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Snohomish County Marine Resource Committee presents 2025 annual report highlighting eelgrass and kelp monitoring
Summary
The Marine Resource Committee presented its 2025 annual report to the Planning and Community Development Committee, noting volunteer monitoring of forage fish, kelp and eelgrass beds, removal of derelict vessels, and a request to continue funding MRC staff and a marine ecology intern within Surface Water Management.
The Snohomish County Marine Resource Committee (MRC) presented its 2025 annual report to the Planning and Community Development Committee on May 19, emphasizing ongoing monitoring and restoration projects across county shorelines.
Julie Schlanger, MRC chair, described five focus areas: forage-fish monitoring, marine vegetation monitoring (including eelgrass), marine water-quality monitoring, derelict vessel removal and education outreach. Schlanger highlighted the Hat Island kelp beds as one of the county's largest floating kelp aggregations and noted statewide efforts to protect kelp and eelgrass.
Joycelyn Blue, senior planner with Surface Water Management and MRC coordinator, said volunteers donated more than 1,200 hours in 2025 with an estimated value of $52,000. She reported two derelict vessels were removed last year (bringing a multi-year total to 31 removals in the county) and stressed the MRC's role in collecting data that partners including the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and university researchers use for long-term planning.
The committee received the report and Schlanger said the MRC recommends continued county funding for MRC staff and a marine ecology intern in Surface Water Management to support monitoring and outreach work.
