Overview

Thurston County, Washington, is located at the southern end of Puget Sound in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Majestic Mount Rainier and the rugged Cascade Mountains are nearby to the east, while the Pacific Coast is just an hour's drive to the west. Home to more than 245,000 residents, Thurston County is 60 miles south of Seattle and 100 miles north of Portland, Oregon.

Our Vision: Thurston County is the best place in Washington State to live and work.
Our Mission: To provide regional leadership to sustain and enhance safe, healthy, diverse and vital communities for future generations.

Adaptation Work:

From Thurston County’s Strategic Plan

Environment and Sustainable Resources: Preserve and enhance our physical environment and natural resources.

Priorities, Principles, and Values

• Foster community understanding of environmental issues. 
• Minimize the county’s environmental footprint.
• Protect and restore water quality, biodiversity, open space and ecosystems.
• Continue efforts to reduce water quality impacts of septic systems.
• Increase partnerships among local governments.
• Maintain a high level of recycling in the environment.
• Protect ground and surface water resources to improve Puget Sound water quality.
• Support the preservation and active use of working lands.
• Improve capacity for code compliance and permitting activities.

Major Initiatives and Projects

• Complete watershed characterization and science to local policy projects.
• Continue to offer commute trip reduction and telework programs.
• Initiate creation of low impact development standards.
• Continue participation in the LOTT Groundwater Recharge Scientific Study.
• Develop Habitat Conservation Plans for prairie lands.
• Update the Shoreline Master Program.