Recommended Websites: Water and Soil

Healthy soil tools for contractors, builders and developers. Includes Washington soil best management practices requirements, guides to stormwater mitigation and soil restoration, and homebuyer factsheets.

King County's Department of Development and Environmental Services site with links to the legal code and documents to help land owners comply with the law.

How to use soaker hoses and drip irrigation, from the Saving Water Partnership.

List of WSU Cooperative Extension publications related to drought.

Tips for gardening in a drought year. A newspaper article by Linda Plato.

Description of a drought-tolerant garden near Seattle by Valerie Easton in the Seattle Times.

A list of accredited laboratories that test for toxins and chemicals in soil and water samples.

Tips for preparing your garden for drought. An article by Valerie Easton.

Soil Science Society of America's internet glossary of terms for the various disciplines of soil science.

How to use graywater, by Oasis Design.

Information and sources for rain barrels, cisterns and related products.

Irrigation tips to save water. An article by Mary Robson.

The King Conservation District has a soil testing program for anyone living within the District boundaries. This includes all of incorporated and unincorporated King County, except for cities that are not members of the King Conservation District: Enumclaw, Federal Way, Milton, Pacific and Skykomish.

Information and sources for rain barrels.

Lawn care information from WSU Cooperative Extension.

88 page pdf from Texas with detailed information on rainwater harvesting and treatment.

This protocol has been developed by King County to guide property owners and residents who would like to test their own soils for environmental toxins and heavy metals.

A Service of Seattle and participating area water utilities, with practical information on improving soil and choosing the right plants.

This informative web site gives water users ideas on how to cut their water consumption.

General information and links to other sites.

This Thornton Creek Watershed Characterization Report presents background information about the Thornton Creek watershed.

Graphs of precipitation, snowpack and water use in the Seattle area.

General guidelines for interpreting soil test results from Oregon State University (12 page pdf document)

Details of many types of irrigation systems, from Clemson University.

Plant selection for the low water-use garden. A Seattle P.I. article by Ann Lovejoy.

A pdf brochure listing of plants with various water requirements.

Weekly maps and statistics for drought conditions in the USA.

Statistics and links to news articles on droughts in the USA.

Calculates how much water you should be using inside and outside your home.

Information on drip irrigation from Fine Gardening magazine.

Tips for watering plants and landscapes from WSU Cooperative Extension.

Resources, plant lists, and publications about drought and drought tolerant plants.

From Washington State University. Includes resources on soil testing and soil test interpretation as well as a set of 29 slides that show the major soil types of the Puget Sound area.

How to find cheap options for rain barrels.