No. 09-004
January 12, 2009
Contact: Bob Redling, 360-902-1149
Washington State DNR Releases 2008 Annual Report
Report describes efforts to restore Puget Sound, protect working forests and habitat, provide revenue to public schools and other trust beneficiaries
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced today publication of its 2008 Annual Report. The report presents highlights of DNR projects and accomplishments during the calendar year. The report also lists revenue and timber management results for the fiscal year.
“Many of DNR’s successes over the past year came about thanks to the hard work of our staff and the partnerships we have forged in recent years with other agencies, organizations, and private industry,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Doug Sutherland. “I am proud of the work this department has done so consistently during the past eight years to protect and enhance natural resources and trust lands for Washington’s citizens, schools, and counties.”
In addition to presenting fiscal data about DNR’s management of 5.6 million acres of state lands (including forested, agriculture and other trust lands, aquatic lands, and natural areas), the report highlights DNR’s accomplishments, including:
- Distributing more than $166 million in non-tax revenue generated from state trust lands to public schools, state universities, county services, other beneficiaries, and the state General Fund in Fiscal Year 2008.
- Working with other agencies on the restoration of Puget Sound by removing 1,349 tons of creosote-laden debris from beaches and waterways and by taking other steps to protect the Sound’s sensitive plant and wildlife habitat.
- Protecting 12.7 million acres of private and non-federal public lands from wildfire, keeping 93 percent of those fires to less than 10 acres.
- Initiating new programs to improve forest health, while protecting more working forests from being converted to non-forestry uses; and
- Dedicating the new 71,000-acre Naneum Ridge State Forest north of Ellensburg.
The DNR 2008 Annual Report can be viewed online at: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/BusinessPermits/Topics/OtherInteragencyInformation/Pages/dnr_annual_report.aspx . The report also can be found by going to www.dnr.wa.gov , selecting the link to ‘Recreation & Public Information,’ clicking on ‘View All Topics,’ and scrolling down to Other Interagency Information.
For a printed copy, please contact Cheri Jarrett in the DNR Communications Group at cheri.jarrett@dnr.wa.gov .
Doug Sutherland is the 12th Commissioner of Public Lands since statehood in 1889.
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