Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office

Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office Our agency manages grants to protect & improve Washington’s natural and outdoor recreation resources. Comments are not screened and will be immediately posted.

The Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) uses social media platforms to inform the public about board meetings and grant opportunities and to tell stories about the work of RCO and its partners, connect with our audiences, and provide more opportunities for civic engagement. We respect different opinions and intend for our social media platforms to foster thoughtful and respectful conversation

s. This means that while RCO does not discriminate against any views, we reserve the right to remove comments if they violate this policy. Comments should not contain private information. They are considered public records. RCO may remove a comment for any of the following reasons:

- It’s not topically related to the content of the original post

- It expresses support or opposition to political parties, campaigns, or ballot measures

- It includes profane, obscene, vulgar, offensive, threatening, harassing, or personal attacking language or images

- It promotes commercial products or businesses

- It expresses discrimination based on legally protected status such as race, creed, color, age, religion, gender, disability, or sexual orientation

- It promotes illegal activity or an activity that may be illegal based on a viewer’s status (such as age)

- It compromises the safety or security of the public or public systems

- It transmits protected or private information

- It violates a legal ownership interest of any party including copyright and trademark, including, but not limited to, links or hashtags to sites that violate these restrictions and hyperlinks to material not directly related to RCO’s original post

- It contain symbols, numbers, and letters to circumvent any of the above

Posts to RCO’s social media accounts, including but not limited to comments, are not the proper forum for providing RCO with legal notice, submitting petitions or other forms, submitting public comments for official comment periods, or for submitting public records requests under the Public Records Act, Revised Code of Washington 42.56. Please see Washington Administrative Code 220-120 for proper submission of public records requests.

We’re highlighting some incredible salmon recovery work being done at Zis a ba by our invaluable partners, the Stillagua...
08/27/2026

We’re highlighting some incredible salmon recovery work being done at Zis a ba by our invaluable partners, the Stillaguamish Tribe.

Recently, the Tribe completed one of the largest estuary restoration projects in the Whidbey Basin to help recover ailing Chinook salmon populations.

This project is a small part of their goal of restoring 850 acres of essential tidal marsh habitat, which serves as a nursery for young Chinook salmon and enables them to gain size before heading out to sea and improves their chances of survival.

The recently completed second phase of work reconnected more than 230 acres of historic tidal wetlands between Hatt Slough and the Old Stillaguamish Mainstem and restored critical estuary habitat for juvenile salmon.

With the completion of this second phase, more than seven hundred acres of estuary habitat have now been restored within the Stillaguamish Delta.

Thank you, Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians!

Learn more about the project: https://secure.rco.wa.gov/prism/search/ProjectSnapshot.aspx?ProjectNumber=22-1068

Washington’s national parks are treasures! We’re proud to help protect and enhance them. For National Parks Week, we’re ...
08/26/2026

Washington’s national parks are treasures! We’re proud to help protect and enhance them.

For National Parks Week, we’re celebrating the places that inspire us—and the partnerships that help protect them.

RCO has a long history of partnering with the National Park Service to support recreation and conservation opportunities on federal lands.

Our grants have helped visitors safely explore our iconic landscapes by funding trail maintenance, improving access, and replacing bridges and boardwalks, as well as strengthening the places our fish and wildlife call home by restoring watersheds, improving salmon habitat, and restoring native forests.

We invite you to celebrate National Parks Week with us by getting outside and discovering and exploring Washington’s incredible public lands.

Thank you Senator Pedersen for joining us to see the progress being made on the floating boardwalk renovations at Seattl...
08/25/2026

Thank you Senator Pedersen for joining us to see the progress being made on the floating boardwalk renovations at Seattle’s Washington Park Arboretum.

We’re proud that our grants have helped fund these improvements, which will make it easier for people from all walks of life to enjoy the arboretum.

Mark your calendars! Orca Recovery Day is October 17. This annual even brings together conservation districts and other ...
08/20/2026

Mark your calendars! Orca Recovery Day is October 17.

This annual even brings together conservation districts and other volunteers to take part in events throughout the state that raise awareness and support for endangered Southern Resident orcas.

Learn more: betterground.org/ORD

Kinda chic to see salmon doing their thing, don’t you think?Pacific salmon are born in freshwater streams, then migrate ...
08/19/2026

Kinda chic to see salmon doing their thing, don’t you think?

Pacific salmon are born in freshwater streams, then migrate to the ocean where they live for many years before returning to their natal streams to reproduce. Washington State is one of the best places to watch salmon make their big trek home.

Before setting out to see chinook leaping from the water, take note of these tips. It’s important to approach water quietly, give wildlife space, dress weather-appropriate, and respect the nature around you. Happy viewing!

Some of the best salmon-viewing locations: https://wdfw.wa.gov/places-to-go/salmon-viewing

The First Creek Trailhead in Tacoma is ready to make its debut, and you’re invited to attend the celebration Wednesday a...
08/17/2026

The First Creek Trailhead in Tacoma is ready to make its debut, and you’re invited to attend the celebration Wednesday at 5 p.m.

The trailhead features fitness equipment, nature play elements, picnic tables, wayfinding signage, ample seating, and new trail connecting to the Eastside Community Center, Pipeline Trail, and Swan Creek Park.

RCO is proud to have provide a $500,000 grant to help fund these improvements.

Grand opening celebration starts at 5 p.m. and is near the Eastside Community Center.

Learn more about the project: https://secure.rco.wa.gov/prism/search/ProjectSnapshot.aspx?ProjectNumber=22-1433

Construction on the Scriber Creek Trail in Lynnwood is finally complete! Come check it out at the ribbon cutting event o...
08/12/2026

Construction on the Scriber Creek Trail in Lynnwood is finally complete! Come check it out at the ribbon cutting event on September 8.

The City of Lynnwood used an RCO grant and other funds to widen the trail, add bridges and boardwalks, and restore habitat.

With this third phase of work complete, the Scriber Creek Trail now connects Lynnwood’s Regional Growth Center and City Center Sub-Area, the Interurban Regional Trail, and the Lynnwood City Center Station.

The ribbon cutting is at 10:30 a.m. See the map in the comments for where the event is being held and the different parking options.

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate the grand opening of the newest section of the Point Defiance Loop Trail!Th...
08/06/2026

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate the grand opening of the newest section of the Point Defiance Loop Trail!

The 1.6-mile expansion gives walkers, runners, and cyclists a safer, vehicle-free way to explore the park.

RCO is proud to have provided $3.2 million in grants that helped fund the trail expansion—a dedicated pedestrian-bike trail, which connects visitors to Wilson Way Bridge, the Pagoda, Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, the Environmental Learning Center, and Owen Beach.

Thank you everyone who helped make this project happen. See you on the trail!

Address

1111 Washington Street SE
Olympia, WA
98501

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+13609023000

Website

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