Natural Resources
The mission of the USDA Forest Service is:
To sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation's forests and grasslands to meet the need of present and future generations.
To advance our mission and serve our purpose, the USDA Forest Service balances short- and long-term needs of people and nature by:
- Collaborating with communities and our partners
- Delivering world-class science, technology, and land management practices,
- Providing access to resources and experiences that promote economic ecological, and social vitality
- Connecting people to the land and one another.
The health of our nation depends, in many ways, on the vitality of our nation’s forests and grasslands. These natural resources contribute a variety of essential elements to our well-being, including clean air, water and soil.
The National Forests were originally envisioned as working forests with multiple objectives: to improve and protect the forest, to secure favorable watershed conditions, and to furnish a continuous supply of timber for the use of citizens of the United States.
Forest management objectives have evolved to sustain our Nation’s Forests and Grasslands and deliver benefits to the public. More specifically, timber sales and other removals of forest products support agency strategic objectives to strengthen communities, foster resilient, adaptive ecosystems, and mitigate wildfire risk.
Timber is harvested from the Olympic National Forest primarily through thinning. Thinning is one of many forest management tools employed to meet ecological, social, and economic objectives.
On the Olympic National Forest, commercial thinning is used to diversify forest structure and composition as well as produce valuable timber. This increases habitat and forage for wildlife, enhances visual quality, and even provides economic opportunities for local businesses.
National forests offer tremendous opportunities to learn about science and nature through education, exploration, observation, and recreation. The most exciting way to learn about the forests is to be out there- seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling the world around you.
For the latest scientific updates from the region check out the Pacific Northwest Research Station website.
Wildlife on the Forest
Olympic National Forest is home to hundreds of mammals, birds, fish, insects, reptiles, and other species. Did you know that 8 species of mustelids that make their home on the Olympic Peninsula?
The Forest works with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Washington Department of Natural Resources, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife and Tribal nations to manage wildlife and potential impacts to wildlife.
Learn about animals you can see on the Forest
Hunting and fishing seasons, limits, and regulations are managed by the state.
Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife
Water is one of the most important commodities on Forest Service lands, and the cleanest water flows from healthy, forested watersheds. The most effective way to approach ecological issues is to consider them at a watershed level.
- Watershed Condition Framework helps guide the Forest Service on watershed restoration
- Watershed management tools help us and you make better decisions
- Water, Climate Change and Forests shows how adaption can help moderate the negative effects and exploit the benefits of climate change
- Land and Water Conservation Fund provides money to federal, state and local governments to purchase land, water and wetlands.
- The Water Cycle (link is external), an easy-to-understand video by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Watersheds on the Olympic Peninsula and within the Olympic National Forest span both private and public lands. Whole watershed restoration and management requires a collaborative effort with diverse landowners. Discover three focus watersheds we are actively collaborating within to restore ecosystem resilience on the peninsula.
We are actively collaborating to restore three priority watersheds that fall within the Olympic National Forest.
Healthy soil absorbs water and makes it available for plants, cycle nutrients and filter pollutants. Soil also controls water flow and stores and cycles nutrients. Soil is the basis of our ecosystem and controls living things above and below the surface.
- Water, Air & Soil research
- Soils
- BAER – repairing damage after a fire
- Watch (link is external) how water moves in soil
The Olympic National Forest Invasive Plant Program typically begins annual control efforts in early May and continues into October. Treatments focus on high priority weed species, including herb Robert, Scotch broom, hawkweed, knotweed, tansy ragwort, and many more.
A variety of control methods are used, including herbicides, but prevention is the most important element of any invasive plant control effort. We work hard to prevent the spread of noxious weeds through Forest activities. We appreciate your help in this effort! Here are some prevention measures you can take:
- Make sure the wheels on your vehicle and the shoes on your feet are free of dirt/mud and seeds
- Use only weed free straw
- Do not dump yard waste in the Forest
Treated areas will be signed with a notice of treatment that will be posted for at least 30 days after the treatment. Herbicide treatments are done with a blue indicator that can be seen on as a blue hue on the ground in treated areas.
The Forest works closely with several outside partners on the peninsula to complete this work. The success of our work on invasive plants would be impossible without them. Much appreciation to all our partners!
Report Wildlife Sightings
Report wildlife observations directly to Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. While uncommon this also includes predatory incident reports such as cougars.