Elevating Resiliency Against Sea Level Rise

New maps this year are helping communities become safer and more prepared for rising sea levels. The Nature Conservancy is working with the state Department of Ecology, Sea Grant and others through the Washington Coastal Resilience Project to update Washington’s coastal planning guidance on sea level rise.

Hope on the Hoh - 10,000 Acres for Conservation

A new agreement between The Nature Conservancy and Hoh River Trust is a step forward for restoration and renewal in more than 10,000 acres of vital habitat in the Hoh River Valley in the Olympic Rainforest.

Pioneering the Use of Good Fire

Along with the Washington Prescribed Fire Council, the Chumstick Wildfire Stewardship Coalition and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, we hosted the first prescribed fire learning exchange (TREX) in Washington state, focusing on working with fire-adapted ecosystems.

A Vision to Protect Clayoquot Sound

In a ceremony in Tofino, B.C., the Ahousaht First Nation shared a vision that includes conserving more than 80 percent of the old-growth forests in its large territory of more than 400,000 acres on the west coast of Vancouver Island — including most of Clayoquot Sound. We're proud to be able to support this locally-led stewardship.

Woody Debris is a Salmon's Jam

In Washington’s salmon-bearing streams, installation of log jams — a buildup of wood debris creating deep pools for salmon — has become a priority method to recover salmon habitat and reset patterns of weathering, erosion and deposition that currently suffer from the legacy effects of a century’s worth of logging. But as we learned on the Washington coast, not all jams are created equal. 

Tracking restoration success

Our Fisher Slough tidal-marsh restoration is working as designed to produce more salmon, create more marshland and improve the drainage to neighboring farmlands in the Skagit Delta. And we've been able to quantify these benefits, a rarity in restoration work.

Farm to Photos

Snohomish County farmers wanted to relay their personal challenges involving floodplains, climate change and urban development. See through their lens in this collection of 21 evocative photos.

Evaluating Water Supplies Around the World

Everyone deserves clean water. Our scientists analyzed the watersheds of more than 4,000 large cities around the world to determine the environmental, economic and community benefits of protecting clean water.

We must come together for Puget Sound

Puget Sound Partnership’s State of the Sound 2017 report highlighted that "Puget Sound is getting sicker faster than our recovery actions are taking effect." We're innovating and collaborating to meet the challenge of a healthy Puget Sound.

The Dynamism of Conservation

The Sutherland Canyon Fire destroyed endangered pygmy rabbit habitat on and adjacent to our Beezley Hills Preserve. Moses Coulee Land Manager, Corinna Hanson, learned some hard lessons about how difficult conservation can be. We partnered with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to spearhead a recovery effort.

Volunteer Hunter-Stewards

Our stewardship work would not be possible without the help of dedicated volunteers, who have contributed to work across the state, including invasive weed management, site maintenance and trash pick-up. At our Beezley Hills, McCartney Creek and Moses Coulee Preserves, most of these projects were accomplished by Hunter-Steward Program volunteers: over 90 deer hunters who want to give back to the land that they appreciate and value, and to act as ambassadors for conservation in their communities.

This is Spartina!

Spartina alterniflora, a grass that invaded the Pacific Northwest has destroyed native wildlife habitat, reduced water quality, slowed sediment flow and interfered with recreational activities. However, we're now seeing very little of this aggressive plant in our Port Susan Bay Preserve, thanks to the dedication of our many partners, including the WA State Department of Agriculture, Snohomish County Noxious Weed Control Board, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, WA Department of Natural Resources, Skagit County, Tulalip Tribal Nation, and EarthCorps.

Homegrown Heroes, Leading Work On-the-Ground

Ecologist Julie Morse presented a plenary session talk at the PNW Climate Conference, where over 500 people gathered to talk about climate change. Her talk focused on the statewide success of Floodplains by Design, a public-private partnership that restores rivers across Washington state and helps protect people from the hazards of flooding and climate change.

Giving a Voice to the Forest

Telling our conservation stories in creative and visual ways brings conservation science to the forefront. The role of fire is critical to the health of our east Central Cascades forests. So, we incorporated video, illustrations and maps to highlight this role and the need for forest health action across the state.

We March for Science

The Science March gave The Nature Conservancy a big opportunity to share our message of hope for a future where people and nature thrive together. With science, we have the knowledge we need to keep our lands and waters strong, healthy and productive for future generations.

Advancing Science

This year Nature Conservancy scientists in Washington published 1 book and 14 journal publications from nature’s role in human health to changes in eelgrass beds to how estuaries function better with natural patterns of water flow and suspended organic matter. This science brings credibility to our work and helps keep our lands and waters healthy and strong.

Exploring Sustainability

What does it mean for seafood to be sustainable? We've learned it's not simply about the number of fish in the ocean.

Retrieving Derelict Gear

Large storms can carry crab pots far from their initial placement, damaging fishing gear and disrupting marine life until they are retrieved. To date, our partnership with the Quinault Indian Nation has removed 1,000 pots, lines and buoys from 155 square miles of ocean. We've created placemats to raise awareness about this threat.

