Conservation & Natural Areas
Natural Area Preserves, Natural Resources Conservation Areas & other lands in conservation
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How DNR Put a Second-Growth Forest on the Fast Track to an Older Growth Structure
At the Elk River Natural Resources Conservation Area on the southwest Washington coast, a sprawling estuary of tidal flats and sloughs, salt marshes, and freshwater wetlands is sheltered by densely forested uplands. In these forests, tangles of roots slow the flow… Continue reading
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Washington birds in sight: Afternoon of flight
February marks the month when we appreciate wild birds that stay in the Pacific Northwest during the cold season, and help them by putting up bird feeders at home to supplement a meager winter diet. However, as winter months finally… Continue reading
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Looking for a few (23 to be exact) good interns
Think DNR is just about fires and forestry? Think again. We employ professionals in diverse disciplines ranging from seismology to silviculture, entomology to hydrology, and many more. In fact, we offer some of the most diverse careers in state government.… Continue reading
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New bridge provides easier access to Ashland lakes
Hikers exploring DNR’s Morning Star Natural Resources Conservation Area, near Everett, now have an easier time getting to treasured Ashland Lakes. A new 56-foot fiberglass bridge replaces a previously well-loved, decaying, log bridge, called a single-log stringer bridge design. DNR staff… Continue reading
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New map reveals more about prehistoric floods that shaped Washington
One of the most formative periods of Washington history came near the end of the last ice age, when warming temperatures led to periodic breaks in the gargantuan dam formed by the Cordilleran Ice Sheet to create Glacial Lake… Continue reading
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Agencies monitor health of rare butterfly species
In 2015, biological surveys found small improvements in the outlook for the Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly, a species once common in the Pacific Northwest but now listed as an endangered species. The surveys, conducted by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife… Continue reading
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Puget SoundCorps members remove creosoted waste from Shipwreck Point conservation area
More than 10 tons of creosote-soaked logs were removed from the beach at the Shipwreck Point conservation area through the hard work of a Puget SoundCorps crew sponsored by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Shipwreck Point is… Continue reading
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Butterflies, prairies, wildflowers – all part of Prairie Appreciation Day
Do you appreciate prairies like we do? How about joining in this Saturday, May 14, for Prairie Appreciation Day at Glacial Heritage Preserve or Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve (NAP), a 624-acre National Natural Landmark protecting the best remaining example of… Continue reading
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Happy Native Plant Appreciation Week
This week, April 23 – May 1, is a celebration of the amazing diversity of Washington’s native plant species. The different climates found in Washington allow for a vast variety of native plants, from sword ferns to cacti, to the… Continue reading
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Eight great ways DNR gives thanks on Earth Day
On Earth Day and every day, DNR celebrates its work protecting, conserving and ensuring responsible use of the planet’s natural resources. It’s in our name. As manager of 5.6 million acres of Washington, DNR’s business is in the earth.… Continue reading
