Water Resource Management

Water resource management is of paramount importance to agriculture and urban communities here on Whidbey Island; we all use water and we all live downstream.  The availability of safe drinking water, groundwater & aquifer recharge, and safely discharged stormwater are critically important to the residents of Whidbey Island.  Perhaps water resource management for you involves drainage challenges, erosion, an excess of water, steep slope stabilization, or alternative stormwater management techniques.

Alternative stormwater management techniques, also known as Low Impact Development (LID), reduce pollutants carried through stormwater runoff into nearby bodies of water, providing filtration of the water and recharge of ground water supplies. Alternative stormwater management practices applicable to Island County include retaining native vegetation, bluff stabilization, minimizing land clearing and grading, reducing impervious surfaces, retention ponds, bioinfiltration of storm water using rain gardens and bioswales, and the use of native plants for residential and large-scale landscaping projects.

​Whatever your water resource question may be, if you are looking for guidance on how to best manage the water resources & drainage considerations on your property effectively, please reach out to us and we'd be happy to help you. 

Request assistance in the form below - and note that since we are a free and voluntary agency, many utilize our services and we often have a waitlist for these services.
Learn how you can take action to improve the stormwater run-off on your property and help protect Puget Sound's water resources. Small actions of each property can protect Puget Sound water quality for generations to come! ​ Click here!

Learn About Soil & Water Connections

Learn about the connections between water and soil from Natural Resource Planner Gwendolyn Hannam.
Our water resources are a shared, community resource. For that reason, it can be effective to pool resources together and focus larger projects on different watersheds around the island. Check out some of the projects we've done to improve water quality in multiple waterways on our Projects page.

Water Resources

Click a Tab Below for More Resources:
WATER UTILITIES & SEPTIC SYSTEMS

​Water & Septic:

Where to Start

Picture
...Click here to view your well through the Island County new Well Viewer Interactive Map
Local Groundwater Tools & Island County Hydrogeology
Drinking Water Resources
Onsite Sewage (Septic) System Resources
STORMWATER & DRAINAGE RESOURCES
WETLANDS, LAKES & STREAMS RESOURCES

So You Have a

​Wetland...

Getting Started with Wetlands on Your Property
Resources on Native Wetland Plants
Resources on Streams
Resources on Critical Areas & Agriculture
Resources on Beaver Management
BLUFF & SHORELINE RESOURCES

Got Waterfront

​ Property?

Resources for High Bank & Bluff Properties
Resources for Lowbank & Shoreline Properties
LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES
WATER RIGHTS
OUR NEW NEARSHORE LIVING MANUAL
In our newest publication, learn about our waterways and how you, your yard, and your actions are connected to one of our important natural resources - water. Together, we can create Better Ground in Puget Sound! Download it here or request a paper copy by emailing us.

Ready to get started?

What to Expect When Requesting Assistance from the Whidbey Island Conservation District
  • Our services are free and voluntary, so lots of folks love to work with us, and we look forward to working with you! 
  • We have 2 staff who assist with satisfying client requests
  • We assist requests in the order that they are received
  • Please allow for 2 weeks for an initial reply
  • General info requests take approximately 1 month to respond to
  • New site visit requests to properties are on a 6-month waitlist currently
  • Farm, animal, and waste management plans are on a 1-year waitlist currently
  • Here is a list of directories and/or organizations which may be able to respond to your request sooner. We can not recommend private sector professionals as a government entity, so have included directories housed by other entities that are populated by the professionals themselves:​
Next Monthly Board Meeting:
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
9am - Noon
Agenda
Please contact us if you'd like to attend and we will send you the remote meeting information.

Board Monthly Meeting Details:
  • Board meetings are open to the public.
  • Learn more about our board supervisors here.
  • See this year's list of upcoming and past board meeting dates - click here to access.
  • Past meeting minutes & agendas can be found here.​
Connect with Us
Office Hours:
COVID-19 Response: Our office is currently closed to visitors, and our staff is working remotely. Please contact us through our
request form​ or the information below.
(mailing) PO Box 490
(office location) 1 NE 4th Street
Coupeville, WA 98239
360-678-4708
(email) wicd[at]whidbeycd.org
What to Expect When Requesting Assistance from the Whidbey Island Conservation District
  • Our services are free and voluntary, so lots of folks love to work with us, and we look forward to working with you! 
  • We have 2 staff who assist with satisfying client requests
  • We assist requests in the order that they are received
  • Please allow for 2 weeks for an initial reply
  • General info requests take approximately 1 month to respond to
  • New site visit requests to properties are on a 6-month waitlist currently
  • Farm, animal, and waste management plans are on a 1-year waitlist currently
  • Here is a list of directories and/or organizations which may be able to respond to your request sooner. We can not recommend private sector professionals as a government entity, so have included directories housed by other entities that are populated by the professionals themselves:​
  •