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/1135249
5 Keechelus Lake overcrossing structure by the Washington State Department of Transportation. These structures are intended to greatly improve habitat connectivity and increase opportunity for north and south movement of wildlife east of Snoqualmie Pass. CWMP's survey areas are located within close proximity to these new highway-crossing structures in order to help evaluate their impact. Our Easton cameras continue to record baseline data at this site for a planned wildlife overcrossing structure. Easton recorded the presence of eight different species in habitat adjacent to the highway, representing a high degree of diversity for our camera installations. The high number of species highlights the utility for a wildlife crossing structure at this location. Since the underpasses have transitioned to a restoration phase, we expect to see wildlife making more use of them and areas adjacent to them. The first wildlife overpass on I-90 has been completed. We will continue to pay especially close attention to wildlife activity nearby, including monitoring efforts after revegetation, which is expected in 2020. The work of our volunteers through the Citizen Wildlife Monitoring Project increases our understanding of wildlife on the Washington landscape and in the transboundary region between Washington and British Columbia. PROJECT OVERVIEW More than a decade ago, Conservation Northwest began using citizen science as a way to fulfill our mission to protect, connect and restore wildlands and wildlife from the Washington Coast to the British Columbia Rockies. Through our Citizen Wildlife Monitoring Project (CWMP) We continue to train and deploy more than 100 citizen scientists each year throughout our mission area. This project uses remote cameras, genetic sample collection and snow tracking to document the presence and behavior of rare and sensitive species, as well as the presence of common species in locations strategically important for landscape connectivity. Since its inception, the CWMP has remained an asset to wildlife agencies and professionals by providing valuable data from monitoring efforts in areas identified as potential core habitat for some of our region's rarest wildlife. Our main project objectives are: 1. To engage and educate citizens about native species and monitoring in critical habitat areas; 2. To record wildlife presence in the I-90 corridor and along the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project in strategic locations and in core habitat through remote camera monitoring and snow tracking; 3. To record the presence of rare and sensitive species that regional and national conservation efforts aim to recover including fisher, gray wolf, grizzly bear, lynx and wolverine; 4. To facilitate the exchange of information about wildlife, including data from monitoring efforts, between public agencies, researchers, conservation organizations and interested individuals. Due to the number of partners in the Cascades Ecosystem, the CWMP operates through a collaborative effort between Conservation Northwest and numerous other non-governmental organizations as well as government agencies. Throughout each monitoring year, Conservation Northwest acts as the Project's administer, fiscal sponsor and volunteer coordinator for all efforts, as well as the lead on remote camera monitoring and equipment. The Wilderness Awareness School provides in-kind and financial support to the project for activities associated with the I-90 corridor, as well as training resources and venues.