New Department of Natural Resources plan will improve forest health and wildfire resilience By Michael Liu, Okanogan Forest Lead Springtime can mean a lot of different things to people. The return of songbirds, blossoming arrowleaf, longer days, and the opening of Highway 20 through the North Cascades. However, another definition for springtime is an … Continued
Conservation Northwest staff weigh in on U.S. Forest Service fire suppression fuelbreak tactics in the Methow Valley By Dave Werntz, Science and Conservation Director Nothing really prepares you for it. Even after everyone had seen the loaded log trucks for weeks—one after another, day after day—hauling down Twisp River road with big fat old trees … Continued
Conservation Northwest staff wrap up wetland restoration project building zuni bowls and rock weirs near Tonasket By Michael Liu, Okanogan Forest Lead As students begin returning to school, I’m reminded of a sign I had in college that read: Don’t let school get in the way of your education. The message was clear, learning often … Continued
Conservation Northwest led stakeholder efforts in the Snoquera Landscape Analysis and advanced the implementation of Central Cascades restoration objectives. BY LAUREL BAUM, CENTRAL CASCADES CONSERVATION ASSOCIATE & JEN SYROWITZ, CENTRAL CASCADES PROGRAM MANAGER Our Central Cascades Watersheds Restoration program (CCWR) works to connect and restore wildlife habitat north and south of Interstate 90 and on … Continued
2021 Fire Dispatch #3: Matchsticks or mosaic in the Methow *Editor’s Note: During the big wildfires that burned across eastern Washington in 2015, we published a series of “dispatches” from our staff living and working in communities affected by fire. As 2021’s fire season as gotten off to a historically challenging start, we’ve again encouraged … Continued
We are excited about this opportunity for landscape-scale forest and watershed restoration on the Wenatchee River Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. By Chase Gunnell, Communications Director Along with our partners in the North Central Washington Forest Health Collaborative, since 2018 our staff (most recently our Okanogan Forest Lead Michael Liu and Conservation Program … Continued
When natural processes are disrupted by anthropogenic changes, innovative solutions can help restore healthy, functioning ecosystems. By Michael Liu, Okanogan Forest Lead Long before I was engaged in beaver recovery efforts in the Methow Valley, I enjoyed chance opportunities to watch the furry critters at work in their natural environment. Their carpentry seemed fun and … Continued
Our Colville Forest Lead Tiana Luke talks about forest restoration and collaboration from Deer Park, near the Colville National Forest in northeast Washington. Through our Forest Field Program, Tiana Luke serves on the board of in the Northeast Washington Forest Coalition (NEWFC), a stakeholder group including local conservation groups, the timber industry, and local business … Continued
Just as an old-growth tree serves as the ecological backbone of a resilient forest, a strong emotional foundation can help people get through hard times. By Tiana Luke, Colville Forest Lead Much of my work as part of the Forest Field Team centers on ecological resilience. Whether that is increasing ecological resilience—so wildfires burn within … Continued
Habitat restoration, forest and road surveys, responsible recreation outreach, state land transfers and continued collaboration toward restoring Gold Creek made for a successful year in the Central Cascades. By Laurel Baum, Central Cascades Conservation Associate Despite the various setbacks and hardships of 2020, our work in the field continued, especially to meet the needs of … Continued