Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove

The proposed cuts to DNR's recreation funding could lead to reductions and closures of some of Washington's most popular recreation areas. The Legislature must commit to funding this critical work.

Tacoma gets grant to plant trees around where kids walk to school The city of Tacoma has been prioritizing tree planting in parts of the city where there are fewer trees.

This innovative project is just one of the many ways our Urban and Community Forestry Program supports communities from Seattle to Spokane. Eliminating state funding for this work would go against our values as the Evergreen State.

www.nwpb.org/local/2026-0...

POINT OF VIEW: Let’s invest in state recreation areas - Peninsula Daily News WHEN I WAS a young adult, I spent my summers working for the Boy Scouts, leading week-long backpacking treks through the North Cascades. We hiked high passes, slept in mountain meadows, and spent days...

DNR's Recreation Program works tirelessly to maintain millions of acres, and thousands of miles of trails. Let's support these workers and recommit to protecting our natural heritage.

https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/opinion/point-of-view-lets-invest-in-state-recreation-areas/

In Our View: Multiple voices help guide WA forests’ mission As an issue surrounding state forest lands in Clark County demonstrates, the balance between conservation and harvesting can be complex. That is how it should be; decisions about the future of forests

Many thanks to the Editorial Board at @columbian.com for this piece about our work at DNR. The way we chart the future of forestry in our state is through sustainable management.

https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/jan/16/in-our-view-multiple-voices-help-guide-wa-forests-mission/

‘It’s just us’: A WA firefighter, his son and a treacherous choice For two decades, Luis Martinez has fought wildfires for the U.S. government. Now he’s facing down cancer, debt and the threat of separation from his 11-year-old.

Wildland firefighters run toward the danger every wildfire season. I applaud Congress for passing this legislation and will continue to work to support our firefighters while they work to protect us.

https://bit.ly/49jxDWp

Today is Native American Heritage Day. Over the past year - my first as Commissioner of Public Lands - I have had the privilege to work more closely with Tribal nations than ever, meeting with 21 tribes and forging close partnerships on a wide variety of endeavors.

Today, I want to express my sincere gratitude to the folks at @wadnr.bsky.social, and I want to wish all Washingtonians a happy and safe holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!

We are all stronger when everyone is treated with respect and dignity, when everyone has access to opportunity, and when our society is truly fair, just, and equitable. This decision is about more than marriage - it's about building a more just country for all.

I applaud the court's decision, and hope that this signals an end to the hateful attacks on marriage equality in this country. At a time when the rights and freedoms of so many are under attack, it's important to celebrate the victories - even the ones we thought we'd settled.

Ten years ago, I married the love of my life - thanks in part to the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v Hodges. This weekend, the court upheld that historic decision and reaffirmed that the principles of equality, fairness, and justice still mean something.

A photo of Troy Bolton putting a "T" necklace on Gabriella Montez. Gabriella asks ""T as in Troy?" and Troy answers in pure disgust "No Gabriella. "T" as in tsunamis have hot Washington before and they will hit Washington again, which is why we celebrate Tsunami Awareness Day and you should go to dnr.wa.gov to prepare."

Still waiting for someone to get me some tsunami awareness jewelry 👀

I guess I will just keep scrolling dnr.wa.gov/tsunamis while I wait

Judge blocks Trump cuts to WA climate resilience money A federal judge in Seattle this week blocked the Trump administration’s termination of more than $9 million for climate work in Washington state.

This funding is essential to supporting important programs across the state. Moving forward, I will do everything in my power to push back on the Trump administration's efforts to terminate critical funding and programs here in Washington.

bit.ly/3WmqKgY

WA officials take stock as wildfire season winds down • Washington State Standard Washington state saw more individual fires than last season, but fewer acres burned, preliminary data shows. Several fires are still burning.

Despite a slower start to the season, more fires ignited across our landscapes this summer than last year, and more than 250,000 acres burned. We have to stay vigilant, that means restoring the funding we need to prevent these larger wildfires.
washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/10/13/w...

Yesterday, I traveled to the site of the Labor Mountain Fire, where I visited with DNR staff and incident commanders and traveled to the fireline to see our progress on this large and complicated fire.

WA lands commissioner's plan for legacy forests is the right one | Op-Ed Commissioner Upthegrove's plan is a significant step toward preserving the state’s legacy forests with minimal impact on schools, DNR harvests or industry.

My plan to conserve 77,000 acres of structurally complex forests is the biggest forest conservation action in our state in a generation - and just the first step in a bold new future for Washington's forests. www.seattletimes.com/opinion/wa-l...

