August 31, 2025
It is time to renew your EEC membership and pay annual dues. Our membership cycle runs from July 1 to June 30 each year. Please follow the prompts on this form. Use the PayPal Giving Fund link to send your donation. If you have questions, please email us. Thanks! This seemed like an opportunity to update you on Project status.
PFAS Drinking Water Contamination
EEC filed an appeal with the Growth Management Hearings Board in July 2024, challenging an ordinance that allows UIC wells for stormwater inside a CARA. The EEC secured Bricklin & Newman LLP to file an appeal as PFAS contaminated stormwater is being injected into the Deer Creek Springs CARA, risking human health. The Appeal was put on hold in February when the City and EEC signed a settlement intended to resolve the appeal. The agreement requires the City to contract for a study on PFAS contaminated stormwater disposition alternatives. The City is currently developing the Scope of Work (for EEC review) with EA Engineering.
Critical Areas Protection
EEC board members provided comments at several public hearings on the Edmonds Comprehensive Plan update with disappointing results. We then turned our focus to the Critical Area Ordinance update that the city must complete this year. The EEC held a workshop in July to develop a list of concerns for the CAO Update. An EEC Committee was formed to engage the city on CAO revisions to address the list of concerns from the workshop. We are pleased to report we are engaging with city Planner Brad Shipley and working through the list. Brad will present this to the Planning Board. Unlike the Comp Plan process, these meetings have been an effective way to engage with the CAO update. The Planning Board will make their recommendations to the city council for their consideration later this Fall.
Edmonds Marsh Restoration
Primarily with the Edmonds Stream Team, many EEC members are continuing the restoration work along Shellabarger Creek between Hwy 104 and the marsh. Invasive plant species restricted the flow of clean, cool water into the marsh. Restoring the creek flow is critical for juvenile salmon and a healthy, functioning marsh ecosystem. We have been removing invasive plant species including Bittersweet Nightshade, Purple Loostrife, and others, then spreading wood chips along the creek bank for stabilization and minimizing the return of the invasive plants. The multi-year project is making a big difference. This hands-on volunteer work is fun and personally very rewarding.
Salmon Restoration
Excessive stormwater flows are damaging our salmon bearing creeks through erosion and loss of clean spawning areas. Perrinville Creek and Shell Creek are in very bad condition due to unchecked stormwater.
In July, ECC filed a formal complaint with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) against the City of Edmonds over an illegal diversion of the lower portion of Perrinville Creek, preventing the return of adult coho salmon. This My Edmonds News article by Larry Vogel is a good overview of the Perrinville Creek issues.
We hope you will continue to be a member of the Edmonds Environmental Council and support our important work. Your annual dues and tax deductible donations primarily pay for our legal fees.