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.

​If you are looking for guidance on how to best manage the water resources & drainage considerations on your property effectively, check out our "top publications" below and  "Request Assistance" using the button below.

Note that our planners are able to supply you with high level resources and guidance, but if your request involves sheer or steep bluffs that require the expertise of an engineer, we encourage you first to consult a geotechnical engineer. Consider the following links for sourcing a private geotechnical engineer : Skagit Island Buildings Association Professionals Directory, Puget Sound Engineering Council, American Society of Civil Engineers Seattle Section Geotechnical Group, and Structural Engineers Association of Washington.

Top Resources for Common Questions

Stormwater & Drainage

Our Islands, Our Water, Our Future
A local guide on Island County water management resources, including septics, stormwater, lawn care, and more. 

Homeowner's Guide to Stormwater
Learn how to assess what's happening with water on your property and best management practices to address your water resource challenges.

Click to download publication

Click to download publication

Rain Garden Handbook of WA
The one-stop-shop for learning all about designing, installing, and maintaining a rain garden on your property.

Click to download publication

Solving Drainage & Erosion Guide
This interactive website helps you "chose your own adventure" and learn about specific tips to solve specific drainage and water resource challenges.

Click to be directed to interactive website

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Wetlands 

At Home with Wetlands Guide
Got a wetland on your property and interested in stewarding it? Learn best management tips all in this comprehensive guide.

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Wetland Plant Care Tips
Learn about what plants are best suited for wetlands and how to go about installing and maintaining them to protect water resources.

Click to download publication

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Shoreline & Nearshore 

Nearshore Living Manual
A comprehensive local guide to managing your shoreline and nearshore properties with Puget Sound in mind brought to you by the Better Ground effort led by 12 CDs in our area.

Click to download publication

Guide to Shoreline Living
Another great comprehensive guide on how to manage your shoreline property brought to you by the WSU Extension Island County Shore Stewards Program.

Click to download publication

Your Marine Waterfront
An approachable guide that includes information on native plant selection for shorelines, and other best management practice suggestions to improve your shoreline's natural state.

Click to download publication

Surface & Ground Water

Click to view

Bluff Homeowner Series
Learn all about how to manage drainage, erosion, and other bluff processes through these three comprehensive guides. Click each guide below to view.

Vegetation Management

Click to view

Slope Stabilization & Erosion Control

Click to view

Water Resources Publications

Click a Tab Below for More Resources:

WATER UTILITIES & SEPTIC SYSTEMS

​Water & Septic:

Where to Start

...Click here to view your well through the Island County new Well Viewer Interactive Map

Local Groundwater Tools & Island County Hydrogeology

• Island County Hydrogeology Homepage
• ​Island County Groundwater Publications Library
• Island County Interactive Well-Viewer Map
• ​Island County Groundwater Spatial Analysis Tool
• ​Island County Seawater Intrusion Source Monitoring
• ​Island County Seawater Intrusion Risk Map
• ​NAS Whidbey PFAS Investigation

Drinking Water Resources

• Island County Drinking Water Homepage
• ​WA Dept. of Health Drinking Water Homepage
• Whidbey Island Water Systems Association
• ​Whidbey Island Water Systems Association Resources
• Private Well Water: Coliform Bacteria & Nitrate Information for Private Well Users
• WaterOperator - Resource Library

Onsite Sewage (Septic) System Resources

• Island County Onsite Sewage Systems Homepage
• ​Hiring a Professional - Septic Systems
• Island County Septic System Class Videos
• Properly Landscape a Drainfield
• ​Shore Stewards Drainfield Landscape
• Landscaping a Drainfield
• Landscaping Over Septic Drainfields
• ​List of Plants with Shallow Roots

STORMWATER & DRAINAGE RESOURCES

Managing Stormwater

on

Your Property

Getting Started with Stormwater Management

• After the Storm: A Citizen's Guide
• Our Islands, Our Water, Our Future
• Living Responsibly in Your Community
• ​Solving Drainage & Erosion: Homeowners Guide
• ​Tulalip Tribes: Rainwater Management

Permeable Pavement

• What is Permeable Pavement?
• Soak Up the Rain

WETLANDS, LAKES & STREAMS RESOURCES

So You Have a

​Wetland...

