Washington Geological Survey
Welcome to the official website of the Washington Geological Survey. Our team works to understand and share Washington’s geology. We study hazards including tsunamis, earthquakes, landslides, and debris flows; produce maps of geology and aggregate resources; maintain databases of geologic data; and so much more.
Use the sidebar at right for our most visited pages, and navigate the survey's website using the menu to the left.
Read more about the survey on our about page.
December 2025 Atmospheric River Landslides Clearinghouse Has Been Activated
As of Jan 23, 2026, we have activated the Washington Geologic Hazards Clearinghouse in response to the December 2025 Atmospheric River Landslides event. Visit our Clearinghouse webpage to read more.
What's New
Mine Waste Characterization in Washington State—Part 1
On Mar 24 we published characterizations of 12 mine waste sites in Washington to support critical minerals assessments and remediation planning. Click here to download the publication package.
The Washington State Coal Mine Map Collection
On Mar 23 we published an updated index and user guide to the Washington State coal mine map collection. Click here to download the pamphlet.
Major update to our Earthquakes and Faults page
On Mar 6 we updated our Earthquakes and Faults webpage. Visit to learn what to do before and during an earthquake, discover what spaghetti has to do with earthquake magnitude, and learn the history of earthquakes in Washington.
New Geologic Information Portal Released
On Feb 24 we published a significant redesigned version of our Geologic Information Portal, with a new interface and improved tools. You can learn more on our Portal webpage.
2001 Nisqually Earthquake Fact Sheet
On Feb 19 we released a new fact sheet about the 2001 Nisqually Earthquake ahead of the 25th anniversary of the earthquake on Feb 28. Click here to download the fact sheet.
1:100,000-scale Geologic Map of the Port Townsend Quadrangle
On Feb 19 we released a compilation geologic map of the Port Townsend quadrangle at a scale of 1:100,000. Click here to download the map and pamphlet.
Geologic Map of the Cougar Mountain 7.5-minute Quadrangle
On Jan 7 we released a new geologic map of the Cougar Mountain 7.5-minute quadrangle at a scale of 1:24,000. Click here to download the map and pamphlet
Geologic Map of the Manastash Creek 7.5-minute Quadrangle
On Jan 7 we released a new geologic map of the Manastash Creek 7.5-minute quadrangle at a scale of 1:24,000. Click here to download the map and pamphlet.
Geologic Map of the Tanwax Lake 7.5-minute Quadrangle
On Jan 7 we released a new geologic map of the Tanwax Lake 7.5-minute quadrangle at a scale of 1:24,000. Click here to download the map and pamphlet.
Geologic Map of the Enumclaw 7.5-minute Quadrangle
On Jan 7 we released a new geologic map of the Enumclaw 7.5-minute quadrangle at a scale of 1:24,000. Click here to download the map and pamphlet.
Washington Geological Survey Landslide Response
The Washington Geological Survey is responding to landslides triggered by the current atmospheric river event by providing crucial information for local jurisdictions to ensure the safety of their residents. Read more here.
Lidar Image Releases
In December we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Lidar Program with ten new images featuring Washington geology. With these releases, we now have 100 lidar images available for download.
WALERT report for the Wildcat Fire
On December 18 we released a new Wildfire-Associated Landslide Emergency Response Team report for the Wildcat Fire in Yakima County. Click here to download the report.
Reports from the School Seismic Safety Program
On December 17 we released three new district-level reports for the School Seismic Safety Program. See the new reports and read more about the program on the School Seismic Safety webpage.
Visit the Washington Geology News blog to see more announcements and updates.
Visit the past releases page to see publications released more than three months ago.
