About us
Department of Natural Resources and Parks

• Message from the director - Christie True
• 2011 Division Days video 
• 2010 Annual Report - Environmental Stewardship in King County
• 2010 DNRP accomplishments
• Vision, mission and goals
• Public records officers
• Publications
• Favorite web pages

The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks works in support of sustainable and livable communities and a clean and healthy natural environment. Our mission is to foster environmental stewardship and strengthen communities by providing regional parks, protecting the region's water, air, land and natural habitats, and reducing, safely disposing of and creating resources from wastewater and solid waste.

DNRP is organized by the following divisions:

The Wastewater Treatment Division protects public health and water quality by serving more than 1.4 million residents in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. Formerly called Metro, the regional clean-water agency now operated by King County has been preventing water pollution for 40 years. A new treatment plant that is under construction northeast of Seattle will add to this legacy.

The Solid Waste Division promotes waste reduction and recycling programs, and provides transfer and disposal services to King County residents via its eight transfer stations, two rural drop boxes and the only operational landfill within King County. The division maximizes ratepayer value by providing public access to efficient and reliable regional solid waste handling and disposal services at reasonable rates, consistent with environmental stewardship of our region.

The Parks and Recreation Division looks after "Your Big Backyard" -- more than 25,000 acres of parks and natural lands, including such regional treasures as Marymoor Park and Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, 175 miles of regional trails, plus pools and a world-class aquatic center. By cultivating strong relationships with non-profit, corporate and community partners, King County Parks enhances park amenities while reducing costs.

The Water and Land Resources Division protects public safety and ecosystem functions in watersheds throughout King County, in partnership with cities, special purpose districts, tribes, businesses and citizens. The division has developed comprehensive programs for flood hazard protection, storm and surface water, stewardship, groundwater, water quality, land acquisition and management, agriculture, habitat restoration, design and construction of drainage and water quality facilities, and Endangered Species Act-related watershed protection efforts.

The GIS Centerprovides county agencies, regional customers and the public with efficient, high-quality geographic information systems technology solutions to meet the business needs of the county and its diverse communities. Comprehensive mapping capabilities, powerful analytical tools and a variety of date and imagery enable GIS solutions to be effectively applied to many aspects of managing King County's cultural and physical environments.