Webinar: Connecting habitat from the Cascades to the Olympic Peninsula – 7/29

A virtual event about wildlife connectivity and habitat restoration through Conservation Northwest’s Cascades to Olympics program on July 29th at 5 p.m.

The recording of this 7/19/2020 webinar is now available on YouTube. 

 

The Olympic Peninsula contains the second largest mountain range in Washington, and supports vast temperate rainforests and world-class biological diversity. But as a peninsula, options for wildlife movement are limited. Existing connectivity pathways are threatened by growing development pressures, especially along Interstate 5.

Increasing suburban sprawl, major flooding, and changing forestry, agricultural, recreational and economic dynamics add to this need for innovative conservation work better connecting the Cascades and the Olympics. Tune in to our online event next Wednesday evening to learn more!

We’ll also discuss the BREAKING NEWS that Governor Inslee has weighed-in on the proposed Chehalis Dam, demanding further evaluation to avoid impacts from flood reduction, including a no-dam option.

 

In this webinar starting at 5 pm on 7/29, hear from our Policy Director Paula Swedeen about the Cascades to Olympics program, which works to restore habitat and improve wildlife connectivity between Washington’s Cascade Range and the Olympic Peninsula, and the Willapa Hills in-between.

Most recently, we’ve been engaging in the Chehalis Basin Strategy and helping coordinate partners through the Chehalis River Alliance, submitting comments, contributing scientific findings and attending meetings on both the proposed Chehalis Dam and a parallel Aquatic Species Restoration Plan. Paula also leads our work on state forests in southwest Washington for Endangered marbled murrelets, spotted owls and other fish and wildlife.

Our Cascades to Olympics Coordinator Brian Stewart, a local resident living in Lewis County, will talk about his research on and work for wildlife connectivity across this landscape, and opportunities for wildlife crossings and habitat restoration in the region.

And we’ll discuss the threat of the proposed Chehalis Dam on fish, wildlife and local tribes and residents with our Communications Director Chase Gunnell.

There will be a chance for Q&A on habitat connectivity and fish and wildlife in the Cascades to Olympics region at the end, so bring your questions for our experts to answer! Check out our webpage to learn more in advance: www.conservationnw.org/cascades-to-olympics

This event will be in webinar format through Zoom. Please register at bit.ly/CascadesToOlympicsWebinar, and feel free to bring questions about this program and the Cascades to Olympics landscape. Once registered, you’ll receive an email confirmation with a Zoom link to join the webinar. The recording will later be shared via YouTube.

REGISTER for this event today, or learn more about our CASCADES TO OLYMPICS program.