List Of Washington Natural Resources Conservation Areas

This is a list of Natural Resources Conservation Areas (NRCAs), part of the Washington Natural Areas Program managed by Washington Department of Natural Resources.

Clallam County

* Shipwreck Point NRCA: This site includes one of the last, easily accessible, open stretches of beach on the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Clark County

* Lacamas Prairie Natural Area: This combined natural area preserve (NAP) and natural resources conservation area (NRCA) protects the best known remnant of the Willamette Valley wet prairie ecosystem in Washington.
* Washougal Oaks Natural Area: This combined NAP/NRCA: protects the largest high-quality Oregon white oak woodland in western Washington.

Cowlitz County

* Merrill Lake NRCA: This site contains a mixed conifer/hardwood forest along a shoreline, providing habitat for birds of prey.

Grays Harbor County

* Elk River NRCA: This area is the largest, highest quality estuarine system remaining in Washington or Oregon.

Jefferson County

* Clearwater Corridor NRCA: This site represents a mature coastal forest, protects aquatic-riparian habitat and provides elk habitat.
* Devils Lake NRCA: This NRCA: contains two freshwater wetlands and two sphagnum bog communities.
* South Nolan NRCA: This area is an old-growth temperate forest with scattered wetlands. Some trees are more than 500 years old.

King County

* Middle Fork Snoqualmie NRCA: This area protects old growth Douglas-fir forest, subalpine lands, mid-elevation lakes, and habitat for marbled murrelet, northern spotted owl and native mountain goat.
* Rattlesnake Mountain Scenic Area: This area protects cliff terrain, wildlife habitat, numerous riparian systems and old growth forest.
* Mount Si NRCA: This NRCA: supports a variety of wildlife including native mountain goats, cougar and black bear.
* West Tiger Mountain NRCA: This NRCA: provides important habitat for large and small wildlife including reptiles and amphibians.

Kitsap County

* Stavis NRCA: This natural area includes the best known quality example of the Douglas-fir–western hemlock/evergreen huckleberry forest community, and one of the only extensive mature and old growth forests in the Puget Sound lowlands.

Klickitat County

* Klickitat Canyon NRCA: This NRCA has views of the Klickitat River, and is home to a variety of wildlife species.
* White Salmon Oak NRCA: This site represents of all of the Oregon white oak communities found in the White Salmon River drainage.

Lewis County

* Tahoma Forest NRCA: This site protects the ecological value of a structurally complex old growth forest.

Okanogan County

* Loomis NRCA: This NRCA: protects twelve plant species of concern, as well as important habitat for nine wildlife species.

Pacific County

* Ellsworth Creek NRCA: This preserve provides important breeding habitat for the federally threatened marbled murrelet.
* South Nemah NRCA: This site contains western red cedar and Sitka spruce and habitat for marbled murrelets and spotted owls.
* Teal Slough NRCA: This site supports a remnant coastal old growth forest and is home to marbled murrelets and spotted owls.
* Naselle Highlands NRCA: This site contains mature conifer forest habitat including platform trees that support marbled murrelet nesting sites.

Pierce County

* Ashford NRCA: This site protects mature, structurally complex conifer forest and helps provide habitat for northern spotted owls.

San Juan County

* Cattle Point NRCA: This NRCA: is an important research site with a day use recreation and interpretive area. .

Skagit County

* Cypress Island NRCA: This is the last largely undeveloped island in the San Juans, providing a reminder of pre-settlement Washington.
* Granite Lakes NRCA: This area contains 160-year old stands of silver fir, mountain hemlock and associated plant communities.
* Hat Island NRCA: This conservation area provides habitat for bald eagles, sea and shore birds.

Skamania County

* Table Mountain NRCA: This area contains relatively undisturbed upland and wetland forests, mountain meadows, and rare plants.
* Stevenson Ridge NRCA: This area includes structurally complex, old-growth conifer forest that serves as nesting habitat for the northern spotted owl, federally listed as "endangered."

Snohomish County

* Morning Star NRCA: This NRCA: features low to high elevation terrain; meadows, forests, and exposed rocks and cliffs. .

Spokane County

* Dishman Hills NRCA: This site is notable for dramatically sculpted terrain left by the floods which issued from Glacial Lake Missoula.

Thurston County

* Woodard Bay NRCA: This site protects habitat ranging from shoreline to wetlands to mature second-growth forest.

Wahkiakum County

* Hendrickson Canyon NRCA: This site contains the county's last high quality, mature and old growth western hemlock forest.
* Skamokawa Creek NRCA: This site contains mature conifer forest habitat including platform trees supporting marbled murrelet nesting sites.

Whatcom County

* Lake Louise NRCA: This site includes a very large, active beaver pond and various forest communities.
* Lummi Island NRCA: This site provides an uneven-aged mixed forest, making it very appealing to birds of prey.

Yakima County

* Klickitat Canyon NRCA: This NRCA has views of the Klickitat River, and is home to a variety of wildlife species.

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References

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Natural Resources Conservation Areas