DNR is responsible for more than 2 million acres of forested state trust lands in Washington. We say this a lot, because it is an important responsibility. DNR timber harvests and other activities provide non-tax revenue dollars to help build Washington’s public schools, universities, and prisons and to support local communities. This creates local jobs, habitat for animals, and these forests help to keep our watersheds healthy.
DNR is also responsible for implementing stringent forest practices rules that guide how timber is harvested on 12 million acres of DNR-managed and private forestland statewide. The Forest & Fish rules work to protect riparian areas for fish habitat and clean water. These rules also protect potentially unstable slopes in the forested environment.
Our geology experts are tasked with finding areas that are most susceptible to landslides or erosion so those risks can be limited. While landslides will never entirely cease, with smart land management we can help minimize the frequency and intensity of landslides occurring as a result of timber harvest activities.
Landslides can negatively impact our streams and rivers that provide crucial habitat and migratory corridors for salmon. Rain can wash these disturbed materials that muddy the streams and in-stream habitat, or slides also can block the natural flow of water through our mountains —forcing streams or rivers to dig out new paths.
Additionally, in our efforts to help restore Puget Sound back to health, DNR is very careful in all of our upland activities. Disruption of ecological processes upstream, ultimately affect habitats, species, and aquatic ecosystems downstream.
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