Okanogan-Wenatchee

National Forest

2015 Accomplishment Report

USDA

Forest 

Service

Pacific 

Northwest

Region

OkanoganWenatchee

National Forest
Pasayten Wilderness

Lake Chelan

Sawtooth

Wilderness

Glacier

Peak

Wilderness

Henry M.

Jackson

Wilderness

Alpine

Lakes

Wilderness

Norse

Peak

Wilderness

William O.

Douglas

Wilderness

Goat

Rocks

Wilderness

Wilderness Areas within 

Okanogan and Wenatchee NF

National Forest

Ranger Stations

Major Highways

Major Rivers

Wilderness Areas adjacent to

Okanogan and Wenatchee NF



Tonasket METHOW VALLEY

RANGER DISTRICT

ENTIAT

RANGER

DISTRICT

WENATCHEE RIVER

RANGER DISTRICT

CLE ELUM

RANGER DISTRICT

NACHES

RANGER

DISTRICT

CHELAN

 RANGER

 DISTRICT

TONASKET

RANGER DISTRICT

Winthrop

Twisp

Okanogan

Chelan

Entiat

Leavenworth

Cle Elum

Naches

Wenatchee
SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC BENEFITS

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest 

resources provide significant public benefits in 

water, forage, wildlife, habitat, wood, recreation, 

and minerals. While these resources are managed 

under the multiple use concept to provide the 

public with a wide variety of benefits, an important 

emphasis of that management is to maintain 

and enhance sustainable ecosystems for future 

generations.

ABOUT THE FOREST

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest 

encompasses more than 4-million acres in 

Washington state and stretches north to south from 

the Canadian border to the Goat Rocks Wilderness 

- a distance of about 180 miles. The forest lies east 

of the Cascade Crest, which defines its western 

boundary. The eastern edge of the forest extends 

into the Okanogan highlands, then south along 

the Okanogan and Columbia Rivers, and then 

to the Yakima River valley. Because of this wide 

geographic range, the forest is very diverse - from 

the high, glaciated alpine peaks along the Cascade 

Crest and the numerous mountain ranges extending 

eastward from the crest, through deep, lush valleys 

of old growth forest, to the dry and rugged shrubsteppe country at its eastern edge. Elevations range 

from below 1,000 ft. to over 9,000 ft. Precipitation 

varies widely - from more than 70-inches along the 

crest to less than 10-inches at its eastern edge. This 

of course greatly affects the forest and vegetation 

types across the area.

Forest Service

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

2015 Accomplishment Report

Forest

Service

Pacific Northwest

Region
SEVEN DISTRICTS

CHELAN

Split by the 55 mile Lake Chelan, the Chelan Ranger 

District borders the Entiat Ranger District to the 

south along the Chelan Mountains divide and the 

Glacier Peak Wilderness Area and the Methow 

Ranger District to the north as part of the Lake 

Chelan- Sawtooth Wilderness Area.

Chelan Ranger District offers unique recreational 

opportunities on Lake Chelan and miles of 

recreational trails for all ages and experience levels. 

There are recreation opportunities for mountain 

bikers, hikers, motorcyclists, backpackers, hunters, 

fishermen, bird watchers and more. Echo Ridge 

offers over 30 miles of excellent mountain bike 

trails just a 20 minute drive from Chelan. Trails 

range from beginner to advanced, with meandering 

trails through sagebrush slopes and ponderosa pine 

forests accompanied by beautiful views of Lake 

Chelan. In the winter the trails are groomed for 

cross-country, skate ski and snowshoe opportunities.

CLE ELUM

The 375,000 acre Cle Elum Ranger District 

stretches from its western boundary at the crest 

of the Cascades east to where the forest gives way 

to the prairies and sage steppe near Ellensburg. 

From craggy peaks, to rolling hills, dense forests of 

Douglas fir and western hemlock in the west, open 

pine forests in the east, meadows and secluded 

valleys, the district has many diverse personalities. 

