Introduction to Wetlands
Cattails and Sitka spruce, salamanders and great blue herons, white-tailed deer and juvenile salmon - wetlands are overflowing with life. In all, some 212 species of wildlife and many species of plant life depend on western Washington's wetlands for survival.

Hydrography - Interactive Map
Note: this link will open two new browser windows
View and query GIS datasets including the King County General Wetlands Survey. Individual wetlands in this dataset may be queried using the tool to identify wetland size and wetland rating referred to in sections 21A.24.320 to 21A.24.350 of the King County code.

King County Code>>Critical Areas (Acrobat PDF format)
County rules on development standards, restrictions, and requirements as well as permitted uses in and around King County wetlands and other sensitive areas. Codes pertaining specifically to wetlands can be found under sections 21A.24.320 to 21A.24.350 of this document. Contacts: DDES Critical Areas Review.

• Fact Sheet: Wetland Considerations for Development Proposals (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Wetland and Stream Reporting Guidelines
Guidelines to help residents prepare wetland and stream reports that are sometimes required for development permits. Includes Wetland Delineation Report Criteria (Acrobat PDF format), field procedures and standards used to map individual wetlands in King County. Provided by the Department of Development and Environmental Services. Contacts: Wetland and stream reporting guidelines.

Code Violations
See a wetland getting filled, drained, or cleared? Here are emergency phone numbers and an online form to notify the Dept. of Development and Environmental Services code enforcement 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Small Habitat Restoration Program
A King County group that restores and enhances streams and wetlands in small projects throughout the county. The program seeks your suggestions for good projects.

King County Wildlife: Beavers
Describes beaver problems, how they develop and their solutions and includes natural history information.

Characteristics of the low-elevation Sphagnum-dominated peatlands of western Washington: a community profile
Also known as "the bog book", this publication provides a compilation of data and findings about Sphagnum-dominated peatlands from existing local sources, most of which are unpublished as of November, 2001.

CRC Press - Wetland Publications
Major studies and technical publications related to wetlands, including the final version of King County's Wetlands and Urbanization Report - Implications for the Future.

Wetland Mitigation Banking
A mitigation bank site is a property purchased and converted to a wetland by a public agency or utility to earn credits to compensate for wetland damage at another site, usually from development by other agencies, utilities, or private developers. See a summary of Mitigation Banking Rules.

Washington State Dept of Ecology - Wetlands
This site provides considerable information about wetlands including Washington regulations, permitting, and mitigation, references for landowners interested in stewardship, educational materials, and sources for beautiful wetlands artwork.

Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Project
A capital improvement project to improve fish and wildlife habitat in Cedar River Wetland 79 near Maple Valley.

Wetland plant cooperative (external link)
A King Conservation District program providing wetland plants to organizations and community groups for habitat restoration projects.

For questions about the Department of Natural Resources and Parks Website, please contact Fred Bentler, webmaster.

Updated: July 25, 2008

Related Information:

King County Watersheds Map

King County Stormwater

Sustainable Building