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The CWMP has enhanced its positive impact through an Advisory Council (listed in Acknowledgements) made up
of project partners, government agency biologists and professional researchers. Our Advisory Council provides
valuable input to the review of our program and steers our yearly monitoring objectives and site locations.
Council members assist in developing our protocols, confirm identification of priority images from the season, and
provide a scientific audience for the results of our work. These collaborations between project partners and
advisers are crucial to the success of the program year to year. Collaboration keeps our efforts scientifically
informed and relevant, ensures coordination rather than duplication of monitoring efforts statewide, and adds
valuable, on-the-ground information to the conservation community.
In 2018, we concentrated our study area in two distinct landscapes – the Cascade Mountains in Washington and
the transboundary Kettle River Mountain Range of northeast Washington and southern British Columbia,
including the Rossland Range in B.C. Within the Cascade Mountains, we have divided the study area into three
regions:
1. Washington's North Cascades: North of Interstate-90 (North Cascades)
2. I-90 Corridor: Between Snoqualmie Pass and Easton along I-90
3. Washington's South Cascades: South of I-90 (South Cascades)
At the start of each year, monitoring objectives are established by project staff with feedback and guidance from
the Advisory Council. In 2018, our monitoring objectives were to:
1. Monitor the recovery of gray wolves (Canis lupus) in the Cascade Mountains, with a particular focus south
of Interstate 90 in the Southern Recovery Zone identified by Washington's Wolf Conservation and
Management Plan. Our sites were determined based on areas identified as high-quality habitat where
wolves are expected to expand their existing range.
2. Document the presence of wolverines (Gulo gulo) in the North and South Cascades. In addition to visual
documentation through remote cameras, these sites are set up to collect valuable genetic information for
wildlife agencies, primarily through "hair snags".
3. Document grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) and other rare carnivores in the federally-designated North
Cascades Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone, approximately from Interstate 90 north to the U.S.-Canada border.
4. Observe the behavior and presence of all wildlife species in key habitat connectivity areas along Interstate
90 between Snoqualmie Pass and Easton, where wildlife crossing structures are completed, under
construction or planned for construction as part of the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project.
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5. Detect transboundary wildlife activity between northeast Washington and British Columbia with a specific
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The I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project is designed to improve wildlife movement across I-90 between Hyak and
Easton. The I-90 project design includes 14 key animal-travel areas, where one or more improvements will be made
to allow for wildlife to better move across the interstate and waterways under the interstate. Maps of the identified
areas for wildlife passage can be found at: wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/F6513B4C-12AE-43D3-ABA1-
95104CAAD29D/72075/I90_Project_Folio_ConstWeb.pdf
