Washington's Working Forests

Forests & Fish is an initiative focused on protecting fish habitat and the environment across Washington’s working forestlands. At its center is the Forests & Fish Law, a landmark collaboration that established science-based forest practices regulations for more than 60,000 miles of streams across 9.3 million acres of state and private forestland. The initiative highlights how forest stewardship, careful planning, and investment can support sustainable forestry while helping protect salmon and other aquatic habitats.

Forests & Fish shares information about environmental protection, fish habitat, road improvements, steep-slope protection, and the science guiding evolving forest practices. It also describes efforts by state and private landowners to improve or retire forest roads and remove barriers to fish passage. According to the site, these investments have replaced more than 8,200 barriers, restoring access to nearly 6,200 miles of historic fish habitat. Through educational resources and calls for public support, Forests & Fish presents salmon recovery as a shared responsibility spanning working forests, communities, and waterways.