Whether you enjoy the serenity of an alpine lake 

sunset, wildflowers in spring, vibrant fall colors, or 

hitting the snowy trails of winter, this is the place 

you can find it all. With 200 days of sunshine, only 

20 inches of rain, and 80 inches of snow, recreation 

opportunities are endless.

Rich in culture and history, Native Americans have 

called this land home for over 8,000 years. Fishing 

the lakes and streams, hunting the forests and 

gathering berries in the fall, these traditions continue 

today. European settlers arrived in the area nearly 

200 years ago. Trappers, miners, loggers, ranchers 

and farmers, evidence of all can be found in all areas 

of the district. Gold was discovered in Swauk Creek 

in 1873 and is still searched for today. Logging which 

peaked in the 1970’s and early 80’s still takes place 

today, but not at the pace of earlier years. 

Recreation opportunities abound here. 400 miles of 

non-motorized trails, much of which lies within the 

Alpine Lakes Wilderness, 400 miles of trails open to 

motorized use, 100 miles of groomed snowmobile 

trails and 21 miles of set track ski trails offer options 

for all trail users. The Pacific Crest National Scenic 

Trail is the western boundary of the district. South 

of I-90, it passes through dense forests and old clear 

cuts that offer expansive views and berry patches 

in the fall. North of I-90, hikers are treated to one 

of the most rugged and scenic segments of the trail. 

Three large reservoirs, each with developed boat 

ramps offer water sports in spring and early summer. 

The district has large developed campgrounds, 

small more primitive campgrounds and secluded 

dispersed camping areas. 

An abundance of wildlife inhabit the district. Mule 

deer, elk, black bear, cougar, bobcat, coyote, wolves, 

and mountain goat are some of the bigger critters 

you might see. Snow shoe hare, raccoon, pine 

marten, squirrels, chipmunks, and wolverine also 

call the district home. A wide variety of birds will 

keep the most avid birder busy. Great horned, 

spotted and barred owl, red tail hawk, bald and 

golden eagle, ruffed and blue grouse, mountain 

chickadee, gray jay, Clark’s nutcracker, stellar jay, 

crow and raven are but a few. 
ENTIAT

The 272,101 acre Entiat Ranger District extends 

from the Chelan Mountains in the northeast to the 

Entiat Mountains in the west with the Entiat River 

Valley running down the middle and the Glacier 

Peak Wilderness Area standing majestically to 

the north. Elevations range between 800 to more 

than 9000 feet. The landscape is dominated by 

wildfire ecology and is an excellent place to observe 

examples of forest restoration after large wildfires 

have occurred. 

High-quality recreation of all types exists in 

the Entiat Ranger District. The broad range of 

campgrounds and hiking trails provide access into 

relatively undeveloped zones of forest that are 

excellent for hiking and fishing in solitude. Deep 

in the Glacier Peak Wilderness Area at the end 

of the Entiat River Trail, you can observe the last 

remaining remnants of the once massive Entiat 

Glacier. The glacier still clings to the impressive 

Entiat headwall, home to three 9000’ peaks: Mt. 

Maude, Seven Finger Jack and Mt. Fernow. The 

district is also home to one of the nation’s most 

extensive multiple-use trail systems. This beloved 

trail system parallels lush alpine meadows, passes 

with pristine mountain lakes and climbs to lofty 

summits with breathtaking views of the wild North 

Cascade Range. Much of this trail system can be 

traveled by off-road motorcycles, mountain bikes, 

horses or hiking.

The Entiat Ranger District is an amazing place for 

viewing a wide variety of wildlife. This includes 

elusive species like wolverine, moose, deer, bear, 

eagles, salmon and steelhead that frequent the 

district.

METHOW VALLEY

With its big valleys, open wildspaces, high ridges 

and beautiful rivers, the Methow Valley Ranger 

District’s 1.3 million acres extends from near the 

town of Twisp to the crest of the Cascade Mountains 

in the Pasayten Wilderness. Alpine lakes are a 

hideaway for anglers while diverse wilderness awaits 

explorers of all types. There are basalt formations 

for rock climbers and winter sports opportunities 

abound. 

