Skip to main content

KingCounty.gov is an official government website.

Official government websites use .gov
Website addresses ending in .gov belong to official government organizations in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Only share sensitive information on official, secure websites.
King County Washington home

Science services

King County scientists conduct research, analyze data, and share findings to protect and restore clean water and healthy habitat. This work supports a wide variety of King County’s environmental and public health programs, including those that address salmon recovery; harmful freshwater bacteria and algae; toxic contaminants in water, soil, and fish; habitat management; wastewater and stormwater; and land use and/or development.
Four images: The first on the left shows a group of people in orange vests crouched in low water on a sunny day; the second is a close up of a juvenile salmon being measured; the third is three people facing away from the camera on the deck of a boat; the fourth is a palm holding 4 caddis fly larva

Explore the science of King County

Toxic chemical assessment

Learn how King County scientists track toxic chemicals, assess risks to humans and wildlife, and guide efforts to support healthier communities and ecosystems.

Lake swim beach monitoring

During the summer, we test the water for bacteria at many lake beaches in King County. Explore this page to learn about where, how, and why we monitor and to find a health beach near you!

Lake services and monitoring

King County provides an array of services and information to facilitate lake management, monitoring, and enjoyment.

Water quality monitoring data

Use this map to find water quality data from across King County, including biological, chemical, and hydrologic data. 

Benthic macroinvertebrate (stream bug) monitoring

Learn why aquatic insect counts provide insight about the health of streams, and look up measures for many streams in King County, Washington.

Stream monitoring

Learn about our stream monitoring program and look up water quality data and graphs for streams and rivers including temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, conductivity, total suspended solids, phosphorus, nitrogen, bacteria, metals, precipitation, overall water quality index, and toxicity and pesticide studies

Puget Sound marine monitoring

Get water quality, plankton, fish and crab tissue, and sediment data sampled from the marine waters in Puget Sound.

Groundwater management and data

Learn how King County manages aquifers for drinking water and look up water quality sample data and well levels using a map.

Hydrologic Information Center

Look up records for over 500 sites for stream gages on rivers and streams, rain gages, gages in wetlands, lakes and detention facilities, groundwater wells, and water quality samples.

Wildlife

Learn about biodiversity, stream bugs, fish and shellfish, beavers, and creatures that live in Puget Sound.

Science document search

Find local scientific documents going back decades on topics such as natural features, water quality, wastewater, ecology and biodiversity, modeling and analysis.

Technical Document and Research Center

King County's science library curating local scientific publications going back to the 1800's.

Projects - environment, ecology and conservation

Environmental projects that restore fish and wildlife habitat, improve water quality, reduce flood risk and manage stormwater.

PFAS/forever chemicals

Actions to protect the people, fish, and wildlife from human-made toxic chemicals.

Related information

Water and Land Resources Division

Find other services we provide and learn what we do. 

Clean Water Healthy Habitat

The right investments at the right time in the right places

Climate Action Plan

5-year mitigation and adaptation plan for King County

Environmental education

Learn about the environment we live in, all ages welcome.

PIC work group

Keeping poop out of water to keep people, animals, and our communities safe and healthy.

Stormwater pollution

How to reduce your water pollution.

What is a watershed?

Introduction to land and its downstream waters.

Parks and recreation

Get outside and enjoy all that King County has to offer.