More than 60 community members came together last week under bright blue skies to celebrate the Washington Cascades Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Project. Thanks to funding from LWCF, the project will soon reach the milestone of protecting 20,000 acres of private checkerboard lands in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The Nature Conservancy and the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan co-hosted the community celebration in Kittitas County to celebrate the project and thank all the supporters who made this progress possible.
Nearly a decade ago, The Nature Conservancy was able to “push the pause button” on the development threat on 48,000 acres of land in Kittitas County that had been owned and managed by Plum Creek Timber. These lands – just east of Snoqualmie Pass and within the Mountains to Sound Greenway - encompass green valleys and high peaks, challenging hiking and biking trails, and cool clear streams which are the headwaters of the Yakima River.
Since 2014, we have been working with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to secure LWCF funding to transfer nearly 30,000 acres of these private checkerboard lands to the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest. We’re making progress and are nearing the finish line! Between 2016 – 2021, the USFS acquired 11,000 acres of these lands. This year, the USFS will acquire another 10,000 acres. The final phase of the LWCF project is expected in 2024 with protection of the final 8000 acres. See map below for on overview of this long-term conservation effort.
Central Washington leaders stand by the LWCF project map. From left to right: Rick Evans, Central Washington Director for Senator Maria Cantwell; Kristin Bail, Forest Supervisor, Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest; Mike Stevens, State Director, The Nature Conservancy in Washington; Congresswoman Kim Schrier; Davis Washines, Confederated Bands and Tribes of the Yakama Nation; Urban Eberhart, Kittitas Reclamation District Manager; Robert Sanchez, Deputy Regional Forester, Region 6 of the U.S. Forest Service. © Hannah Letinich
At last week’s celebration in Kittitas County, we were honored to be joined by special guests, Davis Washines, Yakama Nation elder; Congresswoman Kim Schrier; staff from Senator Murray and Senator Cantwell’s offices; and Urban Eberhart, Director of the Kittitas Reclamation District and a member of the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan Implementation Committee. Leadership from the U.S. Forest Service was also present including Robert Sanchez, Deputy Regional Forester for Region 6 of the U.S. Forest Service and Kristen Bail, Forest Supervisor for the Okanagan Wenatchee National Forest. Nancy Lillquist, Mayor of Ellensburg, and Jay McGowan, Mayor of Cle Elum, also joined the festivities.
Davis Washines and Urban Eberhart share a laugh. © Hannah Letinich
Davis Washines, Yakama Nation elder, welcomed guests and shared words to ground us in this place, the ancestral lands of the Yakama Nation since time immemorial. Davis spoke about how collaboration among partners can heal the land and contribute to big accomplishments like this one. He said, “On behalf of the Yakama Nation, I want to say that we appreciate our partnership, we value the ability to collaborate and come together. This accomplishment is a message. All of you are messengers and this message will hopefully get out to others to make them think about how we can we best manage these natural areas.”
Kristin Bail, U.S. Forest Service; Mike Stevens, The Nature Conservancy; Robert Sanchez, U.S. Forest Service; and Congresswoman Kim Schrier. © Hannah Letinich
Congresswoman Kim Schrier congratulated all the partners on reaching this big milestone and highlighted the work that Congress has done to support this program – by permanently reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund in 2019 and passing the Great American Outdoors Act in 2020 which provides full and permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Project partners and supporters from all over the region listen to speakers. © Hannah Letinich
Urban Eberhart talked about how protecting these forest lands is an integral part of the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan. He said, as a result of this project, “our descendants 200 years from now will be able to recognize this place and will see what we have done to set it up so that there’s a healthy ecosystem and a vibrant economy.”
Washington Cascades forest land protected through the Land and Water Conservation Fund 2016 – present. © The Nature Conservancy
After the celebration, a small group hiked to the top of Amabilis Mountain, which will be protected as part of the Washington Cascades LWCF Project. Amabilis Mountain is a popular area for winter recreation and once it becomes part of the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest later this year, public access will be protected forever. As we climbed up the mountain, we could look south to Mount Rainier and north into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. At the top, we took in the stunning 360 degree view and reflected on how this project is connecting both people and lands in the Upper Yakima Basin.
The top of Amabilis Mountain will soon become part of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, protecting public access forever. © Hannah Letinich
The Nature Conservancy is grateful for all the project partners and supporters who made this project possible:
American Rivers, American Whitewater, Backcountry Horsemen of Washington, Blue Ribbon ORV Coalition, Central Cascades Winter Recreation Council, Checkerboard Partnership, City of Cle Elum, City of Roslyn, Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, Conservation Northwest, Kittitas Audubon, Kittitas Chamber of Commerce, Kittitas Conservation Trust, Kittitas Field and Stream, Kongsberger Ski Club, Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group, Mountains to Sound Greenway, The Mountaineers, National Parks Conservation Association, Northwest Motorcycle Association, Pacific Crest Trail Association, Senator Maria Cantwell, Senator Patty Murray, Tapash Sustainable Forest Collaborative, United States Forest Service, Washington Off Highway Vehicle Alliance (WOHVA), Washington Trails Association, The Wilderness Society, Washington Audubon, Washington Wild, Yakima Basin Fish and Wildlife Recovery Board, Yakima Basin Integrated Plan Implementation Committee and the many community members who know and love these lands.
