Snohomish County Research Articles

First Report of Infection of Cherry Rusty Mottle Associated Virus in Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica) in Washington State.

During late spring of 2012 in Snohomish County of Washington State, chlorotic yellow leaf blotch symptoms suggestive of a virus infection were observed on Portuguese laurel (Prunus lusitanica) planted in a hedge row. Leaf samples from representative trees were initially tested for the presence of Cherry leaf roll virus (CLRV) and Plum pox virus (PPV) by ELISA with antibodies specific to CLRV and general potyvirus, respectively (Agdia, Inc., Elkhart, IN). The ELISA test yielded negative results for both viruses. Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR was pursued to detect other viruses known to infect Prunus spp., namely American plum line pattern virus (APLPV), Apple chlorotic leafspot virus (ACLSV), Cherry mottle leaf virus (CMLV), Cherry raspleaf virus (CRLV), Cherry virus A (CVA), Prune dwarf virus (PDV), and Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV), as well as CLRV and PPV. None of these viruses were detected. However, RT-PCR with a generic primer pair Fovea2/AdPr (3) that amplifies the coat protein (CP) coding sequence and 3'-untranslated regions (3'-UTR) of several members of the family Betaflexiviridae yielded a 1.4-kb amplicon that was cloned into pCR2.1 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) and sequenced (GenBank Accession No. KF356396). The sequences from three clones were 99.8% identical to each other at the nucleotide level. Comparison of the consensus CP coding region with the nucleotide sequence database revealed 86 to 93% identity to Cherry rusty mottle associated virus (CRMaV), and only 73 to 75% identities to Cherry necrotic rusty mottle virus (CNRMV) (1) and 71 to 76% identities to Cherry green ring mottle virus (CGRMV) (4) isolates from sweet cherry (P. avium). This result suggested that the cloned fragment represents a strain of CRMaV. Prunus avium 'Bing' and 'Sam,' and P. serrulata 'Kwanzan' were grafted with bark patches from the symptomatic tree and observed for induction of cherry rusty mottle disease (CRMD) symptoms. Ninety days after grafting, symptoms typical of CRMD consisting of chlorotic yellow mottle appeared on 'Bing,' 'Sam,' and 'Kwanzan' indicators. Small necrotic spots also appeared on the leaves of the latter. Angular necrotic lesions on 'Sam' and epinasty of 'Kwanzan' that are diagnostic symptoms of cherry necrotic rusty mottle disease (CNRMD) and cherry green ring mottle disease (CGRMD), respectively, were absent from graft inoculated indicators. Further RT-PCR tests on the indicators using primers specific to CNRMV, CGRMV, and CRMaV (2) yielded negative results for CNRMV and CGRMV but showed positive amplification for CRMaV. The results of the woody indexing corroborate the presence of CRMaV but the absence of CNRMV and CGRMV in the symptomatic Portuguese laurel. To our knowledge, this is the first report of CRMaV in Portuguese laurel in the United States and the first description of symptoms associated with CRMaV in this host. As a potential reservoir of CRMaV, Portuguese laurel could play an important component in management of CRMD in cherry production areas where this ornamental cherry is also present.

Starting the Conversation - A Childhood Obesity Knowledge Project Using an App.

Starting the Conversation was a pilot project to test an intervention for childhood obesity, a major public health epidemic, using a free smartphone application (app). The primary aim was to assess students' knowledge of nutritional indicators, physical exercise and use of screen time before and after the intervention. The study was conducted in 2011-2012. The sample, recruited from seven high schools in Snohomish County, Washington, was 65.3% minority participants. Of the 118 participants in the sample (n=118), 79 handwrote their responses (n=78) and 36 responded via the app (n=39). We compared the frequency and types of physical exercise, frequency of screen time, and nutritional variables of high school students. Participants used the cell phone app or a handwritten log to record their daily entries for 20 days. Both males (n=43) and females (n=75) grades 9-12 used the app or handwritten entries. Participants who used the app ate less fast food and exercised more, as compared with those who recorded their entries by hand. Screen time usage decreased over the course of the study, based on a comparison of the post-survey level and the pre-survey level. Knowledge of recommended daily consumption of vegetables increased post-test in the app group and knowledge of water consumption increased significantly in both groups. There was no significant difference in BMI pre and post-test. Patterns of nutritional intake, physical exercise and knowledge of these issues varied pre and post-test. It is critical to further examine factors associated with lack of physical activity and food intake patterns of youth using social media to further address the childhood obesity epidemic. Future research should focus on specific ethnic subgroups and an intervention at the school level aimed at the students with BMI ≥ 95th percentile.

