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. 472 acre

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. 189 acre
 * Washougal Oaks Natural Area: This combined NAP/NRCA: protects the largest high-quality Oregon white oak woodland in western Washington. 264 acre

Cowlitz County


 * Merrill Lake NRCA: This site contains a mixed conifer/hardwood forest along a shoreline, providing habitat for birds of prey. 114 acre

Grays Harbor County


 * Elk River NRCA: This area is the largest, highest quality estuarine system remaining in Washington or Oregon. 5,413 acre

Jefferson County


 * Clearwater Corridor NRCA: This site represents a mature coastal forest, protects aquatic-riparian habitat and provides elk habitat. 2323 acre
 * Devils Lake NRCA: This NRCA: contains two freshwater wetlands and two sphagnum bog communities. 80 acre
 * South Nolan NRCA: This area is an old-growth temperate forest with scattered wetlands. Some trees are more than 500 years old. 213 acre

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. 10,828 acre
 * Rattlesnake Mountain Scenic Area: This area protects cliff terrain, wildlife habitat, numerous riparian systems and old growth forest. 1,771 acre
 * Mount Si NRCA: This NRCA: supports a variety of wildlife including native mountain goats, cougar and black bear. 20,753 acre
 * West Tiger Mountain NRCA: This NRCA: provides important habitat for large and small wildlife including reptiles and amphibians. 4,430 acre

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. 5,209 acre

Klickitat County


 * Klickitat Canyon NRCA: This NRCA has views of the Klickitat River, and is home to a variety of wildlife species. 1,516 acre
 * White Salmon Oak NRCA: This site represents of all of the Oregon white oak communities found in the White Salmon River drainage. 551 acre

Lewis County


 * Tahoma Forest NRCA: This site protects the ecological value of a structurally complex old growth forest. 230 acre

Okanogan County


 * Loomis NRCA: This NRCA: protects twelve plant species of concern, as well as important habitat for nine wildlife species. 24,672 acre

Pacific County


 * Ellsworth Creek NRCA: This preserve provides important breeding habitat for the federally threatened marbled murrelet. 557 acre
 * South Nemah NRCA: This site contains western red cedar and Sitka spruce and habitat for marbled murrelets and spotted owls. 2,440 acre
 * 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. 78 acre

San Juan County


 * Cattle Point NRCA: This NRCA: is an important research site with a day use recreation and interpretive area. 112 acre.

Skagit County


 * Cypress Island NRCA: This is the last largely undeveloped island in the San Juans, providing a reminder of pre-settlement Washington. 4000 acre
 * Granite Lakes NRCA: This area contains 160-year old stands of silver fir, mountain hemlock and associated plant communities. 603 acre
 * Hat Island NRCA: This conservation area provides habitat for bald eagles, sea and shore birds. 91 acre

Skamania County


 * Table Mountain NRCA: This area contains relatively undisturbed upland and wetland forests, mountain meadows, and rare plants. 2,837 acre
 * 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. 36,037 acres.

Spokane County


 * Dishman Hills NRCA: This site is notable for dramatically sculpted terrain left by the floods which issued from Glacial Lake Missoula. 518 acre

Thurston County


 * Woodard Bay NRCA: This site protects habitat ranging from shoreline to wetlands to mature second-growth forest. 870 acre

Wahkiakum County


 * Hendrickson Canyon NRCA: This site contains the county's last high quality, mature and old growth western hemlock forest. 159 acre
 * 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. 138 acre
 * Lummi Island NRCA: This site provides an uneven-aged mixed forest, making it very appealing to birds of prey. 661 acre

Yakima County


 * Klickitat Canyon NRCA: This NRCA has views of the Klickitat River, and is home to a variety of wildlife species. 1516 acre

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