Environment | The JOLT News Organization, a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit

Members of the public were seen reacting to the Washington Board of Natural Resource's decision to authorize all eight proposed timber sales at its meeting on Jan. 7, 2025.

Board of Natural Resources authorizes bid for 142 acres of Capitol State Forest

The Washington Board of Natural Resources (BNR) authorized to bid timber from 142 acres of Capitol State Forest at a meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 7. The sale, nicknamed Matador, represents 7,288 metric board … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 1/13/25 | 4 comments

Kathleen Byrd, the city's fourth poet laureate, graced the first Olympia City Council meeting of 2025 by reading two poems: "Incantation" by the late Polish-American poet Czeslaw Milosz and an original work from her new book, "Last Resort."

Olympia City Council honors poet laureate Kathleen Byrd

The Olympia City Council recognized Kathleen Byrd, the city's fourth poet laureate, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, for using poetry to engage the community on environmental and climate … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 1/13/25 | 1 comment

Join the Nisqually Land Trust for salmon viewing and bird watching on Friday, Jan. 10, from 10 a.m. to noon.

View salmon and bald eagles at Yelm shoreline on Friday

The Nisqually Land Trust is inviting everyone for a morning of salmon viewing and bird watching on Friday, Jan. 10, from 10 a.m. to noon. The viewing will be held at a special spot, … more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 1/9/25

Tumwater received $477,540 from the Washington Department of Commerce to finance the a heat pump program.

Tumwater signs onto Energize Thurston campaign to help residents install heat pumps

Tumwater has joined a countywide program to help residents install home heat pumps. On Tuesday, Jan. 7, the Tumwater City Council authorized the mayor to sign an interlocal agreement … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 1/8/25

Eld Inlet shellfish harvest ban issued due to rising biotoxin levels

Thurston County has enforced an immediate closure on recreational shellfish harvesting in Eld Inlet after detecting high levels of a marine biotoxin linked to Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP). … more

By Kameko Marquez | 1/7/25 | 1 comment

Thurston County weekend weather forecast

The opening weekend of the new year is going to feel a lot like the closing weekend of last year — wet. The National Weather Service forecast calls for a 90 percent chance of precipitation … more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 1/3/25

The Thurston Climate Mitigation Collaborative is a partnership between Thurston County and the cities of Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater.

Thurston climate group looks to fill three open seats

The Thurston Climate Mitigation Collaborative (TCMC) is calling on community members to join its Community Advisory Workgroup (CAW) and contribute to the region's goal of ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 1/2/25 | 9 comments

A recap of Tumwater in 2024

Looking back on 2024, the issue that caused the biggest rift in Tumwater was a tree on Old Highway 99. Mayor Debbie Sullivan’s plan to remove the Davis-Meeker Gary Oak tree … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 1/1/25

From a previous Sea Level Rise Response Collaborative-Executive Committee meeting, Friday, March 3, 2023, Olympia assistant manager Rich Hoey and former Olympia Water Resource Director Eric Christensen discussed the record King Tide that occurred last December 27.

King tide advisory issued for South Puget Sound

The Thurston Conservation District (TCD) has issued a public advisory as king tides, the highest tides of early 2025, are forecast to surge into South Puget Sound from Jan. 4-6. The tides, … more

By Kameko Marquez | 12/31/24 | 6 comments

Rainy weekend ahead in Thurston County

The final weekend of the year is shaping up to be a wet one with rain likely on both days in Thurston County. more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 12/27/24

In October, the Olympia City Council appointed 16 members to the inaugural Olympia Youth Council. Through this platform, the city aims to amplify the voices and perspectives of young people in Olympia.

Olympia tackles housing, workers’ protection and community development

In 2024, Olympia faced several pressing challenges, including housing affordability, workers’ rights, urban development, environmental restoration and community spaces. The city spent crafting … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 12/27/24 | 1 comment

The county and Tumwater is offering to get rid of your trees for free.

Clear out our Yuletide wood properly

Thurston County Public Works offers to take your Christmas trees off your hands to be disposed of and recycled properly. Starting Wednesday, December 26, the three cities and other community … more

By Edwin Oscar Gutierrez, Jr. | 12/24/24

Wet weekend ahead for Thurston County

Last-minute Christmas shoppers can expect a wet weekend in Thurston County with the chance of precipitation at 100 percent on Saturday and Sunday. The National Weather Service forecast calls for … more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 12/20/24

The Tumwater City Council and the Planning Commission held a joint meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024.

Proposed amendments to Tumwater’s tree codes face another possible delay

Work that started in 2022 to amend Tumwater’s various tree codes may get delayed again, as a draft plan for city staff shows the work would pause in 2025. Brad … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 12/13/24

A graphic showed key groundwater controls under 60 inches of sea level rise, including stormwater pipes acting as drains, dewatering at Budd Inlet, and Capitol Lake restoration efforts.

Study warns of rising sea levels threatening downtown Olympia

Downtown Olympia faces significant flooding risks and infrastructure strain, as rising sea levels push groundwater levels higher, a groundwater study revealed at the Olympia Sea Level Rise … more

By Kameko Marquez | 12/10/24 | 10 comments

Evergreen Gold, shaded gray and labeled U1, is located 9 miles west of Littlerock and represents 68 acres of forestland.

Board of Natural Resources approves more timber harvests from 150 acres of Capitol State Forest

The Washington State Board of Natural Resources (BNR) approved another batch of timber harvest from Capitol State Forest for the second time in two months. This time, the board authorized in a 4-1 … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 12/6/24 | 10 comments

Ron Jones, senior planner with Public Works Waste Resources, explained that the changes to the language of the 2045 Comprehensive Plan are not to abandon the zero-waste vision but to clarify the plan.

Olympia pushes for mandatory approach to recycling and waste reduction

Council member Clark Gilman criticized the removal of zero-waste language in the draft utilities chapter of the city's 2045 Comprehensive Plan update at the Olympia City Council study session on … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 12/6/24 | 9 comments

Public Works Senior Water Resources Engineer Joe Plahuta met with Thurston County Commissioners on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, to seek approval of the contract for the Boston Harbor Water Main Replacement and Inflow and Infiltration Reduction Project.

Thurston County awards contract for Boston Harbor water main project

Thurston County commissioners approved the contract for the Boston Harbor Water Main Replacement and Inflow and Infiltration Reduction Project, which will replace almost 6,000 linear feet of older … more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 12/5/24

Sylvanna Niehuser, Director of Parks Planning and Maintenance, presented the parks department's list of 10-year accomplishments and challenges at the Olympia City Council study session on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.

Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation Department highlights accomplishments and challenges

The Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation Department presented its list of 10-year accomplishments and discussed challenges, such as public safety, climate change, equity issues and funding large-scale projects. more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 12/5/24

The total greenhouse gas emissions from Tumwater’s city operations were down by less than 1% from 2015 to 2023, while net emissions were down by 73% from 2015 to 2023. The chart seemingly does not show net emissions from 2015 to 2020.

Tumwater’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by less than 1% from 2015-23

Tumwater’s city operations generated around 3,821 metric tons of equivalent carbon dioxide (CO₂e) in 2023, which is less than 1% compared to 2015, according to a sustainability report … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 12/2/24 | 2 comments