## Environment
Washington is one of the most environmentally varied U.S. states, spanning **Pacific coastline, temperate rainforest, Puget Sound shorelines, major river systems, islands, farmland, high desert, and the Cascade Mountains**.
### Natural setting
Key landscape regions include:
- **Olympic Peninsula** and temperate rainforest - **Puget Sound lowlands** - **Cascade Range** - **Columbia Basin** - **Palouse** - **Pacific coast beaches and dunes** - **San Juan Islands**
### Air quality
- Air quality is often good in many areas, especially during wetter months. - However, **wildfire smoke** can significantly worsen conditions in summer and early autumn. - Urban traffic corridors may also experience localized pollution. - The **Washington State Department of Ecology** and **AirNow** provide monitoring information.
### Water resources and quality
Washington is rich in rivers, lakes, and marine waters, including:
- **Puget Sound** - **Columbia River** - **Snake River** - **Lake Washington** - **Lake Chelan** - Numerous salmon-bearing streams
Water quality issues differ by basin and may include:
- Stormwater runoff - Agricultural runoff - Habitat loss - Shellfish contamination in some coastal or estuarine areas - Legacy industrial pollution in some waterways
### Protected areas
Washington has a remarkable collection of protected lands, including:
- **Olympic National Park** - **Mount Rainier National Park** - **North Cascades National Park** - National forests such as **Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie**, **Okanogan-Wenatchee**, **Olympic**, and **Gifford Pinchot** - State parks managed by **Washington State Parks** - Wildlife refuges, wilderness areas, and tribal stewardship lands
### Biodiversity and conservation
- Washington is known for **salmon**, **orcas**, **old-growth forests**, **marine ecosystems**, and alpine habitats. - Conservation debates often involve forests, dams, fish passage, shoreline growth, wildfire resilience, and climate adaptation.
### Sustainability and recycling
Many Washington communities support:
- Residential recycling - Organics composting in larger metro areas - Clean energy and building efficiency programs - Shoreline restoration and salmon habitat work - Public transit, biking, and ferry alternatives in some regions
### Climate and environmental pressures
Main challenges include:
- Climate change impacts on snowpack and water supply - Sea level rise and coastal erosion - Ocean acidification affecting shellfish and marine life - Forest health and wildfire - Growth pressure in metropolitan areas
### Environmental summary table
| Topic | Summary | |---|---| | Signature ecosystems | Coast, rainforest, mountains, islands, rivers, shrub-steppe | | Major environmental issue | Wildfire smoke and climate resilience | | Iconic species | Salmon, orca, bald eagle | | National parks | Olympic, Mount Rainier, North Cascades | | Key water body | Puget Sound | | Main state environmental agency | Washington State Department of Ecology |