Victory for Washington’s Legacy Forests: 77,000 acres conserved Seeing the forest for the trees, Commissioner Upthegrove delivers on campaign promises to promote ecological health in state forest management.  On

Many thanks to Conservation Northwest for their support to conserve thousands of acres of structurally complex forests. I couldn't be more excited to work with organizations like them as we build a more sustainable future for our forests.
conservationnw.org/news-updates...

While we don’t have all of the details yet, this is all occurring at a time when the Trump administration’s crude and inhumane approach to immigration enforcement has intentionally and unnecessarily stoked fear and mistrust among members of the public—including firefighters.

A quote from Dave Upthegrove saying: "The Trump administration’s crude and inhumane approach to immigration enforcement has intentionally and unnecessarily stoked fear and mistrust among members of the public—including firefighters putting their lives on the line to protect our State."

I am aware of a criminal enforcement action taken against a federal subcontractor at the Bear Gulch Fire, and also understand that two employees of this company were subsequently detained by federal immigration officials.

I'm incredibly proud of this new direction and I look forward to the work ahead. To learn more about this history-making action, head to dnr.wa.gov/forestforward

This is the largest forest conservation action in Washington in a generation, one that enables us to hit our habitat goals faster and allows us to innovate, diversify, and discover new practices on our lands - all while ensuring we continue to support the communities that rely on us.

On Tuesday, we embarked on an exciting, new journey for the future of our forests - conserving 77,000 acres of structurally complex forests and 100 percent of our older forests.

Wildland firefighters look up as water is dropped from a helicopter on a hotspot.

Chelan fire support parked along I-90 working to contain a recently sparked fire.

Wildfire flames approaching a home

A wildfire plane just after passing over the active wildfire.

Big thanks to the firefighters who caught multiple fires along I-90 the last couple days. Thanks to the investments in wildfire response and prevention from House Bill 1168, our crews were able to work quickly along local firefighters to catch a number of fires that could have taken off quickly.

Proactive boat recycling saves Washington waterways and resources There are at least 300 derelict vessels sitting in state waterways.

Derelict vessels and structures are a hazard for our public waters, leaching pollutants like creosote into our waters, damaging marine life, and threatening critical ecosystems. The more of these vessels we remove from our waters, the healthier and safer they'll be.

www.king5.com/article/tech...

That's why I'm so proud of our Wildfire Ready Neighbors program, a community resilience and preparedness program that has helped thousands of people harden their homes and provided information and resources to folks across the state. wildfireready.com

The power of preparedness: Home hardening and defensible space saves house from Burdoin Fire BINGEN — Jeri Rutherford and Ray Backen live off Courtney Road east of Bingen, overlooking the Coyote Wall. Their actions in the years and weeks leading up to Friday, July

Excellent piece about the importance and impact of wildfire safety and preparedness. Reducing fuels, creating defensible space, and being prepared for ignitions - these are critical steps people can take to protect their homes against wildfires.
www.columbiagorgenews.com/news/the-pow...

Concern grows over funding cuts to WA wildfire response Washington state is right in the middle of wildfire season, and there's growing concern over the state's ability to respond to these disasters in the future.

I had the chance to speak with @fox13seattle.bsky.social about the urgent need to restore full funding for our wildfire prevention and forest health work. The state legislature cut this funding by more than half, leaving our lands more susceptible to wildfires.

www.fox13seattle.com/video/168265...

Screenshot of a public safety bulletin showing tsunami advisory in effect for areas including Washington's outer coast from the Oregon/Washington boarder to Slip Point, Columbia River estuary coast and the Juan de Fuca Strait Coast.

The tsunami advisory is still in effect this morning for our coast. If you're on the coast, stay away from beaches and waterways, be alert and keep checking for updates.

Stay current here: tsunami.gov

We’re fortunate to have some of the world’s sharpest minds working to keep Washington safe from geologic hazards like tsunamis. They’ve mapped tsunami hazards so you can know where to go for safety. If you’re near the coast, please check the maps at DNR.wa.gov/tsunami

An image of (what used to be a) picnic table, that has been rudely burnt to a crisp at one of our camping areas in the Olympic Region. The image has the words "Don't set the state (or picnic tables) on fire" in a kind font with rainbows so people know I say it with love.

Tell me something you thought you wouldn't have to tell the general public...I'll go first

Yesterday, I traveled to White Salmon to receive a briefing on the Burdoin Fire alongside Governor Ferguson, state and local officials. Our DNR crews are working tirelessly to get this fire contained - and I cannot thank them enough for their work.