Bothell’s surface water management division of public works recently published a winter newsletter highlighting numerous ways locals can help protect streams, storm drains and general environment.

The city is teaming up with Friends of North Creek Forest for the MLK Day of Service Volunteer event in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The work party takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 21. Volunteers will remove invasive plant species, replacing them with native species and mulch. The event hosts will provide gloves, shovels, gear and refreshments.

Anyone can sign up at www.ci.bothell.wa.us/1354/Community-Events.

Additionally, the King Conservation District and Snohomish Conservation District are continuing to take orders for plants and hard-to-find native species that can’t be found at local nurseries. Locals can place orders at tinyurl.com/ycpq7bc4 and tinyurl.com/yczrbxl8.

The city plans to continue offering natural yard care workshops after calling the October workshops a success, according to a press release. Locals can have direct input on future topics by filling out a city survey at tinyurl.com/y72y43rl.

The city also offered several tips for locals to prepare their gardens for spring including raking winter leaf mulch back onto beds if the wind blows it off, weeding beds once during winter to prevent weeds going to seed and pruning fruit trees and other woody trees and shrubs while they’re dormant.

The surface water staff works to protect local streams through storm system inspection, maintenance, construction oversight, stream monitoring, education and outreach opportunities to foster healthy watershed stewardship. Locals can learn more on the city’s website.