They heard the message loud and clear. This is a huge win for communities, local fire districts, the health of our forests, and our state. I want to thank everyone who joined me in making this case.
No matter where we live, east side or west side, none of us is immune from the impacts of wildfire. I drove that point home every time I spoke with a legislator. After all of that the legislature restored our funding, despite the budget the state is facing.
I heard over and over how critical this funding is to communities throughout the state, and that preventing and responding to wildfires is a basic, core function of government that must be funded.
My number one priority for over a year was restoring the $60 million in fire funding the legislature cut last year. I traveled the state, speaking with legislators and community groups, visiting fire camps and talking to firefighters who rely on funding from DNR.
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.
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...
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.
www.peninsuladailynews.com/opinion/point-of-view-le...
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.
www.columbian.com/news/2026/jan/16/in-our-...
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
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
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.
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...
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.
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
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...
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...