Headlines
Commissioner Upthegrove Encourages Fire Safety Over Memorial Day Weekend
The holiday marks the beginning of summer and the traditional wildfire season
Memorial Day Weekend and the start of summer means more Washingtonians will spend time outdoors, recreating and exploring public lands, traveling across the state, or tending to outdoor chores.... More...
Date: May 22, 2025
New Smokey Bear License Plate
Commissioner Upthegrove Celebrates Passing of Smokey License Plate Bill
Washington state’s first Smokey Bear plate will raise funds to promote awareness of human-caused wildfires
Smokey Bear is officially taking his show on the road.
Governor Bob... More...
Date: May 20, 2025
DNR, Forest Service Continue Forest Restoration Partnership near Mount Pilchuck
State and federal collaboration under the Good Neighbor Authority to restore 150 forest acres and improve 5 miles of forest roads near popular trailheads
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources recently began a multi-faceted forest restoration... More...
Date: April 29, 2025
DNR Will Deliver 15 Surplus Wildfire Engines To Fire Districts Across State
The effort is part of the agency’s annual commitment to provide fire service personnel in at-risk areas with critical wildfire resources
The Department of Natural Resources will be turning over 15 surplus wildfire engines to fire districts in wildfire-prone rural... More...
Date: April 9, 2025
Commissioner Upthegrove Statement on Thorpe Land Exchange
The Exchange of Thorpe Property in Spokane's Latah Valley Will Go Forward as Planned
Commissioner Dave Upthegrove released the following statement after the Board of Natural Resources did not take action to revisit the Thorpe land exchange.
"I... More...
Date: April 1, 2025
DNR Resources Helping Partner Agencies Fight Wildfire Across Multiple States
Agency personnel and equipment are currently deployed in Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, North Carolina and South Carolina
As wildfire activity begins to pick up across the country, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fire personnel are maintaining important... More...
Date: March 28, 2025
DNR Hosts First Steering Committee Meeting For Wildfire Hazard & Risk Maps
Through SB 6120, the State Legislature tasked DNR with developing statewide fire risk criteria and methodologies to inform base-level wildfire hazard and risk maps
The Department of Natural Resources’ Wildland Fire Management Division leadership will meet with... More...
Date: March 26, 2025
DNR Planning Prescribed Burn on 422 Acres in Stevens County
A prescribed fire operation to reduce wildfire risk and restore forest health near Lake Spokane Campground may begin as soon as Tuesday, March 25
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is planning a prescribed fire operation on 422 acres of state... More...
Date: March 21, 2025
DNR to Conduct Mock Fire Exercises in Capitol State Forest
Agency helicopters, firefighters and equipment will be deployed Wednesday in a simulated training for aviation and ground crews
In preparation for wildfire season, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be conducting two mock fire exercises... More...
Date: March 19, 2025
DNR Kicks Off Wildfire Prevention Season With Smokey Bear Trailer Project
In an effort to reduce human-caused wildfires by spreading prevention messaging and resources along Washington state’s highways, interstates and rural road systems, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has teamed up with none other than the iconic Smokey Bear.
... More...
Date: February 7, 2025
Popular ‘Winter School’ Series for Forest Landowners Kicks Off Next Week
WSU Extension and DNR are partnering to offer three seminars on forest health, wildlife habitat, fire risk reduction, and more.
Forest landowners from across Washington will have a trio of opportunities over the two months to spend a day learning a myriad of ways to... More...
Date: February 6, 2025
Board of Natural Resources Approves Tiger Mountain Natural Area Expansion
King County Woodland Property Transfer Adds Nearly 100 Acres to Popular Conservation, Recreation Area
The State Board of Natural Resources has unanimously approved the transfer of State Trust land to expand the West Tiger Mountain Natural Resources Conservation Area... More...
Date: February 4, 2025
Commissioner Upthegrove Calls “Timeout” on Harvesting Older State Forests
Six-month Pause will Develop Criteria for Conserving Older, Structurally Complex Forests
In his first action as Commissioner of Public Lands, newly-inaugurated Dave Upthegrove announced today an approximately six-month pause on Washington State Department of Natural... More...
Date: January 17, 2025
Upthegrove Inaugurated as Washington’s Commissioner of Public Lands
Washington’s 15th Lands Commissioner Makes History as State’s First Openly LGBTQ+ Executive
Dave Upthegrove was sworn in today as Washington’s 15th Commissioner of Public Lands, making history as the state’s first openly LGBTQ+ statewide executive.
“I... More...
Date: January 15, 2025
DNR Forest Legacy Program reaches 200,000 acre milestone in conserving threatened private forests
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently reached a milestone of protecting more than 200,000 acres of private forests threatened by development through the U.S. Forest Service Forest Legacy Program.
Over the last year, DNR almost doubled... More...
Date: January 13, 2025
Traditional Names Restored to Mountain Peaks Near Wenatchee
Board of Natural Resources Votes to Remove Names of Problematic Army Officers, Restore Indigenous Titles
The state Board of Natural Resources has voted to restore traditional names to two mountain peaks near Wenatchee. The mountains in the Glacier Peak Wilderness of... More...
Date: January 10, 2025
Board of Natural Resources Ends Open Sea Net Pen Salmon Farms in Washington Waters
Washington’s public aquatic lands will no longer be home to commercial finfish net pen aquaculture. The Washington State Board of Natural Resources Tuesday adopted a rule to prohibit commercial finfish net pen aquaculture on state-owned aquatic lands managed by the Washington... More...
Date: January 9, 2025
Board of Natural Resources Approves Spokane County Land Exchange
192 Acres of State Trust Land to be Improved for Housing, Parks
The state Board of Natural Resources has approved a land exchange to increase revenue for K-12 education funding and provide new housing options in Spokane County.
The Department of Natural... More...
Date: January 8, 2025
DNR Releases Final Outdoor Access and Responsible Recreation Strategic Plan
The agency’s first statewide recreation plan will guide recreation management and funding requests for the next decade.
The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has released the final version of its first statewide recreation strategic plan. The Outdoor... More...
Date: January 8, 2025
Broad Partnership Keeps 49 Vessels from Being Abandoned or Derelict in Skagit County
Abandoned and derelict vessels in Skagit County can pose an immediate threat to public health and the environment. Thanks to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Vessel Turn in Program (VTIP), local boat owners turned in 49 vessels to be safely recycled. Launched in La... More...
Date: December 19, 2024
