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Thurston County reviews environmental, cultural resource policies in comprehensive plan update
Summary
County planning staff presented draft environmental and cultural resource chapters of the comprehensive plan, highlighting new tree‑canopy data, habitat‑connectivity mapping, tribal consultation and public interest in limiting rural growth to protect resources.
Ashley Orion, a member of Thurston County’s planning team, presented the board with draft environmental and cultural resources chapters of the county’s comprehensive plan during the Board of County Commissioners work session on Aug. 20, 2025. Orion said the presentation is “the fifth in a series of seven” in the comprehensive plan update and reviewed new local studies and state guidance that will shape policy and code updates.
The draft chapters summarize existing assets and new data: Orion reported about 2,600 acres of parkland countywide, 56 miles of trails, more than 128 miles of marine shoreline and a tree‑canopy assessment showing 61% canopy coverage. Planning staff also said roughly 8% of the rural unincorporated county lies in the 100‑year floodplain and that about 1,300 cultural resources are recorded across jurisdictions.
Planning staff told the board they expect major impacts to environmental and cultural resources over the next 20 years and…
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