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CWMP's monitoring efforts are broken into two projects: remote camera monitoring (annual monitoring with
heavier effort from May-October) and snow tracking along I-90 (December-March). At the culmination of each
project, a monitoring report is prepared and made public through Conservation Northwest's website
(http://www.conservationnw.org/what-we-do/wildlife-habitat/wildlife-monitoring). This report focuses on our
results from the 2016 remote camera monitoring year.
This year, we concentrated our study area in two distinct landscapes – the Cascade Mountains in Washington and
the transboundary Kettle River Range. Within the Cascade Mountains, we have divided the study area into three
regions:
1. North Cascades: North of Interstate-90
2. I-90 Corridor: Between Hyak and Easton along I-90
3. Southern Cascades: South of I-90
At the start of each year, monitoring objectives are established by project staff with feedback and guidance from
the Advisory Council. These objectives are typically in response to current statewide priority species and habitat
identified as important for these species. In 2016, our monitoring objectives were to:
1. Monitor the recovery of gray wolves (Canis lupus) in the Cascade Mountains, with a particular focus on
the Southern Recovery Zone. These sites were determined in response to identified 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, outside of the
geographic scope of the ongoing North Cascades Wolverine Study.
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In addition to visual documentation
through remote cameras, these sites are set up to collect valuable genetic information for wildlife
agencies.
3. Document grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) in the North Cascades Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone.
4. Observe the behavior and presence of all wildlife species in key habitat connectivity areas east of
Snoqualmie Pass along Interstate 90, 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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North Cascades Wolverine Study. Lead Principle Investigator: Keith Aubry (USDA Forest Service, Pacific
Northwest Research Station, Olympia, WA)
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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
