Environmental stewardship

Volunteer opportunities - Three Million Trees

It's Easy Being Green: let King County show you how
What we eat, what we buy, how we travel and how we connect with nature can positively impact the future of our planet. Small choices can add up to big changes.

Sustainable building
Services and resources for developers, architects, engineers and homeowners to build in ways that are beneficial now and over the long-term.

• Land stewardship
  King County offers four "tracks" to help you carry out a range of development activities including building or remodeling a house, farming or raising livestock, or managing forestland or other natural resources.
  
  • Rural stewardship planning
    In the RA zone, streamline the permit process and modify some buffer requirements in exchange for a long term commitment to protect natural resources in other ways.
    
  • Forest stewardship planning
    Achieve individual forestry objectives while integrating protection and/or enhancement of forest resources.
  • Farm management planning
    

Environmental education programs and resources
Information for teachers to access King County's environmental education programs and facilities and resources for students to learn about natural resources.

Northwest natural yard and garden
Earth-friendly tips, tools and resources King County provides to save resources, reduce pollution, and promote sustainability and biodiversity in the maritime Pacific Northwest region that includes King County.

• How to set up a rain barrel or cistern
  Save rainwater to water thirsty plants later and reduce your stormwater runoff too.

• Stormwater runoff pollution and how to reduce it
  Find out how you can help keep lakes, streams and Puget Sound clean.

Land conservation
King County has a goal of conserving more than 60,000 acres of high conservation value lands within a generation, including farmlands, forest lands and trails.

Conservation Futures Program
King County celebrates 30 years of land stewardship, funding the protection of forests, farms and recreation areas across King County.

Basin Stewards Program
Professional contacts available to work with landowners and public agency officials to protect local habitats. Basin Stewards are are familiar with specific King County watersheds, their local communities and natural resources.

Lake Stewardship Program
Program offers advice, training, technical expertise and grant sponsorship to help people monitor and manage the County's many ponds and lakes.

As of 2012, 66,072 acres of the land zoned Rural and Agriculture in King County demonstrate stewardship with a farm plan, forest plan and/or enrollment in conservation incentive programs.

• Farm, Forest and Rural Stewardship plans
• Incentive programs

For more information about environmental stewardship in King County, please contact Logan Harris, Communications Director, DNRP Public Affairs Unit.

Related information

• Water and land services
• Grants and awards

Related agencies

• Water and Land Resources Division
• Wastewater Treatment Division
• Parks and Recreation Division
• Solid Waste Division

News and announcements

Contact

Please offer suggestions and report errors in the Environmental Stewardship portal to Fred Bentler, webmaster.