Dewatto Headwaters Forest

Located along Hood Canal, Dewatto Headwaters Forest spans some 18,000 acres, and its reach extends well beyond the forest’s edge. This landscape delivers clean, cool water to the Puget Sound region, sequesters carbon from the atmosphere, and expands public access to the Hood Canal area, which draws millions of visitors every year. Managed by Rayonier as a working forest, Dewatto also sustains important rural jobs and supports local mills.

Just an hour west of Seattle, Hood Canal is a popular destination and important resource for people looking to get outside. But proximity to urban areas also puts Hood Canal’s forests at risk. As the urban areas of western Washington grow and land values increase, the forests of Hood Canal face increasing threat from luxury residential development.

Fortunately, we have the opportunity to protect forests like Dewatto—an important piece of TPL’s broader efforts in the North Olympic Peninsula—and create a roadmap for sustainable growth that promotes economic vitality and protects the region’s iconic landscapes.

Working alongside the Great Peninsula Conservancy, Rayonier, and the U.S. Navy, Trust for Public Land has permanently conserved 2,158 acres of Dewatto Headwaters Forest. This success is the first of a multiphased effort that will ultimately protect over 10,000 acres.