The highest peak is North Gardner Mountain at 

over 8900 feet, with many other peaks above 7000 

feet. The Methow Ranger District offers hundreds 

of miles of trails with a hiking season that averages 

from June through October. Some trails are open 

to motorcycles and mountain bikes, however, no 

mechanized vehicles are permitted within Pasayten 

or Lake Chelan Sawtooth Wilderness Areas.

During summer months, the North Cascades Scenic 

Highway 20 provides a direct link to the west side 

of Washington State, enticing both motorized and 

non motorized travelers to make the scenic trip. An 

Overlook at Washington Pass gives a spectacular 

view of massive Liberty Bell Mountain (7790 feet in 

elevation) and Early Winters Spires. The highway is 

closed during the winter months.
NACHES

The Naches Ranger District encompasses 

approximately 518,000 acres and extends from the 

near the town of Naches to the crest of the Cascades. 

Visitors enjoy flowers, wildlife and a wide variety 

of recreational activities during all seasons on the 

district which features views of Mount Rainier, 

Mount Aix and Bear Creek Mountain and provides 

access to the Pacific Crest Trail. 

Hikers, horseback riders, and cross country skiers 

have 380 miles of non-motorized wilderness trails 

on the William O. Douglas, Norse Peak and Goat 

Rocks Wilderness areas which are shared with 

Mount Baker-Snoqualmie and Gifford Pinchot 

National Forests.

There are also plenty of opportunities for 

snowmobiling, boating, swimming, fishing, camping, 

hunting and riding with over 110 miles of 4x4 trails 

and 140 miles of single track trails. People enjoy 

spending a day or a weekend in the mountains at 

Boulder Cave and Clear Lake day use sites or 25 plus 

campgrounds. There are several lakes on the district 

including the prominent Rimrock Reservoir where 

windsurfers and sailboats take advantage of the 

lake’s length and wind currents from the west. 

TONASKET

The Tonasket Ranger District’s 415,000 acre 

landscape covers five distinct blocks, or areas, across 

the eastern half of Okanogan County; bordered 

on the north by Canada and the southwest by the 

Colville Indian Reservation. The largest contiguous 

block is west of the Okanogan River; it includes the 

northeast corner of the Pasayten Wilderness and 

shares a boundary with the Methow Valley Ranger 

District. The Buckhorn, Mount Hull, Bonaparte and 

Aeneas blocks make up the east side of the District. 

Grass and shrubs dot the lower elevations, climbing 

to beautiful ponderosa pine forests at midelevations, then Douglas-fir/western larch, and the 

subalpine and alpine forest at elevations above 6000 

feet. 

More than 180 miles of trail are maintained 

for hikers, horseback riders and motorized 

recreationists. There are several developed 

campgrounds as well as a lot of opportunity for 

dispersed recreation.

With fairly long travel distances from major 

northwest population centers, the District is 

considered a bit of a well kept secret by those who 

make the journey. Whether it is June when the 

colorful hillsides of Horseshoe Basin are a riot of 

color with wildflowers in bloom or January when the 

glittering snow at Highlands snow park sparkles in 

the sunshine, the National Forest lands managed by 

Tonasket Ranger District offer a chance to stop, take 

a deep breath and feast on nature’s glory.
WENATCHEE RIVER

The Wenatchee River Ranger District headquartered 

in Leavenworth is one of the largest districts 

covering 729,000 acres from the crest of Stevens 

Pass to Mission Ridge. In the lee of the Cascade 

Range, average annual precipitation varies from 80 

inches near the crest to 10 inches near the Columbia 

River.

The District has very diverse habitats, from large 

patches of contiguous old growth western hemlock 

and pine forests; remote high alpine wilderness; 

lakes, rivers and wetlands. Most of the country is 

steep with snow on the ground in the high country 

for up to 6 or more months out of the year. Over half 

the district is designated as Wilderness and is host 

to the world famous Enchantments and to some of 

the best climbing, hiking, fishing, winter sports and 

camping in the nation.

