Conservation & Natural Areas
Natural Area Preserves, Natural Resources Conservation Areas & other lands in conservation
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2013 Salmon Recovery Conference
State hosts salmon recovery conference About 600 people who live and breathe salmon recovery are expected to descend on Vancouver May 14 and 15 for a two-day salmon recovery conference. Hosted by the Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board, the… Continue reading
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Trout Lake Natural Area Preserve gets a little larger, and a lot better
Action yesterday by the state Board of Natural Resources cleared the way for a 153-acre addition to Trout Lake Natural Area Preserve (NAP) in Klickitat County. The parcel of state trust land transferred into the 1,733-acre preserve in the northwest corner… Continue reading
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Washington’s Salmon Recovery Funding Board recognizes DNR’s Craig Partridge for his service
What were you doing in September of 1981? That was the month the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) hired Craig Partridge under the administration of Brian Boyle. Since then, he has worked for four Commissioners of Public Lands. After thirty-one… Continue reading
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DNR has history to celebrate this President’s Day
This Douglas-fir has seen a lot in its lifetime. The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conducted an old growth assessment on it and concluded it was between 250 – 300 years old. We celebrate our country’s history of… Continue reading
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Lacamas Prairie Natural Area Preserve protects remnant of wet prairie ecosystem
DNR Natural Areas Program has added a new natural area preserve (NAP) to the statewide system. Lacamas Prairie, located northeast of Vancouver, in the Puget Trough/Willamette Valley ecoregion, represents the best and only known remnant of the Willamette Valley wet prairie… Continue reading
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Loads of progress on Woodard Bay NRCA restoration
Part closed, part open during big job Treasured by naturalists and walkers, Woodard Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area is enjoyed throughout the year. And we know that it’s disappointing to have most of this special place closed until spring, but… Continue reading
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Dabob Bay highlighted in Seattle Times feature
Aerial photo of the great sand spits in the northern end of Dabob Bay Natural Area. Photo: DNR One of the most bountiful inlets in greater Puget Sound is highlighted in the Seattle Times this week, as an article in… Continue reading
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Community meeting Tuesday, September 11 on boat access to Elk River NRCA
Very few locations exist for public access to the waters within Elk River Natural Resources Conservation Area (NRCA). Skiffs, canoes and kayaks are ideal to explore the natural area, as low impact uses fit the mission of the NRCA. DNR… Continue reading
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Count bees, help scientists studying declining numbers of pollinators
The Great Bee Count is tomorrow (Saturday, August 11). It’s your chance to get outside and take part in a nationwide information-gathering exercise documenting urban, suburban, and rural bee populations. The idea behind the annual Great Bee Counts is to… Continue reading
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DNR Commissioner Peter Goldmark captures a photo of the endangered golden paintbrush
This rare yellow flower is the golden paintbrush, or Castilleja levisecta. It is native to Washington and listed as “threatened” under the federal Endangered Species Act and “endangered” by the state. Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark captured this image… Continue reading