8 School.

by Eliza Aronson
Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Link to Everett Herald article

Outside of the Madrona School on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

EDMONDS — Last week, Olympic View Sewer District gave its notice of intent to sue Edmonds School District over what it says are long-standing water pollution issues at Madrona K-8 School.

Notice of Intent to sue Edmonds School District over PFAS contaminated stormwater being injected into Deer Creek Springs Aquifer

May 28, 2025

Today, Olympic View Water & Sewer District added a new “In the News“ page to track their Notice of Intent to sue Edmonds School District to protect the drinking water aquifer that is threatened by PFAS.

The page is linked here

Press Release – Olympic View Water and Sewer District Issues Intent to Sue Edmonds School District Over PFAS Pollution at Madrona School

For Immediate Release:
April 28, 2025

Media Contact:
Bob Danson, General Manager
Cell: (425) 530-5595

Link to PDF

Citizen Suit Alleges Violations of Safe Drinking Water Act and WashingtonvState’s Non-Endangerment Standard for Underground Injection Control Wells

Edmonds, WA –Olympic View Water and Sewer District (OVWSD) has issued a Notice of Intent to Sue to the Edmonds School District to protect the drinking water aquifer that is threatened by PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) pollution at the Madrona School. This legal action cites violations of environmental laws and follows the school district’s inaction in addressing the pollution.

Council mulls middle housing code updates, hears report from Keep Edmonds Vibrant

by Teresa Wippel
May 28, 2025

Link to My Edmonds News article

A group of about 30 people attended Tuesday’s Edmonds City Council meeting. (Photos by Nick Ng)

The Edmonds City Council spent much of its time Tuesday talking about updating the city’s middle housing development code — a process that must be completed by the end of the month. The council also heard from four community volunteers representing Keep Edmonds Vibrant, who presented the results of their month-long civic engagement initiative.

PFAS Information

Olympic View Water & Sewer District

What is PER- and POLY-FLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS)?

Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances or “PFAS” has become an issue of public health concern in numerous contexts recently including in public drinking water supplies. PFAS are a large family of chemicals in use since the 1950s to make a wide variety of stain-resistant, water-resistant, and non-stick consumer products, including food packaging, outdoor clothing, and non-stick pans. PFAS have also been used in certain types of firefighting foams utilized by the U.S. military, local fire departments, and airports.

Scene at Meadowdale Beach Park: Students helping salmon

May 20, 2025
Edmonds Stream Team

Link to My Edmonds News article

Christopher Erwert checks coho fry before release. (Photos courtesy Edmonds Stream Team)

Students from Meadowdale High School’s Eco Club joined community volunteers with the Edmonds Stream Team and Sound Salmon Solutions in releasing several thousand baby coho salmon into Lunds Gulch Creek Sunday.

Shell Creek Waterfall Fish Blockage

By Dave Teitzel
September 29, 2019

General information

Shell Creek is a natural, spring-fed creek that originates near the eastern boundary of Yost Park, a large city-owned park in Edmonds, Washington that has been preserved in a largely natural state.

Edmonds Stream Inventory and Assessment

July 29, 2002
Pentec Environmental

The attached report was prepared for the City of Edmonds to establish baseline information on stream conditions in order to support work toward meeting National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and ESA requirements. This report covers all of the appropriate significant streams under the City’s jurisdiction.

Scene in Edmonds: WSDOT helping Edmonds Marsh restoration volunteers.

Posted: April 30, 2025

Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) crews were out Wednesday mowing vegetation along State Route 104 to help prepare the Edmonds Marsh Restoration site for upcoming volunteer work coordinated by the Edmonds Stream Team. See our previous story for a complete description of the project.

Link to My Edmonds News article

Baby salmon head out to sea. Then they do something unexpected, new research shows

April 30, 2025
By Lynda V. Mapes
Seattle Times environment reporter

Link to Seattle Times article

Coho salmon smolts are collected in a fish trap as researchers assess local salmon populations in an Olympic Peninsula stream. (Karrie Hanson)

Who knew that baby salmon were such explorers?

The long-held understanding that baby salmon emerge from the streams where they hatched to head out to sea actually is missing a far more complex story — and a far more interesting one, scientists explain in a new paper.

Letter to the editor: Citizen’s Planning Board public hearing – are you listening?

Posted: April 29, 2025
Larry Williamson
on behalf of Alliance of Citizens for Edmonds

Link to My Edmonds News article and comments:

Editor:

The hearing concerning Residential Zoning (4/23/25) drew a full house with 18 diverse, longtime residents who spoke passionately about the negative residential impacts (increased building heights, lot coverages and density) of the proposed code update. The first, Kim Bayer-Augustavo, chair of the Architectural Design Board, became a de facto keynote for the hearing. Sixteen presenters, including former Planning Board and Housing Commission members, strongly endorsed her comments.