The District has a long history of mining, grazing 

and timber production although our focus is on 

restoration today. Many minerals including gold, 

serpentine, granite and silver have created a robust 

mining legend. Trinity Mine was once the highest 

source of copper in the northwest, soapstone 

continues to be highly sought, and a wealth of 

minerals is located in “them thar hills.” The Blewett 

Mining District still has active claims and its own 

legends of gold.

 OUR DISTRICT RANGERS 

Pictured from left to right: Naches District Ranger 

Kelly Lawrence, Methow Valley District Ranger 

Mike Liu, Wenatchee River District Ranger Jeff 

Rivera, Cle Elum District Ranger Michelle Capp, 

Tonasket District Ranger Matt Reidy, Chelan 

District Ranger Kari Grover-Wier, and Acting Entiat 

District Ranger Randy Whitehall

Each Ranger District is managed by a District 

Ranger who is responsible for developing, 

organizing, and implementing long-range planning 

and short-range action plans. They maintain 

cooperative relationships with local, county, and 

state representatives, civic groups, permittees, 

general public, and industry. It’s essential that 

District Rangers work closely with the people we 

serve so they can understand local perspectives on 

how the Forest should be managed and hear about 

issues that are important to the community. 
AQUATIC HABITAT RESTORATION

In cooperation with partners, the Wenatchee 

River Ranger District completed an aquatic habitat 

restoration project in Nason Creek, a tributary to 

the Wenatchee River. This project will aid in the 

recovery of spring Chinook salmon, steelhead 

and bull trout that are listed under the Federal 

Endangered Species Act. 

There were three elements to the restoration project: 

to construct a large wood jam in order to enhance 

habitat cover and complexity and to restore natural 

channel stability; to create off-channel habitat that 

is connected via surface and groundwater to Nason 

Creek and that is accessible to fish throughout the 

year by excavating within existing channel scar 

depressions in the floodplain; and to place large 

woody material (LWM) along the channel edges 

in complexes of approximately 5 to 10 logs to 

mimic natural fall of woody material and small LW 

accumulations. All disturbed sites were replanted 

with native species. 

The project was developed using a watershed 

approach in coordination with the Bureau of 

Reclamation, Chelan County Natural Resource Dept, 

and the Yakama Nation. Funding was provided by 

the Yakama Nation through the Yakama Nation Fish 

Accords with Bonneville Power Administration. 

Photo: Meander/ Transmission bend Large Wood Material 

(LWM). The large wood jam consists of approximately 100 

pieces of wood built into an interlocked matrix. The structure 

was partially excavated into the riverbank along the channel 

edge with LWM extending into the water.

Little Rattlesnake Creek 

Restoration 

Little Rattlesnake Creek supports several salmonid 

species including listed steelhead and bull trout. It 

also provides habitat for redband and cutthroat 

trout and Chinook salmon. Adjacent to the creek 

is Forest Service Road (FSR) 1501 which sustained 

significant damage during flooding in spring of 2009 

and again in 2011. Stream bank damage occurred 

in multiple locations along the road and the road 

itself was significantly damaged. Damage from those 

events was consistent with other damage that has 

been occurring in that drainage along FSR 1501 

for decades and resulted in undesirable impacts 

to watershed and aquatic habitat function, water 

quality, and fisheries. 

The land in this area is managed by the Washington 

State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), but 

the road is managed by the Naches Ranger District. 

A high level of coordination and cooperation occurs 

here between fisheries, engineering, and hydrology 

specialists on the National Forest and Washington 

Departments of Natural Resources and Fish and 

Wildlife, Yakama Nation, NOAA Fisheries, US Fish 

and Wildlife Service and Mid-Columbia Fisheries 

Enhancement Group. The partnership’s consensus 

was to decommission five miles of road as a measure 

to restore watershed and aquatic resources.

The project objectives were to implement floodplain 

and streambank restoration along five miles of 

Little Rattlesnake Creek. The project focused on 

reducing road density in key areas where roads 

cause undesired impairment to aquatic ecosystem 

function, reclaiming 32 acres of floodplain by 

decommissioning the road coupled with strategic 

placement of woody material, and improving water 

quality and geomorphic function by increasing 

stream shading, decreasing road related sediment 

input, and decreasing the artificial increase in 

drainage network associated with FSR 1501. 

