With partners and volunteers, this year we installed a new informational kiosk, graded gravel parking area and improved road signage in the Quilomene Wildlife Area near Ellensburg. By Jay Kehne, Sagelands Program Lead Along the western edge of the Columbia River just east of Ellensburg, the Quilomene Wildlife Area offers boundless views of ridges dotted … Continued
A military training ground between Ellensburg and Yakima contains some of the best shrub-steppe habitat in the state. BY Jay Kehne, Sagelands Program Lead and Rose Piccinini, Sagelands Contractor In central Washington lies a vast landscape with some of the most prime shrub-steppe habitat in the state. Its northern border is drawn by I-90, to … Continued
Check out our new interactive story map of our Sagelands Heritage Program. Zoom in and out, pan around, and search for specific locations! Our Sagelands Heritage Program (SHP) works to maintain, restore and connect shrub-steppe landscapes from British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley to south-central Washington’s Horse Heaven Hills for the good of both wildlife and people. … Continued
How 30 people and 30 tons of rock can improve critical habitat for wildlife in north-central Washington. By keiko betcher, communications and outreach associate Recently, our Sagelands Program Lead Jay Kehne helped lead a three-day wetlands restoration workshop in north-central Washington’s shrub-steppe. The event brought together multiple state, federal, tribal and local partners for a … Continued
We’re collaborating with Indigenous partners and seeking out opportunities to learn about the role of First Foods in our work. by Keiko Betcher, communications and outreach Associate As you’re walking through an old-growth forest or a hillside dotted with sagebrush, you might count dozens of different plants and animals along the way. And for the … Continued
We’re working to help a vulnerable bighorn sheep herd and restore a critical landscape in north-central Washington. BY George Wooten, okanogan conservation associate *Editor’s Note: George is retiring next month after more than a decade working as our Conservation Associate and Okanogan Forest Field staffer based in Twisp. Among other roles, he previously worked for … Continued
Efforts are underway to restore pronghorn to Washington’s sagelands, but fences and habitat fragmentation inhibit the recovery of this native species. By Rose Piccinini, Sagelands Contractor Over the last 15 years, I’ve made the drive from Eastern Washington to central Nevada many times with my family. One of the highlights has always been getting a … Continued
We collaborated with partners this year to make progress for two key areas in the northern half of our program: Spiva Butte in Douglas County and the proposed South Okanagan-Similkameen National Park in southern British Columbia. By Jay Kehne, Sagelands Program lead By now I hope you’ve heard about Conservation Northwest’s Sagelands Heritage Program, which … Continued
Our staff, partners and volunteers are improving public access and protecting habitat at the Green Gate access site on the Quilomene Wildlife Area by building an informational kiosk and installing green-dot road signs. By Rose Piccinini, Sagelands Contractor The Green Gate access site, off Old Vantage Highway east of Ellensburg, is the primary public access … Continued
Last month, our Sagelands Heritage Program team and several volunteers removed miles of old fences and improved habitat for elk and other Central Washington wildlife. By Rose Piccinini, Sagelands Contractor Friday, September 21st was a gorgeous day to be in the field. We had two dedicated volunteers come out and join Washington Department of Fish … Continued