Summer Youth Forestry Institute

The Summer Youth Forestry Institute (SYFI) was developed to inspire youth through experiential learning opportunities and early work experience in the field of natural resources. Declining enrollments in forestry and other natural resource careers has made it necessary to actively engage youth and provide them with exposure to careers in these fields. The 2011 SYFI combined Extension Forestry and 4-H objectives by providing both youth development and forest management skills through a paid internship, targeting rural high school students in Snohomish County, WA.

Wildlife Passage in Snohomish County: September 2010 to April 2011

Wildlife constitutes a vital, but often unseen, component of Western Washington ecosystems. Wildlife tracking and motion sensor cameras offer a window into the secretive life of animals as they intersect with our roads and highways. The Learn and Serve Environmental Anthropology Field (LEAF) School at Edmonds Community College, in collaboration with Snohomish County Public Works, instituted a formal wildlife-monitoring project in September 2010. This report summarizes data collected through April 2011 at four wildlife corridor sites in Snohomish County. At two sites, Granite Falls Alternative Route and Bridge 600 over Swamp Creek, students monitored newly constructed wildlife passage structures. At two other sites, Bridge 42 over Jim Creek and the 180th and 51st Ave SE Brightwater Culverts, students conducted pre-construction monitoring where wildlife passage structures have been proposed. The data collected to date clearly demonstrates that targeted species are using the newly constructed passage structures and that wildlife passage is needed at the proposed construction sites.

A Rapid Ethnographic Assessment of the Septic Industry in Snohomish County, Washington

A rapid ethnographic assessment of the septic industry in Snohomish County, Washington reveals that the knowledge of professionals in the field can contribute valuably to a social marketing campaign directed at homeowners. Intensive daily interaction with homeowners gives septic designers, installers and pumpers a front row seat for observing common household mistakes and an insight into possible motivations and barriers to quality care and maintenance of septic systems. Septic professionals working across multiple county boundaries have constructive and valuable suggestions for local government’s efforts to guide human behavior through policies, incentives and marketing.

Brief Summary of Jetty Island History

More than 50,000 people annually come to a two-mile long, man-made island in Everett, Washington to relax on sandy beaches, wade in warm and shallow water, join guided nature hikes, watch wildlife, kayak around the perimeter and kite board with steady afternoon winds. Jetty Island is recognized today as one of Snohomish County’s top recreational and wildlife resources but if the founders of Everett had achieved their goals then the riprap jetty would have more closely resembled Seattle’s Harbor Island. Today’s Jetty Island is not only a top tourist destination but also a wildlife conservation area. Its sandy beaches, mud flat and salt water marshes provide important habitat not as readily available elsewhere in Snohomish River delta. It supports an abundance of wildlife, including bald eagles, Chinook salmon, osprey, bull trout, and blue heron. In fact, observers have identified 115 species of birds in the vicinity of the island. Everett’s treasured island may not have realized the potential envisioned by city founders but it stands in sharp contrast to Seattle’s Harbor Island, an industrialized and toxic Superfund site.

A life cycle assessment of end-of-life computer monitor management in the Seattle metropolitan region

A life cycle assessment was performed on the management of waste computer monitors from King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap counties in Washington State considering four options for the final destination of the monitors; reuse, recycling, sanitary landfilling, or hazardous waste landfilling. The system was interpreted in two ways; comparing the disposal of a single cathode ray tube (CRT) and liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor and the expected regional change in monitor disposals between 2008 and 2010. The results were separated into two scenarios, one in which credit was given for the avoidance of primary material production in response to the generation of recyclables and one where credit was not given. The effect of avoiding primary material production was large enough to change the impact assessment results from a system that consumed energy, contributed to global warming, and generated air emissions to one that produced energy, reduced global warming, and was a sink of air emissions. LCD monitor disposal had lower impacts than CRT monitor disposal in all impact categories except for the management of mercury. This translates into a reduction of the impact or an increase in the benefit for each impact category, except the management of mercury, for the system from 2008 to 2010 due to changing composition of the monitor disposal stream from CRT to LCD technology.

