The Surface Water and Environmental Services (SWES) division is responsible for a variety of programs primarily directed at protecting the environment. SWES staff responds to citizen and agency requests to investigate environmental concerns and possible violations of water pollution ordinances. SWES is involved in initiating long-term water quality monitoring sites on streams, lakes and wetlands throughout the City, and participates in salmon recovery planning efforts locally and regionally. Staff inspects and monitors drainage infrastructure to insure optimal performance and compliance with City ordinances. Integral to all of this is the environmental education outreach program that provides an opportunity for people to learn more about what they can do to protect our aquatic ecosystems for current and future generations.

Water Quality Monitoring Program
The City regularly monitors the condition of the City’s surface waters through the implementation of several water quality monitoring programs. The City currently conducts monthly monitoring at 15 sites to track commonly measured water quality parameters in the streams, lakes and wetlands in the City of Shoreline.  The data will be used to assess current conditions and future trends in water quality. The City monitors for bacteria at the Hidden and Echo Lake swimming beaches from mid May through mid September. The purpose of the sampling is to determine the presence and levels of bacteria pollution and relative human health risks associated with swimming activities.  As part of the King County Lake Stewardship Program the City conducts monitoring of the water quality in Echo Lake from mid may through mid October. This data is used to develop historical records for lake water quality and evaluate trends in lake level and water quality over time. Other monitoring includes a digital rain gage tipping bucket, continuous stream temperature readings at 15 minute intervals (at five sites) and water level readings at Ronald Bog and M-1 Dam. For more information, please contact Jessica Williams at (206) 546-1925, or via email at jwilliams@ci.shoreline.wa.us.

Stormwater Runoff
Surface Water Management staff is concerned with the management of the quantity and quality of stormwater runoff within the City. This is accomplished through maintenance of City-owned stormwater infrastructure, the design and implementation of repairs to drainage infrastructure (Surface Water Small Works Capital Projects) and responding to customers with drainage, flooding, or spill issues. The Surface Water Management office is responsible for implementing the City of Shoreline’s Surface Water Master Plan and complying with the Department of Ecology’s Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System [NPDES] Permit). 

The NPDES permit requires the City to submit a Stormwater Management Program on or before March 31, 2008.  This program is a set of actions and activities to comply with the permit provisions.  The permit can be found on the Ecology web site. The City already has many of the programs in place that are required by the permit.  If you have comments on current programs or new programs required by the permit, please submit comments by February 15, 2008 to Jessica Williams at (206) 546-1925 or email jwilliams@ci.shoreline.wa.us.

Stormwater Facility Inspections
Surface Water Management staff has been conducting annual inspections of privately and publicly owned drainage facility structures since 1998. While not every catch basin or stormwater conveyance structure is inspected, those with structures to control water quality and quantity are. The inspections are aimed at reducing and eliminating pollutants from being discharged into surface waters and thus maintaining and protecting the health of the affected streams, wetlands and Puget Sound. SWES staff is responsible for the inspection of approximately 350 facilities throughout the City.  Those privately-owned sites that are found to meet prescribed maintenance standards received a discount on their annual Surface Water fee.  For more information, please contact Jessica Williams at (206) 546-1925 or email jwilliams@ci.shoreline.wa.us.