Recreation and Conservation Office

Show your loved ones how much you care with some PSP themed Valentine's Day cards!

We'd swim upstream for you!

https://www.psp.wa.gov/pspvalentines

Prey Recommendations | Southern Resident Orca Recovery Southern Resident orcas primarily eat Chinook salmon, which are declining in numbers and are considered at risk of extinction.

Our office is dedicated to coordinating recovery efforts to cultivate a healthy home for orca and ensure that their plates are always filled with their favorite food!

Learn more: orca.wa.gov/recommendati...
(3/3)

Unfortunately, salmon populations have been rapidly declining and have become the least abundant species of salmon in Washington State.
(2/3)

orca staring at a Chinook salmon lovingly, while the Chinook is worried, with “!!!” above its head. Surround them are candy hearts with different affectionate messages on them. Text on hearts: U+Me Dinner?, Yum yum, UR a catch, tasty, cute enuf 2 eat, so sweet

Happy Valentine’s Day! The way to an orca’s heart is through their stomach.

While other orcas eat different kinds of fish and marine mammals, Southern Residents’ favorite dish is Chinook salmon. In fact, Chinook salmon make up about 80 percent of their diet.
(1/3)

Learn more about the project: secure.rco.wa.gov/prism/search...
(4/4)

The new segment includes the trail extension on the upland slope connecting to Sunset Drive, a boardwalk trail through the floodplain, and a new bridge over Squalicum Creek to connect to Irongate Road.
(3/4)

This is part of the loop trail around Sunset Pond Park and will connect to the east-west segment of the Squalicum Creek Trail, which extends west to future connections to Bellingham Bay.
(2/4)

map of the trail’s location and two photos showing work being done to complete the new trail.

New trail alert!

On February 27, the City of Bellingham is cutting the ribbon on about a half mile of new trail that will connect three neighborhoods to the Squalicum Park regional trail system.
(1/4)

Person kayaking in water near a sandy shore. Rows of green trees dot the shoreline. Text on image: Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program; Regional Pre-Design (Learning) Program and Restoration and Protection Program; applications due February 9

Don’t forget! ESRP grant applications for the regional pre-design (learning) & the restoration and protection categories are due February 9.

If you have questions or need additional assistance, please reach out to your grants manager or message us here & we’ll put in touch with the right people.

These policy changes could help improve project implementation and increase the number of funding requests for priority projects.

Learn more and provide comments at the link below.
(4/4)

Many of the program’s policies haven’t been adjusted in 20+ years and the changes we’re proposing would address known issues and better align policies with the current realities of developing boating-related opportunities across the state.
(3/4)

The Boating Facilities Program is a critical state program that helps improve motorized recreational boating access across the state by funding acquisition, development, and planning work by local and state agencies.
(2/4)

Boating moorage. Text on graphic: Want more places to dock or launch your boat?

Your comments on our proposed changes to the Boating Facilities Program would guide future funding decisions regarding building and improving recreational boating facilities.
(1/4)

A group of people in rain jackets on a gravel beach. A speaker points toward an eroded coastal bluff, with driftwood, waves, and forested shoreline in background..

Did you know that WA has 3,026 miles of coastal shoreline? Our Coastal Zone Management Program has been protecting the state’s coastal beaches, habitats, and communities for 50 years. We are celebrating this awesome milestone for our work: ecology.wa.gov/blog/january...

Big thanks to Bobbi Rose, the Spokane Tribal archeologist, for making a last-minute pivot in her schedule to join us on site, & to Sarah Steinkraus, RCO’s archaeologist, for coordinating the visit. The visit was an important step to ensuring that recreation and preservation can work together.
(2/2)

Low, rocky cliff side. Text on graphic: Did you know? We're protecting irreplaceable cultural resources.

Did you know that every project that disturbs the ground is reviewed to ensure that we aren’t harming historic artifacts? It’s true!

