Connected Backbone

Protecting and restoring shrub steppe connectivity across the interior Northwest through habitat restoration, wildlife movement, and partnerships that support biodiversity and working lands.

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Our Approach

Protecting and reconnecting the shrub steppe backbone of the interior Northwest to support species movement and climate adaptation.

From British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley to south central Washington, this arid landscape supports mule deer, sage grouse, pygmy rabbits, bighorn sheep, and many other species that depend on open, connected habitat. Our mission is to conserve and restore the key linkages identified by regional partners and connectivity science, working with Tribes, landowners, and agencies to secure habitat, reduce fragmentation, and support species recovery across this vast and vulnerable ecosystem.

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Current Focus

Work We’re Doing to Achieve Connected Backbone Goals

Habitat Restoration

The Sagelands Heritage Program works to restore and maintain habitat connectivity in the arid landscapes east of the Cascades that stretch from Canada through Washington and into Oregon.

Field teams and partners implement on the ground actions that rebuild habitat structure, improve ecological function, and reduce barriers to movement for species like mule deer, sharp tailed grouse, sage grouse, pronghorn, and pygmy rabbits. This includes restoring native vegetation after wildfire, improving riparian areas, reducing invasive grasses, and advancing innovative tools like virtual fencing that open movement pathways while supporting viable ranching operations.

Staff also work directly with landowners, Tribes, and Conservation Districts to strengthen stewardship on working lands, implement conservation practices, and secure high value private parcels through easements and acquisitions that protect habitat at scale.

Landscape Connectivity

Alongside restoration and land protection, the program focuses on the broader landscape conditions that determine whether shrub steppe wildlife can thrive.

Staff engage in clean energy siting processes to steer solar and transmission development away from core habitats and culturally important landscapes, ensuring Washington’s climate transition does not come at the expense of ecological connectivity. They also identify and prioritize strategic corridors where restoration, grazing management, and land protection can reconnect fragmented habitat across the Columbia Plateau and Okanogan regions.

Through this combination of science based planning, field implementation, landowner partnerships, and policy engagement, the Sagelands Heritage Program is rebuilding a resilient, connected shrub steppe landscape capable of supporting wildlife and rural communities for generations.

Impact & Results

A History of Connected Backbone

The Connected Backbone work focuses on protecting and restoring the shrub steppe landscapes that link wildlife habitat across the interior Northwest.

Protecting landscape scale linkages across the shrub steppe

Restoring habitat while partnering with landowners

Monitoring and recovering key shrub steppe species

Protecting landscape scale linkages across the shrub steppe

The Sagelands Heritage Program safeguards large, connected shrub steppe habitats by working with land trusts, conservation districts, agencies, Tribes, and industry partners. The focus is maintaining regional ecological connectivity and protecting sensitive landscapes for wildlife and future generations.

Restoring habitat while partnering with landowners

Staff work directly with farmers, ranchers, and other landowners to restore habitat on working lands and support stewardship practices—such as virtual fencing—that improve forage, enhance biodiversity, and connect the mosaic of habitat and agricultural lands across central Washington.

Monitoring and recovering key shrub steppe species

The program tracks and supports recovery of vulnerable species including burrowing owls, ground squirrels, badgers, Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits, mule deer, elk, pronghorn, and sharp tailed grouse. Field studies and partnerships with biologists guide targeted restoration and community education to help these species persist and thrive.

Impact & Results

Our Key Accomplishments in Connected Backbone

From protecting critical landscapes to advancing collaborative forest restoration, these efforts deliver lasting benefits for wildlife, habitat connectivity, and climate resilience.

Safe Passage 97

Reducing Wildlife Collisions and Restoring Connectivity

Since the mid 2010s, the program has advanced Safe Passage 97, a multiphase effort to reduce wildlife vehicle collisions and maintain connectivity between the Kettle Crest and the Cascade Mountains along the Highway 97 corridor.

Virtual Fencing Expansion

Supporting Wildlife Friendly Ranching Across Eastern Washington

Over the past decade, the program has catalyzed the adoption of virtual fencing across eastern Washington, partnering with ranchers, Conservation Districts, and landowners to replace hard fencing with wildlife friendly virtual systems in places such as Tunk Valley, Dyer Hill, Kittitas Valley, Moses Coulee, and into British Columbia.

Shrub Steppe Habitat Restoration

Protecting and Reconnecting Core Columbia Plateau Landscapes

The program has protected and restored core shrub steppe habitats across the Columbia Plateau, expanding and reconnecting key areas through restoration and conservation actions at Spiva Butte, Moses Coulee, Dyer Hill, and multiple WDFW wildlife areas including L.T. Murray, Wenas, and Sagebrush Flats.