King County's 'Stream Team' Prepares For 2022 Recruitment

KING COUNTY, WA — The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks is gearing up to recruit this year's class of "Stream Team" scientists, who deploy each summer to help measure the health of 200 streams across the region.

According to the county, a small team collects and studies aquatic bugs and keeps tabs on their environment and habitat to help provide the county will long-term data on water quality impacts and measure the effectiveness of restoration projects.

Scientists monitor the conditions for "benthic macroinvertebrates," which play a big role in the overall ecosystem.

"They really are some of the best, most efficient tools we have to track water quality across the county," said Kate Macneale, the Stream Team's lead researcher. "Their health helps indicate how well we're managing urban growth, stormwater, and forests across the county."

Teams take detailed notes on each watershed, documenting the level of shade available, how deep and wide the streams are, what the water's temperature is and how fast it flows.

Each seasonal role, called Environmental Aides, is paid and officials said members also receive valuable ecology experience in the process. Their work also helps improve conditions for residents, salmon and orcas.

The county will begin accepting applications for this year's Stream Team next month, and those interested in applying can reach out via e-mail.