Water Resource ManagementWater 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. Contact us by clicking the button below and filling out the form. Whidbey Island Conservation District is a FREE, Non-Regulatory, and Voluntary Service Available to the Landowners of Whidbey Island! Learn about the connections between water and soil from Natural Resource Planner Gwendolyn Hannam.
Ready to get started?WICD's Natural Resource Planners provide no-cost technical assistance for all Whidbey Island residents and landowners.
Do you need assistance on your property with a natural resource challenge or goal? Please note that we are currently undergoing some staff transitions, so may have a few weeks delay in responding to your request. We appreciate your understanding and patience in this matter, and encourage you to explore the resources on our website in the interim 
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!
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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.
Water ResourcesClick a Tab Below for More Resources:
WATER UTILITIES & SEPTIC SYSTEMS
Water & Septic:
...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
Managing Stormwater on
Getting Started with Stormwater Management
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 Beaver Management
BLUFF & SHORELINE RESOURCES
Got Waterfront Property?
Resources for High Bank & Bluff Properties
Resources for Lowbank & Shoreline Properties
LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES
Understanding "L.I.D."
An Introduction to Low Impact Development
Rain Garden Basics
Rain Water Collection
Other "LID" Techniques & Practices
WATER RIGHTS
Water RightsWater Rights & Hydrogeology of Island County
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.
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