Conservation & Natural Areas
Natural Area Preserves, Natural Resources Conservation Areas & other lands in conservation
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DNR kicks off Natural Areas Appreciation Week on Saturday
Walks and tours with DNR’s experts on natural areas are on the menu for Natural Areas Appreciation Week, May 7 – 14. Events are taking place across the state starting this weekend. Here’s a list of events — all are free.… Continue reading
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DNR & UW open window into beauty, diversity of rarest plants in state
The reviews are coming in and it’s ‘thumbs up’ for a new guide to Washington’s rarest plants. Years in the making, the Field Guide to the Rare Plants of Washington offers a window into the beauty and diversity of the rarest… Continue reading
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Your input needed on proposed Lummi Island NRCA boundary
Forested shorelines with steep, rocky headlands above northern Puget Sound—this is the 661-acre Lummi Island Natural Resources Conservation Area (NRCA). A forest dominated by old growth Douglas-fir provides an appealing habitat particularly to birds of prey, and there’s a small marine park… Continue reading
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Expansion of Morning Star NRCA boundary presented to public for comments
In 2007, three Natural Resource Conservation Areas (NRCA), Morning Star, Mount Pilchuck and Greider Ridge, were combined under the name Morning Star NRCA. This area’s attractions are varied, from extremely steep and rugged terrain with numerous small alpine lakes and… Continue reading
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Cool cats collared
After a lynx has recovered from grogginess, biologists allow it to trot off into the winter forest landscape of northeast Washington. DNR photo These Canada lynx might not realize that the slightly heavy handling by DNR and state Fish and… Continue reading
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Mother Earth needs YOU! … on April 23rd
Earth Day volunteers will do important work and experience a natural area If you want to feel good about your effort to support a healthier earth, we’ve got some fun Earth Day events that will do just that. We need… Continue reading
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DNR weekend reading: Kudzu invasion, Japan nuclear crisis, values of human-influenced forests
Here are some articles about science and the environment from other publications that caught our eye this week: Science Daily: Kudzu Vines Spreading North from US Southeast With Warming Climate Kudzu has been the plant scourge of the U.S. Southeast.… Continue reading
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Mima Mounds: A good place to watch… and listen… to birds and nature
The Seattle Times yesterday (April 7) highlighted the DNR-managed Mima Mounds as one of its Birders’ Top Spots. The article, ‘Spring songbirds and drumming grouse add music to Mima Mounds‘ mentions the western meadowlarks, western bluebirds, and Vesper and Savannah sparrows that… Continue reading
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DNR Weekend Reading: ‘Get a dog,’ says NY Times; Higher temps imperil corn crops; other stories
Here are some selections to read about science and the environment for your weekend: New York Times: Forget the Treadmill. Get a Dog If you’re looking for the latest in home exercise equipment, you may want to consider something with… Continue reading
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Goldmark welcomes participants at Traditional Foods Summit
Yesterday, Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark spoke to attendees at the Traditional Foods Summit held in conjuction with annual meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology in Seattle. More than 30 tribes, universities, agencies, and companies gathered to talk… Continue reading