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

Dark clouds hovered over Percival Landing and West Bay in Olympia, as rain fell throughout Monday afternoon, Dec. 8, 2025.

National Weather service warns of potential for landslides and flooding in Thurston County

A robust atmospheric river is expected to pound Thurston County with several inches of rain before it makes its way through the ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 12/8/25

Dark clouds hovered over the Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia on Friday afternoon, Dec. 5, 2025.

Wet weekend ahead for Thurston County

A series of atmospheric rivers should make for sopping wet days ahead, as the bands of rain make their way into ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 12/5/25

Planning Manager Nicole Floyd presented a map showing how groundwater moves through different soil layers during a planning commission meeting on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025.

Review of environmental protection rules starts in Olympia

The City of Olympia has initiated a preliminary review of its Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO), the regulatory framework that guides staff in balancing ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 12/2/25 | 7 comments

The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency Fire and Smoke Map displayed air quality readings across western Washington on Dec. 1, 2025. Green indicators show good air quality in Thurston County, while yellow markers in Pierce County indicate moderate pollution levels that prompted the voluntary burn restriction.

Thurston County gets voluntary outdoor burn warning as Stage 1 threat looms

Thurston County residents face a choice this week between voluntary outdoor burning restrictions or potential mandatory prohibitions on ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 12/2/25 | 3 comments

Planning commission to get briefing on Critical Areas Ordinance for Olympia

Rules protecting wetlands, streams and aquifers in Olympia are back under review, as the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) is undergoing an update ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 11/28/25 | 1 comment

Tumwater Water Resources Program Manager Patrick Soderberg, bottom right, briefed the Tumwater Public Works Committee about a contract with Carollo Engineers to help the city update its comprehensive sewer plan. He made his remarks at a meeting on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025.

Comprehensive Sewer Plan in line for an update in Tumwater

Tumwater is working to refresh its comprehensive sewer plan, which was last updated 10 ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 11/28/25 | 1 comment

Olympia School District partners with PSE on clean energy project

Puget Sound Energy has installed three vehicle-to-grid (V2G) fast charging stations at the Olympia School District in order to increase the ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 11/28/25 | 1 comment

Thurston Conservation District unveiled a "Forestry Services" web page featuring forestry assistance, property tax relief options and links to federal conservation programs.

New web page connects Thurston County landowners to forestry services

Thurston County landowners can now book forestry site visits and apply for tax breaks through a newly launched web page from the Thurston ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 11/27/25 | 2 comments

Thurston County Noxious Weeds program staff remove dfloating primrose-willow from Chambers Lake in Lacey. The county extracted 1,500 pounds of the state-banned invasive plant over three days using only hand-pulling methods.

Thurston County sees success in weed battle at Chambers Lake

After three years of targeting the floating primrose-willow, Thurston County Public Works Department staffers finally purged 1,500 pounds of the ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 11/27/25 | 4 comments

The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) Board of Directors and officials adopted Resolution 287, honoring the legacy of former air specialist James P. Werner, in a unanimous vote taken at the board’s meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025.

ORCAA names new Lacey air monitoring station in honor of James P. Werner

A new air monitoring station at Mountain View Elementary School in Lacey will bear the name of James P. Werner, the late Olympic Region Clean Air ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 11/13/25

EDF Renewables brownfield portfolio, which was presented to the Thurston County Solid Waste Advisory Committee on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, illustrates prior landfill solar projects employing nonpenetrating ballast supports and stormwater control measures similar to those planned in Thurston County.

Landfill solar venture reaches final lease review in Thurston County

The conversion of Thurston County’s closed Waste and Recovery Center landfill into a grid-scale solar facility has progressed to its final legal ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 11/11/25 | 12 comments

Tumwater City Council authorizes interlocal agreement to streamline Thurston Climate Mitigation Collaborative

The Tumwater City Council authorized Mayor Debbie Sullivan on Monday, Nov. 3, to sign an interlocal agreement that would streamline the work of ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 11/10/25 | 4 comments

An aerial view of the property at 17909 Lawrence Lake Road SE, known as Deschutes Valley Farms, where debris containing asbestos was confirmed.

ORCAA urges pre-teardown asbestos checks amid Yelm hazard case

On the heels of an airborne asbestos hazard warning in Yelm, property owners are being reminded that home renovation or demolition work requires ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 11/5/25 | 6 comments

Olympia Regional Airport, as seen in this undated photo.

Olympia Regional Airport's updated master plan faces another hurdle

The Port of Olympia’s updated Olympia Regional Airport master plan is going to have to clear another ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 10/30/25 | 12 comments

Tumwater Water Resources Department Director Dan Smith, top right, briefed the Tumwater Public Works Committee about an interlocal agreement with LOTT Clean Water Alliance to contribute funding for the agency’s Class A+ reclaimed water demonstration project. He made his remarks at a meeting on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025.

Tumwater committee endorses participation in LOTT’s reclaimed water demonstration project

The Tumwater Public Works Committee endorsed an interlocal agreement with LOTT Clean Water Alliance to support the agency's Class A+ reclaimed water ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 10/29/25 | 1 comment

Thurston County officials inaugurated the Boston Harbor water and sewer upgrades on Oct. 15, 2025. The project replaced more than 6,000 feet of water main and upgraded wastewater equipment to prevent leaks and saltwater intrusion.

Sewer and water improvements completed in Boston Harbor and Tamoshan

Water and sewer systems in Boston Harbor and Tamoshan have been reinforced through a series of infrastructure upgrades designed to strengthen ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 10/28/25 | 3 comments

Toxic algae health advisory in effect for Offutt Lake and Lake Lawrence

A toxic algae health advisory has been issued for Offutt Lake and Lake ... more

The JOLT News Staff | 10/28/25

The City of Olympia’s street sweeper features artwork by Washington Middle School students Jackson Schaub and Aalena Lucas, whose designs promote clean water and stormwater pollution prevention.

Students recognized for street sweeper pollution prevention design work in Olympia

Two Washington Middle School students were recognized for their artwork, which promotes clean water and stormwater pollution ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 10/23/25 | 1 comment

Thurston County Public Works personnel conducted aquatic relocation at the Canning Court Southwest stream in Olympia, as part of the environmental phase of the county’s culvert replacement program.

Culvert replacement project underway in Olympia

Thurston County Public Works personnel extracted aquatic fauna from a stream at Canning Court Southwest in Olympia this month, as it launched ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 10/22/25 | 2 comments

Air quality monitors in Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater showed readings in the “Good” range on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025. The agency recorded steady atmospheric conditions in Thurston County as cooler air patterns thinned residual smoke from the summer’s fire restriction period.

Burn ban eased in Thurston County

Fire safety restrictions have been lifted in Thurston County after the Washington State Department of Natural Resources lowered the regional fire danger ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 10/15/25