Visiting friends in Washington and exploring Mt. Rainier National Park revealed a lush, rain-soaked world where water shapes everything. Glacier-fed rivers, mossy forests, and rugged coastlines are breathtaking but vulnerable. Even small items of trash can travel far, disrupting ecosystems and threatening wildlife. Walking through the forest or standing on riverbanks made me realize that stewardship is about awareness. Small actions, such as leaving a snack wrapper behind or tossing a bottle, can ripple outward. Washington reminded me that caring for nature requires both attention and action and that even small interventions matter.

Environmental Challenges

• Marine debris accumulates along the Pacific and Puget Sound coastlines, threatening marine species

• Trail litter in national parks and forested areas damages habitats and ecosystems

• Stormwater pollution enters rivers, carrying trash and chemicals from urban areas

• Overuse of high-traffic trails contributes to erosion and vegetation loss

• Post-wildfire erosion damages trails, forests, and riverbanks

Cleanup Spots

• Puget Sound shorelines and estuaries benefit from removal of plastics and marine debris

• Mt. Rainier and North Cascades trailheads require cleanup of snack wrappers and microtrash left by hikers

• River corridors, including the Skagit, Puyallup, and Nisqually Rivers, accumulate storm debris that must be removed

• Urban parks in Seattle, Tacoma, and Bellingham need ongoing litter collection to engage communities in stewardship

• Dispersed camping and forest pull-off areas benefit from debris removal from overnight visitors