Conservation & Natural Areas
Natural Area Preserves, Natural Resources Conservation Areas & other lands in conservation
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Morning Star NRCA expansion hearing tonight in Everett
A public hearing tonight in Everett is your chance to learn more about a boundary expansion and proposed land exchange that will add to the Morning Star Natural Resources Conservation Area (NRCA) in Snohomish County. This site’s attractions include steep… Continue reading
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Warm up before the big game and see the real sea hawks in action
Before you sit down to watch our wonderful Seahawks play tonight, you may want to get warmed up by viewing the real hawks of the sea. Try watching for osprey, also known as sea hawks. You can do this by… Continue reading
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Secrets lie in the salt marsh
Salt marshes are a vital part coastal habitats. When properly functioning, salt marshes provide habitat essential for healthy fisheries, coastlines, and plant and animal communities. DNR’s Natural Areas Program is working to restore Secret Harbor’s salt marsh on the Cypress… Continue reading
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Fish and wildlife to benefit from larger conservation areas
This fall, three Natural Resources Conservation Areas (NRCAs) expanded their boundaries: Stavis, Mount Si, and Middle Fork Snoqualmie NRCAs. The expansions add important acreage to the conservation areas. This is great news for fish and wildlife, as the expansions include… Continue reading
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Pacific herring: In the middle seat of the Puget Sound family car
Ask anyone who’s ever been stuck in the back seat of a long family road trip about the many trials of being in the middle. While it doesn’t have to count license plates or tolerate bony elbows, the silvery Pacific… Continue reading
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Ready for some harvest-season service? Join our volunteer work parties in NW WA this month.
Here at DNR, we rely on volunteers for a number of things. Our wonderful volunteers help: Keep campgrounds and trailheads clean Keep our forests safe Build and maintain trails Provide stewardship and education in our natural areas So much more! Head… Continue reading
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Extra, Extra! Read all about it!
At-risk critters and habitat to be protected…comments requested The at-risk ‘water-dependent’ critters that we protect under our draft Aquatic Lands Habitat Conservation Plan are pretty interesting. Some species live long lives in the wild—like 70-to-100 years, and we’re not talking… Continue reading
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Take a trip to visit a mystic mounded prairie
Looking for something kid-friendly to do on DNR-managed conservation lands? Let their imaginations run wild on 637 acres of grassland mounds at the DNR Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve (NAP). Located next to Capitol State Forest near Olympia, Washington, Mima Mounds NAP protects… Continue reading
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DNR announces Washington Rare Plants virtual plant guide for Native Plant Appreciation Week!
Governor Jay Inslee has proclaimed this week, April 28 through May 3, Native Plant Appreciation Week in Washington. Native Plant Appreciation Week is a celebration of the amazing diversity of Washington’s native plant species. The diverse climates in Washington allow… Continue reading
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Help celebrate Earth Day by cleaning up the beach at Point Robinson, Maury Island
Maury Island Beach clean-up Are you tired of seeing bottles, food wrappers and so much other trash floating around on what could be beautiful beaches and tidelands? Celebrate Earth Day with Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Puget… Continue reading