Sustainable Habitat Restoration: Fish, Farms, and Ecosystem Services

The conversion of estuarine marshes and floodplains to agricultural uses through diking, draining, and filling has left little adequate salmon habitat and, as a result, has been a critical factor in the decline of salmon populations. Current efforts to restore salmon by reestablishing functionality. In particular, it has become more common to include dam and dike breaches as feasible solutions. Of course, there is a cost involved in habitat restoration, even if it is not an obvious environmental cost. This article examines the dialogue on salmon valuation by contrasting the historical view of salmon-as-commodity with insights from ecosystem services. This emerging trend in ecological economics will play a critical role in justifying restoration projects and formulating sustainability strategies; services valuation is showing that investments in natural capital can provide substantial returns. This article also provides a case study of the Smith Island Habitat Restoration Project in Snohomish County, Washington. Smith Island, which was converted to farmland a century ago, exhibits enormous potential value for habitat restoration and begs for an inclusive process that considers the voices for economic, human, and well-being. The resolution of the Smith Island controversy provides an insightful example of how a sustainability framework can be useful in showing that restoration strategies can offer substantial benefits to other lands uses and interests.

Public health impacts of climate change in Washington State: projected mortality risks due to heat events and air pollution

Illness and mortality related to heat and worsening air quality are core public health concerns associated with climate change projections. We examined the historical relationship between age- and cause-specific mortality rates from 1980 through 2006 and heat events at the 99th percentile of humidex values in the historic period from January 1, 1970 to December 31, 2006 in the greater Seattle area (King, Pierce and Snohomish counties), Spokane County, the Tri-Cities (Benton and Franklin counties) and Yakima County; the relative risks of mortality during heat events were applied to population and climate projections for Washington State to calculate number of deaths above the baseline (1980–2006) expected during projected heat events in 2025, 2045 and 2085. Three different warming scenarios were used in the analysis. Relative risks for the greater Seattle area showed a significant dose-response relationship between heat event duration and daily mortality rates for non-traumatic deaths for persons ages 45 and above, typically peaking at four days of exposure to humidex values above the 99th percentile. The largest number of projected excess deaths in all years and scenarios for the Seattle region was found for age 65 and above. Under the middle warming scenario, this age group is expected to have 96, 148 and 266 excess deaths from all non-traumatic causes in 2025, 2045 and 2085, respectively. We also examined projected excess deaths due to ground-level ozone concentrations at mid century (2045–2054) in King and Spokane counties. Current (1997–2006) ozone measurements and mid-twenty-first century ozone projections were coupled with dose-response data from the scientific literature to produce estimates overall and cardiopulmonary mortality. Daily maximum 8-h ozone concentrations are forecasted to be 16–28% higher in the mid twenty-first century compared to the recent decade of 1997–2006. By mid-century in King County the non-traumatic mortality rate related to ozone was projected to increase from baseline (0.026 per 100,000; 95% confidence interval 0.013–0.038) to 0.033 (95% CI 0.017–0.049). For the same health outcome in Spokane County, the baseline period rate of 0.058 (95% CI 0.030–0.085) was estimated increase to 0.068 (95% CI 0.035–0.100) by mid-century. The cardiopulmonary death rate per 100,000 due to ozone was estimated to increase from 0.011 (95% CI 0.005–0.017) to 0.015 (0.007–0.022) in King County, and from 0.027 (95% CI 0.013–0.042) to 0.032 (95% CI 0.015–0.049) in Spokane County. Public health interventions aimed at protecting Washington’s population from excessive heat and increased ozone concentrations will become increasingly important for preventing deaths, especially among older adults. Furthermore, heat and air quality related illnesses that do not result in death, but are serious nevertheless, may be reduced by the same measures.

Fatigue and Strength Evaluation of Two Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Bridge Decks

The use of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bridge decks is appealing for applications where minimizing dead load is critical. This paper describes fatigue and strength testing of two types of GFRP decks being considered for use in the retrofit of an aging steel arch bridge in Snohomish County, Washington, where a roadway expansion is necessary and it is desirable to minimize the improvements to the arch superstructure. Each test used a setup designed to be as close as practicable to what will be the in situ conditions for the deck, which included a 2% cross slope for drainage. The fatigue testing consisted of a single 116 kN (26 kip) load applied for 2 million cycles, which corresponds to an AASHTO HS-25 truck with a 30% impact factor, and the strength testing consisted of multiple runs of a monotonically applied minimum load of 347 kN (78 kips). Results from the fatigue testing indicated a degradation of the stiffness of both deck types; however, the degradation was limited to less than 12% over the duration of loading. Further, the results showed both deck types accumulated permanent deck displacement during fatigue loading and one deck type used a detail with poor fatigue performance. That detail detrimentally impacted the overall deck performance and caused large permanent deck deformations. It was also found that degradation of composite behavior between the deck and girders occurs during fatigue loading and should be included in design.

