This Earth Week we are celebrating science at the Department of Natural Resources and Parks.
Science is at the heart of so much of our Department’s environmental work and King County’s efforts to confront climate change, and we proudly employ some of the most highly regarded scientists in the region.
In areas such as marine biology, nearshore ecology, environmental chemistry, limnology, risk assessment, toxicology, wildlife biology and biodiversity, microbiology, zoology and more, our employees collect, analyze, model and interpret information that supports dozens of environmental programs, including those that address land use, habitat management, wastewater treatment, salmon and biodiversity, water resources, and surface water management. The King County Environmental Laboratory is lauded as “exemplary” by the state Department of Ecology, and our new SoundGuardian environmental research vessel is already providing important water quality monitoring data that will serve the Puget Sound for generations to come.
DNRP’s commitment to science was highlighted last year, when – thanks to the dedication of our employees – our department achieved a goal of becoming King County’s first carbon neutral agency. And we did it a year ahead of schedule.
King County and its partners have committed to plant one million trees by 2020 as part of our Strategic Climate Action Plan to reduce carbon pollution and prepare for climate impacts. Trees store carbon and contribute to clean air and water, healthy habitat for salmon and other wildlife, and more livable communities.
To us, every day is Earth Day!