Total Project Cost was $732,500.
Cle Elum Ranger District Outdoor 

Environmental Education Day Camp

For five days every May the Cle Elum Ranger 

District in cooperation with Washington State Parks 

welcomes 350 4th graders from area schools to 

Lake Easton State Park where they spend the day 

learning how not be an Impact Monster. As many as 

200 students come from underserved communities, 

some seeing their National Forest for the first time. 

At the Botany station the kids learn about plants 

native to the east slopes of the Cascades . A short 

lecture is followed by hands on field exploration. 

Each student is given pencil and paper to draw an 

image of their favorite plant.

At the Fish Station, students visit “Blue Tarp River” 

where a fisheries biologist explains the importance 

of clean, cool water. The students then look at and 

discuss periwinkles, crawfish, sculpin and other 

aquatic species found in the nearby Yakima River.

Members of the Cle Elum Ranger District 

Wildland Fire Crew build campfires and explain 

the importance of fire in the landscape. The kids 

learn about the Fire Triangle, how to choose a 

safe location for a campfire and how to extinguish 

it. They then get hands on experience by spraying 

water from the crew’s engine. 

The kids learn how to visit the forest and Leave No 

Trace. Staying on the trail, not cutting switchbacks, 

letting wild animals be wild and how to properly 

dispose of waste are some of the topics discussed. 

At the Native American station, students learn about 

traditional foods, tools and culture. The discussion 

explains how Native Americans collected all that was 

needed to live comfortably from the natural world 

while having minimal impact on the ecosystem. 

After visiting all five stations the students have lunch 

around a campfire and toast marshmallows. To 

close the day, the students participate in The Impact 

Monster skit. Students are transformed into trees, 

fish, flowers, rocks, a snag, a snake and a deer. The 

Impact Monster arrives and wreaks havoc in the 

forest by chopping down trees snags, picking flowers, 

sickening fish while bathing in the lake, killing 

snakes, marring rocks with fire and feeding deer. 

Students then critique the skit by pointing out what 

the Impact Monster did wrong based on what they 

learned earlier in the day. 

For over 30 years 4th graders have participated in 

this camp. Many parents of students participating 

now were once participants themselves. The weather 

isn’t always great, some days it pours rain but the 

smiles always warm the day. The kids always ask if 

they can come back again. 

VOLUNTEERS STAFF RED TOP LOOKOUT

Like many lookouts, Red Top once fell into a state 

of disrepair after aircraft and satellites began to be 

used for spotting wildfires. In 1996 and 1997 a group 

of retired individuals, many of whom had worked 

at lookouts in their early years took on the task of 

restoring Red Top. It was listed on the National 

Historic Lookout Register in August of 1997. 

Since that time the lookout has been staffed during 

fire season with volunteers. The program is very 

popular, leaving few vacant days each summer. On 

the occasional day when the lookout is vacant it may 

be staffed by US Forest Service Employees. 
Training is required and is provided by employees of 

the Cle Elum Ranger District. On the first Saturday 

in June those wishing to staff the lookout spend 

four hours learning about radio communication, 

map and compass, smoke reporting, the Osborne 

Fire Finder as well as the Job Hazard Analysis. The 

expectations of the US Forest Service are that each 

volunteer will represent the US Forest Service and 

its mission in a positive manner. Volunteers are 

required to attend the training only one time, but 

many attend yearly as a refresher. 

In 2015 33 volunteers staffed the lookout for over 

60 days. The program is very popular with many 

volunteers participating in the program for 15 years 

or more. Time spent at the lookout can be as little as 

a day or up to three consecutive days. 

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LOCALLY 

ADAPTED NATIVE PLANTS REVEGETATE 

I-90 CONSTRUCTION SITES 

In line with the scale and magnitude of the billion 

dollar I-90 project is the gargantuan task of 

revegetating construction zones with thousands 

of plants and trees. National Forest Policy directs 

us to use locally-adapted native species for plant 

restoration and for a project of this size that is a 

major undertaking. 