Tuberculosis Transmission and Use of Methamphetamines in Snohomish County, WA, 1991–2006

We investigated a cluster of tuberculosis (TB) cases among persons using methamphetamines in Snohomish County, Washington, to determine the extent of the outbreak, examine whether methamphetamine use contributed to TB transmission, and implement strategies to prevent further infections. We screened contacts to find and treat persons with TB disease or infection. We then formed a multidisciplinary team to engage substance abuse services partners and implement outreach strategies including novel methods for finding contacts and a system of incentives and enablers to promote finding, screening, and treating patients with TB and their infected contacts. We diagnosed and completed treatment with 10 persons with TB disease. Eight of 9 adult patients and 67% of their adult contacts reported using methamphetamines. Of the 372 contacts, 319 (85.8%) were screened, 80 (25.1%) were infected, 71 (88.8%) started treatment for latent infection, and 57 (80.3%) completed treatment for latent infection. Collaborative approaches integrating TB control, outreach, incentives, and enablers resulted in high rates of treatment adherence and completion among patients and infected contacts. TB control programs should collaborate with substance abuse programs to address addiction, overcome substance abuse-related barriers to treatment, treat TB, and prevent ongoing transmission.

Factors That Influence a Jurisdiction’s Probability of Charging Impact Fees

Increasing limitations on property taxes, declining federal, and state investment in infrastructure, and the realization that growth should pay its own way are among the major reasons contributing to local governments’ increasing reliance on impact fees to finance their growing infrastructure, including transportation needs. Although the factors that have led to the wide spread use of impact fees have been previously examined, the earlier studies have been largely theoretical in nature. This study, through empirical analysis of jurisdictional-level attributes of 16 impact fee charging cities and towns of King County and Snohomish County, Washington, for the period of 1991–2000, identifies and provides relative importance of several factors that influence the probability of a jurisdiction charging impact fees. The results show that these factors include population size of the jurisdiction, property tax rate, per-pupil school expenditure, and the number of new single family permits issued per year.

Association of marijuana use and the incidence of testicular germ cell tumors

The incidence of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) has been increasing the past 4 to 6 decades; however, exposures that account for this rise have not been identified. Marijuana use also grew during the same period, and it has been established that chronic marijuana use produces adverse effects on the human endocrine and reproductive systems. In this study, the authors tested the hypothesis that marijuana use is a risk factor for TGCT. A population-based, case-control study of 369 men ages 18 to 44 years who were diagnosed with TGCT from January 1999 through January 2006 was conducted in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties in Washington State. The responses of these men to questions on their lifetime marijuana use were compared with the responses of 979 age-matched controls who resided in the same 3 counties during the case diagnosis period. Men with a TGCT were more likely to be current marijuana smokers at the reference date compared with controls (odds ratio [OR], 1.7; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.1-2.5). In analyses according to histologic type, most of the association between current marijuana use and TGCT was observed in men who had nonseminomas/mixed histology tumors (current use: OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.3-4.0). Age at first use among current users (age<18 years [OR, 2.8] vs age>or=18 years [OR, 1.3]) and frequency of use (daily or weekly [OR, 3.0] vs less than once per week [OR, 1.8]) appeared to modify the risk. An association was observed between marijuana use and the occurrence of nonseminoma TGCTs. Additional studies of TGCTs will be needed to test this hypothesis, including molecular analyses of cannabinoid receptors and endocannabinoid signaling, which may provide clues regarding the biologic mechanisms of TGCTs.

Horizon Financial Corp.

AbstractCommercial Banking (MIC: SIC: 6022 NAIC: 522190)Horizon Financial is a bank holding company. Through its subsidiary, Horizon Bank (the Bank), Co. provides a range of commercial and mortgage lending services to borrowers as well as a range of customer services to depositors. As of Mar 31 2008, Co. provided these services through 19 full‐service office facilities, four commercial loan centers and four real estate loan centers, located in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish and Pierce counties in Northwest Washington. The Bank originates both fixed rate and adjustable rate mortgages secured by residential, business, and commercial real estate. As of Mar 31 2008, Co. had total assets of $1.39 billion and total deposits of $1.04 billion.

