Partner State Resources

Washington Rangelands

Washington is one of the most geologically and botanically diverse states in the continental U.S., with annual precipitation ranging from 5 inches to over 200 inches, supporting vegetation types from salt desert to rainforest. The rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains makes most of eastern Washington relatively dry and characterized by semi-arid rangeland as well as dry conifer forest types. Although much of the native rangeland was converted to cropland many years ago, large areas of shrub-steppe remain.