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Washington Department of Natural Resources

In Washington, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (“DNR”) is the state agency that provides sustainable management resources.  The DNR was established pursuant to Rev. Code Wash. (ARCW) § 43.30.030.  The DNR provides innovative leadership and expertise to ensure environmental protection, public safety, perpetual funding for schools and communities, and a rich quality of life.

The DNR operates within a culture of stewardship.  It provides for more effective and efficient management of the forest and land resources in the state by consolidating into a department of natural resources certain powers, duties and functions of the division of forestry of the department of conservation and development, the board of state land commissioners, the state forest board, and all state sustained yield forest committees[i].  The powers and duties of the DNR are laid in Rev. Code Wash. (ARCW) § 43.30.411.  Some purposes of the DNR are:

  • To manage and protect state trust lands;
  • To manage and protect native ecosystems;
  • To manage and protect natural resources to provide clean, abundant water, renewable energy and resources;
  • To manage and protect recreation access for the people of Washington.

 

The DNR establishes a Board of natural Resources that guides the management of state trust lands and resources.  It oversees sales and exchanges of trust lands as well as timber and mineral sales from trust lands.  The Board also is the state’s Harbor Line Commission, which defines harbor boundaries.  The Board also sets rules that determine the standards for forest practices such as timber harvests, pre-commercial thinning, road construction, fertilization, and forest chemical application.  The DNR implements and enforces the forest practices rules that is adopted by the Board.  The rules protect public resources such as water quality and fish habitat while maintaining a viable timber industry.  The Board members are appointed to represent state agencies concerned with forest resources and commerce, counties, and the general public, including owners of small forestlands. The DNR also works toward collaborative relationships and good communication with tribes residing in the state of Washington as well as other interested Indian tribes outside the state of Washington.

Washington State Department of Natural Resources

[i] Rev. Code Wash. (ARCW) § 43.30.010


Inside Washington Department of Natural Resources