RCO Home Page - RCO Recreation and Conservation Office Home Page

Featured Projects

Kettle River Boat Launch

Funding Source: Recreation Projects-
Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program

Funding: $660,000

Recipient: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Location: 10 miles northwest of Curlew

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife used a grant to buy 115 acres along the Kettle River in northern Ferry County and then built a primitive launch for canoes and kayaks there. The boat launch will allow more people to enjoy trout fishing, tubing, kayaking, canoeing, and bird watching on the river. There are only three places where the public can get on the 29-mile reach of the river between Ferry and Danville and none with developed boat launches. Buying the land allows the department to conserve for the public important habitat critical to a variety of rare species.

More About This Project
Featured Projects

Cedar Field

Funding Source: Youth Athletic Facilities

Funding: $341,000

Recipient: Marysville Parks, Culture and Recreation Department

Location: Marysville

The City of Marysville fully renovated its oldest youth baseball field. Cedar Field got new turf, fencing, lighting, and a drainage system. The field is used by boys’ and girls’ T-ball, baseball, softball, kick ball, and other recreational activities.

More About This Project
Featured Projects

Reardan Audubon Lake Wildlife Area

Funding Source: Habitat Conservation Projects-
Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program

Funding: $325,000

Recipient: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Location: Reardan

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife used a grant to buy 150 acres to expand its 277-acre Reardan Audubon Lake Wildlife Area, north of Reardan and 20 miles from Spokane. The department also built a parking lot and worked with students from Reardan High School to build a kiosk there. This special wildlife viewing spot is used by more than 125 species of birds and is their last stop during spring migration to Canada. In addition to birds, many animals use the land, including many at-risk of extinction.

More About This Project
Featured Projects

Stevenson Waterfront Boardwalk

Funding Source: Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account

Funding: $354,000

Recipient: Port of Skamania

Location: Stevenson

The Port of Skamania is using a grant to develop a park on the Columbia River in Stevenson. The Port is building a waterfront trail and a scenic overlook, a public access point to the river, a restroom, and parking lot. In addition, the Port is renovating the existing restroom and part of a trail and paving a gravel parking lot. The new trail will feature lighting, benches, kiosks with historical information, picnic tables, and a nature-inspired play structure.

More About This Project
Featured Projects

Lake to Sound Trail

Funding Source: Recreation Projects-
Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program

Funding: $500,000

Recipient: King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks

Location: King County

King County cut the ribbon on 1.2 miles of the Lake to Sound Trail, which eventually will run 16 miles from the south end of Lake Washington to Puget Sound, linking the cities of Renton, Tukwila, SeaTac, Burien, and Des Moines and connecting four existing regional trails.

More About This Project
Featured Projects

Middle Fork Newaukum River Fish Passage Project

Funding Source: Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board

Funding: $1,016,993

Recipient: Lewis County

Location: Onalaska

Lewis County used a grant to replace a barrier under the Middle Fork Road in Onalaska. The new crossing helps fish access 2.5 miles of upstream habitat. "This project is an incredible achievement for the board, the people of Washington, and our environment,” said Kaleen Cottingham, director of the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. “In addition to improving access for fish, these projects also will enhance the roads that cross over them, support public safety, and protect our communities from flooding.”

More About This Project
Featured Projects

Dune Peninsula Park

Funding Source: Land and Water Conservation Fund

Funding: $500,000

Recipient: Metro Parks Tacoma

Location: Tacoma

The Metropolitan Park District of Tacoma used this grant to develop open park space on about 11 acres at Point Defiance Park, located on a peninsula at the northernmost point in the city. The primary recreation opportunities provided by the project are walking, picnicking and sightseeing. Amenities include walking trails, site furnishings, restrooms, lighting, signage and landscaping.

More About This Project
Featured Projects

Wally Bowman Bridge

Funding Source: Salmon Recovery and Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration

Funding: $145,472

Recipient: Jefferson County

Location: Uncas

The Jefferson County Department of Public Works used a grant to remove a large steel pipe that carried Salmon Creek under West Uncas Road and was a barrier to migrating. In its place, the department built an 80-foot-long bridge over the creek, doubling the available spawning habitat for salmon. Jefferson County contributed $164,872 in cash and a federal grant and $788,800 in a previously awarded salmon recovery grant.

More About This Project
Featured Projects

28th Street Boat Launch

Funding Source: Boating Facilities Program

Funding: $50,000

Recipient: Port of Grays Harbor

Location: 28th St. Hoquiam, WA 98550

The Port of Grays Harbor used a grant to improve the 28th Street Landing boat launch. The boat launch was in severe disrepair. The Port replaced and widened the boat ramp, added an additional boarding float, paved the main parking lot, added a permanent restroom, graveled the remaining parking area, and added lighting to improve safety in the parking area. The Port of Grays Harbor contributed $275,000 in cash and donations of cash.

More About This Project

News and Events

Scotch Broom Census Set for May

The Washington Invasive Species Council, state agencies and researchers are calling for a census in May to help determine the location of Scotch broom throughout the state. “We need everyone’s help to size up the problem,” said Justin Bush, executive coordinator of the Washington Invasive Species Council. “Without baseline information about the location and population […]

April 28, 2020Read More

Governor Inslee Highlights Need to Prevent and Stop Invasive Species

OLYMPIA–Gov. Jay Inslee has proclaimed Feb. 24-28 as Invasive Species Awareness Week in Washington to highlight the importance of managing and preventing invasive species, which pose a $137 billion annual cost in damages to crops, forests, fish and other wildlife nationally. “Our state’s natural habitat and outdoor recreation destinations are part of what make living […]

February 19, 2020Read More

State to Accept Grant Applications for Parks, Trails and Other Outdoor Recreation and Conservation Projects

OLYMPIA–The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) will begin accepting applications in mid-February for grants to build parks, trails, ball fields and boat moorage as well as to conserve wildlife habitat and working farms and forests. These grants are the largest source of state funding for many of Washington’s outdoor recreation experiences, and the […]

January 29, 2020Read More

All News

Get Involved

Volunteer for an Advisory Committee

RCO always is looking for volunteers to review and evaluate grant applications. By joining the many individuals who help RCO with this important role, you have a say in ensuring Washington stays a great place to live.

Learn More

Policy Changes

RCO is committed to making rules and policies that have been discussed with the public.

Policy and Rulemaking

Learn More

Investing in Washington's Great Outdoors

Recreation and Conservation Grant Applicant Webinar

Coronavirus Update

Recreation and Conservation Grants Due June 1

Featured Projects

Kettle River Boat Launch

Featured Projects

Cedar Field

Featured Projects

Reardan Audubon Lake Wildlife Area

Featured Projects

Stevenson Waterfront Boardwalk

Featured Projects

Lake to Sound Trail

Featured Projects

Middle Fork Newaukum River Fish Passage Project

Featured Projects

Dune Peninsula Park

Featured Projects

Wally Bowman Bridge

Featured Projects

28th Street Boat Launch

News and Events

Scotch Broom Census Set for May

Governor Inslee Highlights Need to Prevent and Stop Invasive Species

State to Accept Grant Applications for Parks, Trails and Other Outdoor Recreation and Conservation Projects

Reports and Studies

State of Salmon in Watersheds

State Recreation and Conservation Plan

Economic Benefits of Outdoor Recreation

Get Involved

Volunteer for an Advisory Committee

Policy Changes

Recreation and Conservation

Salmon Recovery

Plans

Other

Subscriber Information