Horizon Financial Corp.

AbstractCommercial Banking (MIC: SIC: 6022 NAIC: 522190)Horizon Financial is a bank holding company. Co., through its subsidiary, Horizon Bank provides an array of commercial and mortgage lending services to borrowers and a range of customer services to depositors through 18 full‐service office facilities, four commercial loan centers and four real estate loan centers, located in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish and Pierce counties of Washington State. The Bank originates both fixed rate and adjustable rate mortgages secured by residential, business, and commercial real estate. As of Mar 31 2007, Co. had total assets of $1.27 billion and total deposits of $975.3 million.

Horizon Financial Corp.

AbstractCommercial Banking (MIC: 8.1 SIC: 6022 NAIC: 522190)Horizon Financial is a bank holding company. Co., through its subsidiary, Horizon Bank provides an array of commercial and mortgage lending services to borrowers and a range of customer services to depositors through 18 full‐service office facilities, four commercial loan centers and four real estate loan centers, located in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish and Pierce counties of Washington State. The Bank originates both fixed rate and adjustable rate mortgages secured by residential, business, and commercial real estate. As of Mar 31 2007, Co. had total assets of $1.27 billion and total deposits of $975.3 million.

Horizon Financial Corp.

AbstractCommercial Banking (MIC: 8.1 SIC: 6022 NAIC: 522190)Horizon Financial is a bank holding company. Co., through its subsidiary, Horizon Bank provides an array of commercial and mortgage lending services to borrowers and a range of customer services to depositors through 18 full‐service office facilities, four commercial loan centers and four real estate loan centers, located in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish and Pierce counties of Washington State. The Bank originates both fixed rate and adjustable rate mortgages secured by residential, business, and commercial real estate. As of Mar 31 2007, Co. had total assets of $1.27 billion and total deposits of $975.3 million.

Quantification of impervious surface in the Snohomish Water Resources Inventory Area of Western Washington from 1972–2006

A 34 year time series (1972–2006) of Landsat imagery for a portion of Snohomish and King Counties, Washington (the Snohomish Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA)) was analyzed to estimate the amount of land that was converted into impervious surface as a result of urban and residential development. Spectral unmixing was used to determine the fractional composition of vegetation, open, and shadow for each pixel. Unsupervised and supervised classification techniques were then used to derive preliminary land cover maps for each time period. Digital orthophotos were used to create agricultural, forest management, high elevation, and riparian masks. In conjunction with established Urban Growth Areas (UGAs), these masks were utilized for the application of spatial rules that identified impervious surface as a surrogate for urban and residential development. Temporal rules, that minimized classification error, were developed based on each pixel's classified trajectory over the time series of imagery. Overall cross-date classification accuracy for impervious v. non-impervious surface was 95%. The results of the analysis indicate that the area of impervious surface in the Snohomish WRIA increased by 255% over 34 years, from 3285 ha in 1972 to 11,652 ha in 2006. This approach demonstrates the unique value of the 35 year Landsat archive for monitoring impervious surface trends in rapidly urbanizing areas.

Supreme Court Amicus Brief Regarding Morgan Stanley Capital Group Inc. v. Public Utility District No. 1 of Snohomish County, Washington

Economists have long recognized that certainty of contract is essential to a healthy economy. Long-term forward contracts, in particular, help reduce financial risk. Those contracts can only accomplish that goal, however, if parties know the contracts will be enforced. From an economic and policy standpoint, long-term energy contracts should be abrogated only in truly exceptional circumstances. The mere fact that a price seems too high in retrospect does not justify abrogating contracts voluntarily agreed to by sophisticated buyers and sellers. Nor do generalized claims of - market dysfunction - at the time the contract was formed.

Horizon Financial Corp.

AbstractCommercial Banking (MIC: 8.1 SIC: 6022 NAIC: 522190)Horizon Financial is a bank holding company. Co., through its subsidiary, Horizon Bank provides an array of commercial and mortgage lending services to borrowers and a range of customer services to depositors through 18 full‐service office facilities, four commercial loan centers and four real estate loan centers, located in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish and Pierce counties of Washington State. The Bank originates both fixed rate and adjustable rate mortgages secured by residential, business, and commercial real estate. As of Mar 31 2007, Co. had total assets of $1.27 billion and total deposits of $975.3 million.