The Watershed

The Nisqually Watershed is one of Washington's most functionally intact watersheds. Originating at the Nisqually Glacier of Mount Rainier, the Nisqually River winds its way through mountain forests, agricultural valleys, an estuarine delta and out to Puget Sound, where it discharges fifty percent of South Puget Sound's fresh water. Due to responsible private stewardship and conscientious public policy decisions, the Nisqually remains one of the most pristine river basins in Puget Sound.

The Nisqually Watershed is the only watershed in the United States whose headwaters are in a national park (Mount Rainier National Park) and outlet in a national wildlife refuge (Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge). Between these protected areas, the majority of land is privately-owned, representing 56% of the Nisqually's half million acres. Increasingly, much of this private land is being considered for commercial and residential development. This results in the conversion of working farmland and forestland, decline of fish and wildlife habitat, and changing character of the rural communities and landscapes that draw thousands of tourists to the watershed each year.

Through the work of Stewardship Partners and other groups, collaborative partnerships among the watershed's stakeholders are resulting in an economically and environmentally sustainable vision to preserve the unique physical and cultural attributes of the Nisqually Watershed.

Download the Nisqually Watershed Map (PDF)

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