The people of Washington own 2.6 million acres of lands that lie beneath our states lakes, rivers, and marine waters such as Puget Sound. Everyone— whether a tribe member, a fisherperson, boater, business person —has the right to use and enjoy these lands.
DNR ‘s Aquatic Resources Division is charged with working on your behalf to make sure that these lands are productive, healthy, and sustainably managed. These lands form a foundation of our economy, quality of life and the natural heritage we will pass down to future generations.
See the list of topics below to learn more about how DNR is steward and manager of these aquatic lands, and helps clean up contaminants, restores important aquatic habitats and much more.