Conservation Northwest protects and connects old-growth forests and other wild areas from the Washington Coast to the British Columbia Rockies, vital to a healthy future for us, our children, and wildlife. Since 1989, Conservation Northwest has worke
Issue link: http://conservationnw.uberflip.com/i/104888
Conservation Northwest updates Chumstick Wildfire Stewardship Coalition Case example of national forest restoration Coalition members in the field in Chumstick Valley. Jen Watkins Near Leavenworth, Washington, the Chumstick Valley runs north of Highway 2 into the North Cascades. This stunning valley is home to yearround and part-time residents including people, spotted owls, deer, black bear, cougar, smallmouth bass, and rainbow trout. The dry forests within the valley are a high priority for restoration. Restoration is needed to reduce the risk of large-scale intense wildfires to homes and critical habitats. In 2008, we worked with a diverse array of individuals and organizations to form the Chumstick Wildfire Stewardship Coalition and continue the strong work of individuals and organizations pursuing conservation, fuels reduction, and Community Wildfire Protection Plans in the Leavenworth area. Led by current elected Coalition Chair, Richard Jones, participants include local landowners and residents, local fire district members, industry representatives, County Commissioners, as well as representatives from the United States Forest Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Conservation Northwest, and more. Since our formation the coalition has collaborated on a Healthy Forest Restoration Act fuels reduction project covering thousands of acres of national forest land within the valley, and coordinated with private landowners in the valley to distribute $20,000 in grant funding to treat their own land. This year, we expanded our work to include road restoration in the valley to improve fish and wildlife habitat while reducing fire ignition risk associated with unnecessary roads into the dry forests. Through a recent decision by the Forest Service, 17 segments of road totaling 11 miles are to be closed and restored. We are working with the agency and local community to prioritize the miles for closure, and begin implementing restoration. We have so far raised $8,300 towards a $26,000 goal to begin on-the- ground road restoration in summer 2013. As all this important work continues in the Chumstick, our coalition is undergoing a leadership change. Longtime Coalition Director Annie Schmidt is leaving to spend time with her family as a new baby is on the way. As she leaves, we welcome our new director Kim Levesque. ���I am thrilled to be joining a grass roots organization that has shown such great leadership in natural resource management and in working collaboratively with a large number of partners,��� said Kim. ���I look forward to getting to know the land and the people in the Chumstick Watershed and promoting the programs available to protect and enhance watershed health. As I am mentored by Annie Schmidt, I am amazed by the many accomplishments of the coalition in just four short years and realize that I have big shoes to fill!��� Learn more about the coalition���s work at chumstickcoalition.org. Or visit our forest restoration page at conservationnw.org/ restoration. ���Wild Links,��� continued from previous page oyoos Indian Band���s Nk���Mip Resort Okanagan Valley in British Columbia to focus on forging cross-border connections for lynx, grizzly bears, and caribou. In 2010, Wild Links played to a full house with Building partnerships, connecting habitats, adapting to change. The 2011 conference, in Vancouver, BC, dove deeper with Coordinating across political borders to help species and habitats adapt to a changing climate. This year, we head back to the North Cascades for a work session based on ideas that have previously emerged. Over the years of Wild Links, we have become more aware of the many active players. We have Keeping the Northwest wild been inspired and humbled to see the work ongoing to protect the wildlife and habitats we care so deeply about, and to witness people coming together to become more collaborative, efficient, and effective. Through the years, we have not only strengthened our niche, but we now better understand the ecosystems, and more, in which we work. Sometimes it just takes a few days a year to get there. A visit to BC���s South Okanagan Valley.