Collaborating to design better fishing gear

Dragging a net across the bottom of the ocean can be a good way to catch species living in rocky crevices, such as lingcod, but those nets are indiscriminate. Catching too many endangered species forces fishers to abandon those hauls. We partnered with fishers and the University of Washington to design more selective lingcod fishing pots.

The Anthropocene Ocean

We held a live discussion on what it means to have a sustainable ocean in the Anthropocene Era -- the geological period of us, humankind.

Watch: The Power of Trees

New research shows that trees communicate with one another and share nutrients through their roots! They need each other. In urban areas, trees also help us with health, economic and social benefits. They are part of our culture. We need them. So, how can we return the favor?

'A Country Worth Defending is Worth Preserving'

This unique program provides valuable job development for veterans and much needed support for the growing field of green infrastructure.  It’s one of many examples of how we can support on-the-ground projects for long-term impact

How to Capture 2 Million Gallons of Stormwater

This watershed project demonstrates the possibilities when developers are motivated to go above and beyond to address stormwater management. This project will be capturing and cleaning some of our region’s dirtiest water.

Culture, Language and Nature

Learn how a culture and language are tied to nature and all that sustains us. How is stewarding land and water different when you stop thinking of them as resources and instead think of them as relationships?

Indigenous Guardians Stewardship

Stewardship by Indigenous Guardians is critical to this remarkable region. A new toolkit is sharing this knowledge around the world.

Forest Health Policy Wins!

1. Cooperating to treat 2.7 million acres of forest land
2. A win-win for healthy forests and Washingtonians
3. New 20-year forest health plan with the Washington Department of Natural Resources

Your Voices Made a Difference

Action starts locally. When the Hanford Reach National Monument came under threat of losing its protected status, your public comments proclaimed the natural, cultural, and community values of this site and helped keep it protected!

Quantifying the Economic Return of Recreation

Outdoor recreation generates roughly $26 billion dollars in consumer spending a year! Our state director, Mike Stevens, is quoted by Governor Jay Inslee when talking about the importance of recreation.

Help Protect the Land and Water Conservation Fund

The Land and Water Conservation Fund has been vital for protecting public lands nationwide, but it's set to expire in September 2018. Learn more about the fund, and follow the action.

Cause for Celebration

With so many volunteer hours given to us, we felt it was necessary to return the favor by inviting volunteers to come bat-watching with us. On our Moses Coulee Preserve, volunteers enjoyed bats zipping and diving for their evening meals, with a starry sky for a backdrop.

Congratulations to our Volunteer of the Year

We have over 200 regular volunteers and over 1500 "on-call" volunteers, which makes picking just one to feature a monumental task. In 2016, we selected Dave Allen (front and center in the picture) for his dedication to the Foulweather Bluff Committee.

Restoring and Enjoying Nature

A temperate day greeted volunteers as they pulled every single scotch broom plant in sight at our Dabob Bay Preserve. They were rewarded with sightings of porpoises, a bald eagle and a great blue heron

Volunteers Are Vital

Volunteers help with all aspects of our work, from data entry to photography to community outreach, and more. We have compiled the hours in each function (numbers in parentheses) that volunteers contributed in. Altogether, our volunteers have contributed over $70,000-worth of their time!

BLOG

1. March Photo of the Month: The Sea Goddess Emerges
2. The Cold, Hard Facts About Climate Change
3. 10 Important Facts About Climate Change Worth Sharing
4. How a Skagit Farmer is Adapting Amid Climate Change
5. Quileute Member Creating a Smokin’ Hot New Business

FACEBOOK

1. How can we be sure that climate change is caused by humans? Take a look at the facts.
2. Harley Soltes, owner of Bow Hill Blueberries, a family farm in the Skagit Valley, knows firsthand the effects of climate change. The farm will be 70 years old this year, but he worries about the future.
3. Our forester Ryan Haugo is pining to show you why Washington is such an interesting place to put science to the test.
4. We're broadcasting live from the March for Science in Seattle today. Tune in and follow the events! And ask questions.
5. Know the facts. Share these 10 facts with your friends and followers to spread the science of climate change.

TWITTER

1. "To the scientists of the state of WA, we've got your backs!" @GovInslee #ScienceMarch
2. We are all a part of the scientific community’s alliance of imaginative thinkers, guided and inspired by science
3. Thinning young forests allows trees to grow larger, meaning more CO2 absorption from the atmosphere #climatechange
4. Tmrw is #WorldOceansDay. Take a deep dive today and learn about our work in our local seas: #SaveOurOcean
5. “It will never look the same” A fire resilience partner learns unexpected lessons from the 2016 Lincoln Fire Season.

Top Op-Eds

Seattle Times, Washington State Director Mike Stevens
Forging a New Coalition for statewide climate policy

Seattle Times, Science Director Phil Levin and Trustee Mary Ruckelshaus
March for Science; Stand as a Community

Top Editorials

Yakima Herald Editorial
Collaboration builds policy to aid forests, prevent fires

Ellensburg Daily Record Editorial
Forest Needs are Urgent