In January, our staff met with staff from the Spokane Tribe of Indian’s Preservation Program and the City of Spokane to check out one such site.
(1/2)

Bridge over creek. Text on image: Salmon recovery grants application workshop January 29 10 a.m.

Need funding for your salmon recovery project? You may qualify for one of our grants.

Attend our online application workshop tomorrow at 10 a.m. to learn more about the programs and have your questions answered.

Register to attend: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: RCO's Application Webinar - Parks. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. This webinar will include information about the grants offered, eligibility requirements, deadlines, program changes for 2026, and how to apply for a grant.

For more information, attend the application webinar on February 11: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
(3/3)

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: RCO's Application Webinar - Parks. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. This webinar will include information about the grants offered, eligibility requirements, deadlines, program changes for 2026, and how to apply for a grant.

The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program’s Outdoor Recreation Account provides funding for a wide range of purposes, from buying, developing, or renovating state parks and recreation lands to improving or creating water access for nonmotorized boating and water-related recreation.
(2/3)

Person sliding down water slide. Text on graphic: Grants at a Glance; Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program-Recreation Account; Provides funding for local and state parks, trails, water access, and the conservation and restoration of state land. Grants can be used for buying land for a park, Building ball fields, courts, regional athletic complexes, and waterfront parks, developing regional trails and state lands. rco.wa.gov/WWRPrecreation

Our spring grant round for outdoor recreation and conservation projects opens February 11 and we’re posting information about each of the programs so you can determine which one to apply for.
(1/3)

Board meets today at 9 a.m. Attend the meeting: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

The 2025 State of the Sound is here!

Puget Sound connects us all. When we invest in recovery, we protect our home, culture and future - we see results!

Read all about the health of Puget Sound, the progress, and what’s next for recovery in the State of the Sound report at stateofthesound.wa.gov.

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: RCO's Application Webinar - Parks. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. This webinar will include information about the grants offered, eligibility requirements, deadlines, program changes for 2026, and how to apply for a grant.

For more information, attend the application webinar on February 11 at 9 a.m. Register to attend at the link in our bio.
(4/4)

These grants are used to buy land and develop or renovate outdoor athletic facilities such as ball fields, courts, swimming pools, mountain bike tracks, and skate parks that serve youth through the age of eighteen.
(3/4)

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: RCO's Application Webinar - Parks. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. This webinar will include information about the grants offered, eligibility requirements, deadlines, program changes for 2026, and how to apply for a grant.

Today, we’re spotlighting the Youth Athletic Facilities program. Nearly 50 percent of the state’s population participates in ball sports and spend more than $445 million each year on equipment and trip-related costs.
(2/4)

Aerial view of KJ Gardner skatepark in Black Diamond, Washington.

Our spring grant round for outdoor recreation and conservation projects opens February 11 so we’re posting information about each grant program to help you determine which one to apply for.
(1/4)

Washington Coast Restoration and Resiliency Initiative - RCO Find more information about grant funding available through the Washington Coast Restoration and Resiliency Initiative program.

The engineered log structures were designed to activate the river’s floodplain and spread floodwaters out across the landscape, reducing flood risks for the village of La Push as well as Olympic National Park land, downstream of the project area.
(5/5)

The Tribe installed engineered log jams, including a log revetment to stabilize the eroding riverbank at Thunder Field. They also excavated side channels to provide off-channel habitat during high flows and built smaller wood structures for habitat enhancement.
(4/5)

La Push is located within tsunami & coastal flood hazard zones. Flooding is an ongoing issue & is expected to increase with climate change. This poses major threats to infrastructure, salmon habitat, & Tribal fishing, which is culturally important & a source of Tribal members’ livelihoods.
(3/5)

Washington Coast Restoration and Resiliency Initiative - RCO Find more information about grant funding available through the Washington Coast Restoration and Resiliency Initiative program.

The Tribe used a $2 million Washington Coast Restoration and Resiliency Initiative grant, along with more than $500,000 in matching funds, to restore salmon habitat and address erosion at Thunder Field in La Push.
(2/5)