Getting Started with Wetlands on Your Property

• ​Island County Planning Critical Areas Homepage
• ​Island County Critical Areas Code - Municode
• List of Qualified Environmental Consultants for Wetlands Work
• ​​Island County - What are wetlands?
• ​Types of Wetlands in Island County
• WA Dept. of Ecology Homeowners Guide to Wetlands & Buffers
• ​​WA Dept. of Ecology At Home with Wetlands​
• WA Dept. of Ecology Exploring Wetland Stewardship
• WA Dept. of Ecology Hiring a Wetland Professional
• ​Society of Wetland Scientists Database
• ​Habitat Restoration Demystified Workshop Q & A 
• Habitat Restoration Demystified Workshop Presentations​
• ​Best Available Science for Wetlands of Island County
• ​Constructing Wetland Boardwalks & Trails​

Resources on Native Wetland Plants

• Wet Site Planting List
• Wetland Planting List
• ​Planting & Caring for Trees & Shrubs in Home Wetlands
• ​WA DOE Aquatic Plant Manual
• ​Common Emergent Plant Species
• More Emergent Plant Species
• ​​Ponds & Aquariums Plant List
• ​Aquatic Vegetation Management & Control
• ​Common Emergent Plant Species
• More Emergent Plant Species​

Resources on Streams

• WDFW Stream Habitat Restoration Guidelines

Resources on Critical Areas & Agriculture

• ​Note that if your property is located within an Urban Growth Area (UGA), such as a municipality like the City of Oak Harbor, Town of Coupeville, or City of Langley, then you will need to reference the municipal code for that UGA instead of this.
• Island County Zoning (Land Use) Code Chapter 17.03 – Knowing what is and isn't allowed agricultural uses on your property in Island County, and which require permits or not, is an important part of managing your land.
  • Starter references in understanding the code:
• Island County - Critical Areas & Agriculture
• ​​Exhibit B - Agricultural Best Management Practices and Exemptions for RA & CA Zoned Properties with Existing & Ongoing Agriculture​

Resources on Beaver Management

• Beavers Northwest Q & A Sheet 2018
• Living with Beavers: Successful Beaver Management Techniques
• Your Neighborhood Beaver: Friend or Foe
• ​Beavers Northwest Technical Assistance

BLUFF & SHORELINE RESOURCES

Got Waterfront

​ Property?

Resources for High Bank & Bluff Properties

• 7 Ways to Set Your Shoreline Up for Success
  
• Island County Shore Friendly Program
• ​Island County Planning Dept. Contact Us
• ​WSU Island County Shore Stewards Program
• Vegetation Management for Bluffs
• ​Role of Vegetation in Slope Stability
• ​Trees & Shrubs for Erosion Control OSU​​
• Native Plants for Soil Stabilization
• ​Additional Native Plants for Erosion Control
• ​Sample Planting Plans
• ​Erosion Control Fabric​
• Prevegetation Coir Logs for Erosion Control
• Best Management Practices Using Geotextiles and other Erosion Control Fabrics in Soil Stabilization Projects

Resources for Lowbank & Shoreline Properties

• Island County Shore Friendly Program
• ​Island County Planning Dept. Contact Us
• ​WSU Island County Shore Stewards Program
• Sound Water Stewards 
• NW Straits Shoreline Landowner Resources
• ​​Shore Stewards Guide to Shoreline Living​
• Your Marine Waterfront
• ​WA DOE Aquatic Plant Manual
• ​Soft Shoreline Stabilization
• ​Salt-Spray Tolerant Landscaping​
• Native Plants for Marine Waterfronts
• Marine Shoreline Plant Species
• ​Marine Planting List​
• Sample Planting Plans
• ​​​Aquatic Vegetation Management & Control

LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES

An Introduction to Low Impact Development

• Stormwater Best Management Practices
• ​​​​​Tulalip Tribes: Rainwater Management

Rain Garden Basics

• What is a Rain Garden?
• Rain Garden Handbook of Western WA
• ​WSU Rain Garden Basics
• Rain Garden Construction Checklist
• Rain Garden Maintenance
• ​​Native Plants for Rain Gardens​

Rain Water Collection

• ​Rainwater Collection - WA DOE
• ​Rainwater Use It or Lose It
• ​Build Your Own Rain Barrel

Other "LID" Techniques & Practices

• ​Water Quality Swales
• ​Water Saving Tips

WATER RIGHTS

Water Rights 

Water Rights & Hydrogeology of Island County

• Washington Water Rights Introduction
• Landowners Guide to Washington Water Rights
• Washington Water Rights Map
• Presentation on Island County Water Rights & Hydrogeology 2019
• New Water Right Application & Permits
• Request for Info on Existing Water Right

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.

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Learn About Soil & Water Connections

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.

Learn about the connections between water and soil from former Natural Resource Planner Gwendolyn Hannam.