Stormwater News

Those who live in the Pacific Northwest are so lucky to consider it home. Surrounded by evergreen forests and stunning seascapes, it’s no wonder locals and visitors alike have fallen in love with the region. For Anacortes Stormwater Inspector Aaron Esterholt, helping residents preserve the natural beauty of their community is the ultimate goal. “It doesn’t matter where you are on the political spectrum, “ Aaron shares. “If you live here, it’s for a reason. It’s because you enjoy the outdoors, you enjoy the water, you enjoy fishing. Everyone plays a role in protecting our environment and preserving the nature we all enjoy.”

Growing up on his family’s ranch in Wyoming, Aaron’s passion for conservation was sparked at an early age. His grandfather often told him, “I might own the property, but this isn’t mine. This is nature’s gift to us.” This sense of stewardship and respect of nature has guided Aaron throughout his life and career. After high school, Aaron served in the United States Army for 15 years. Afterwards, he worked for a sustainable timber company based in Tacoma. In that role, he learned how to balance consumption and conservation in order to preserve our forests. He gained even more experience while working for an environmental consulting company in Seattle, then worked for the City of Bothell’s Stormwater Department for over ten years.

In March of 2023, Aaron began his current role as Anacortes’ Stormwater Inspector, where he’s already made great strides. His main goal is to help local businesses become more eco-friendly and improve their practices when it comes to stormwater discharges. Aaron explains, “As a city worker, we work for the residents of Anacortes. Our job is to keep the place we call home safe and beautiful so that nature and wildlife can thrive.” Through his interactions with local business owners, he educates residents why caring for stormwater is so important. Many might not realize that their seemingly small actions, like dumping dirty mop water onto the sidewalk, may have major consequences. Anything that goes down the stormwater drain will flow directly to the Salish Sea without treatment, where it can negatively impact fish and other sea creatures.

Many residents and business owners are not yet aware of this reality. That’s where Aaron comes in. He approaches each interaction with the mindset of helping people learn, rather than making them feel reprimanded. “You don’t have to shame people or make them feel bad,” Aaron explains. “You just have to reach out, educate them, and help them change their habits.” Changing long-standing habits can be difficult, but Aaron ensures that he approaches the situation with compassion and understanding. He says, “If people knew, ‘Oh, this little thing I’m doing effects the place I love,’ it helps encourage them to change their habits.’”

Aaron reports that many local Anacortes businesses have enthusiastically made changes to make their practices more stormwater-friendly. “It’s so great to see when business owners take the information and really run with it,” he shares. Seeing residents and businesses making progress and doing their part to protect the environment is his favorite part of the job.

Aaron encourages anyone interested in conservation to pursue a career in the stormwater field. His biggest advice? “Be patient. You’ll want to come in and change the world and make big changes right away. But, it’s important to be patient with people and meet them where they’re at. It’s important not to lecture people and make them feel bad. If you listen to their concerns and explain how they can make new habits, you’ll have a lot more success.”

Aaron shares several ways we can all do our part to protect our marine waters. He cautions boaters against washing their boats directly in the water. Soaps, even those labeled “marine-safe”, contain elements that are harmful to the health of fish and other marine wildlife. When keeping your car or boat clean, it’s best to head to a professional car wash. Car washes have special filtration systems that separate chemicals out of runoff and keep these harmful pollutants out of the stormwater system. If you want to wash your car or boat at home, Aaron recommends pulling the vehicle onto your lawn. Any chemicals, bacteria, or solvents will drain into the soil rather than flowing down the road and directly into a stormwater drain.

With beautiful fall foliage comes leaf clean up. Aaron recommends caution when using a leaf-blower to clear leaves off your yard. When leaves are blown into the street, they often end up going down stormwater drains where they clog up the system as they decompose. Instead of blowing leaves into the street, make sure to keep them on your property. (Pro tip: when you leave leaves in your garden, nutrients are added to your soil which will help your plants grow bigger and stronger!)

Have questions about how to make your home or business more stormwater friendly? Don’t hesitate to reach out to the City of Anacortes’ Stormwater Department! You can reach Aaron at: aarone@cityofanacortes.org.