Southwest Region

Olympic mountains photo
Our Southwest Region (SWRO) includes Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Skamania, Thurston, and Wahkiakum counties.

Topics of interest in the Southwest Region

Puget Sound

Puget Sound is critical to our environment, culture, and economy. About two-thirds of the state’s population lives in the Puget Sound region. Our nation’s second largest marine estuary faces a number of challenges related to population growth and development, as well as habitat loss and multiple sources of pollution. Learn more about protecting Puget Sound.

Air quality issues

Do you use a wood stove to heat your home? Check to see if there is an air quality burn ban in your area. We also have information about how to use your wood stove more efficiently and the health affects of breathing smoke.

Removing a decades-old landfill from Nisqually State Park

A formerly threatened wetland full of half-buried tires and broken washing machines is getting a facelift after its neighboring landfill area reached an important milestone cleanup.  


A formerly threatened wetland full of half-buried tires and broken washing machines is getting a facelift after its neighboring landfill area reached an important milestone cleanup this fall.  

The almost cleaned-up Eatonville Landfill, a project that’s been in the works for decades, should look indistinguishable from the rest of the new state park it lives in once cleanup crews... Continue reading this blog...

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