Water Resource Management

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

If you need assistance in managing stormwater on your property, please contact Gwendolyn Hannam at (888) 678-4922.

WETLANDS, LAKES & STREAMS RESOURCES

So You Have a Wetland...

Getting Started with Wetlands on Your Property

• ​Island County Planning Wetlands Resources
• ​Island County Planning Dept. Contact Us
• ​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
  

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​

If you need assistance in selecting native plant species specific to the wetland on your property, please contact Kelsi Mottet at (888) 678-4922, or visit the WICD Native Plants page for additional resources.

BLUFF & SHORELINE RESOURCES

Got Waterfront Property?

Resources for High Bank & Bluff Properties

• 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
• ​Sample Planting Plans
• ​Erosion Control Fabric​

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​
• Marine Shoreline Plant Species
• ​Marine Planting List​
• Sample Planting Plans
• ​​​Aquatic Vegetation Management & Control

If you need assistance in selecting native plant species specific to your high bank, bluff, or shoreline property, please contact Kelsi Mottet at (888) 678-4922, or visit the WICD Native Plants page for additional resources..

LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES

Understanding "L.I.D."

An Introduction to Low Impact Development

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

Rain Garden Basics

• Rain Garden Handbook of Western WA
• ​WSU Rain Garden Basics
• ​​Native Plants for Rain Gardens
• ​Rain Garden Poster

Rain Water Collection

• ​Rainwater Collection - WA DOE
• ​Rainwater Use It or Lose It

Whidbey Island Conservation District staff can assist you with questions you have regarding water resource management. Water resource management is a broad idea and includes properties that abut our shorelines & high bank bluffs, as well as those with wetlands, streams, or lakes on them. Perhaps water resource management for you involves drainage challenges, or explores the use of alternative stormwater management techniques like rain gardens, permeable pavers, or rain water catchment systems like rain barrels. Commonly referred to as "LID" or Low Impact Development, alternative stormwater management techniques address water resource challenges by emphasizing on-site treatment and infiltration of storm water as an alternative to conventional storm water controls. ASM practices encompass a variety of storm water management techniques, including bioswales, rain gardens, green streets, and permeable paving. These practices mimic the hydrology of the original, natural landscape, which allows rainfall to soak into the ground. These techniques also reduce the runoff of storm water into nearby water bodies, providing filtration of the water and recharge of ground water supplies. Alternative stormwater management practices applicable to Island County include retaining native vegetation, minimizing clearing and grading, reducing impervious surfaces, infiltration 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 these water resources on your property effectively and in alignment with best management practices, please reach out to us and we'd be happy to help you. An important part of Whidbey Island Conservation District's mission is to continue to educate and provide outreach on the subject of Alternative Stormwater Management, with the goal that eventually Whidbey Island builders, planners, permitting agencies, and residents all consider incorporating ASM practices into every project in the early stages of development. To learn more, contact us at (888) 678-4922 and ask for Gwendolyn.