This task falls to a team of botanists, landscape 

architects and nurseries working together. Forest 

Service botanists collaborate with WSDOT 

landscape architects to determine the right plants 

for each location, harvest the plants and then 

contract with growers and nurseries to increase 

native grass and forb species, and propagate native 

sedges, rushes, trees and shrubs; all from seed and 

cuttings that had to be collected by hand over a 

period of 5 years. Approximately 70,000 shrubs and 

trees were planted this fall for the first phase of the 

project.

The revegetation effort was initiated about five 

years ago and represents a highly innovative, hugely 

successful collaborative effort that will be visible to 

thousands of passing motorists on a monthly basis.

The I-90 project also includes Washington’s first 

wildlife overcrossing with construction initiated in 

2015. 

RECREATION SPECIAL USES

The Forest provides a place for recreational activities 

and as well as an array of specific lands uses. There 

are currently 948 lands permits issued on the Forest 

that include uses such as water transmission lines, 

power lines, irrigation ditches, fences, stockpile sites, 

weather stations and research studies, to name a few. 

There are 32 designated communication sites on 

the Forest with 96 permits issued for a variety of 

uses. These communication uses include cellular, 

radio broadcast, emergency services, amateur 

radio and resource monitoring, amongst others. 

With growing demand for better communication 

coverage, the Forest was busy in 2015 processing 

amendments for upgraded communication 

facilities, re-issuing expired permits, and issuing 

permits for new facilities. We also continue to work 

towards updating all of our communications site 

management plans, as identified in the 2010 audit 

of Special Uses. Since 2012, we have completed 16 of 

these plans.
We currently have over 700 permits for recreation 

purposes. These uses include, but not limited to, 

outfitting and guiding, including white river rafters; 

recreation events; skiing; organizational camps; and 

recreation residences (cabins).

The Forest has a total of 675 recreation residence 

permits for the recreational use of privately owned 

cabins that are located within the Tonasket, Methow 

Valley, Chelan, Entiat, Wenatchee River, Cle Elum, 

and Naches Ranger Districts. Of the 675 permits, the 

Naches Ranger District has the vast majority of the 

permitted use.

2015 proved to be a successful year in regards to the 

interim implementation of the new Cabin Fee Act 

(CFA) which passed into legislation on December 

19, 2014. The CFA repealed the former law, the 

Cabin user Fee Fairness Act of 2000 (CUFFA) 

which governed the fees through an appraisal 

process. The CFA established a new method for 

determining special use fees for the recreation 

residence program nationally and provides a market 

based long-term dependable fee structure. The new 

fee method consists of an 11 fee Tier assignment 

process applicable to each cabin owner, beginning 

with Tier 1 - $650.00 use fee, upwards to Tier 11 - 

$5,650 use fee.

RECREATION

Tonasket Ranger District was successful in 

competing for outside funding to maintain, improve 

and, in some cases, replace developed recreation 

facilities. The District successfully competed for 

grant funding through the Washington State 

Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO). The two 

year grant will allow for better maintenance and 

improved operation at our developed campground 

facilities. In addition, the District successfully 

competed for funds from Title II of the Secure Rural 

Schools and Community Self Determination Act to 

replace a toilet facility at Cottonwood Campground 

and to replace the North Fork Salmon Creek Bridge 

Abutment on the Clark Ridge/Tiffany Lake Trails. 

These efforts are integral in achieving our goals 

of sustaining our forests and delivering benefits 

to the public by creating more positive and safe 

experiences for recreationalists. 

2.5 miles of trail constructed in partnership with 

Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance on the Wenatchee 

River Ranger District.

On the Naches Ranger District, the popular Boulder 

Cave Day Use Site reopened with improvements 

including a new water system, new benches along 

the river trail, and expanded parking.

GRAZING

Bannon, Aeneas, Revis and Tunk (BART) Grazing 

Allotments permit cattle grazing on National 

Forest Lands southeast of Tonasket. As part of 

a rotating schedule, effects of grazing under 

allotment management plans are analyzed by 

an interdisciplinary team of specialists. The 

four allotments were grouped together under 

one analysis effort that began in 2012. With 

the environmental impact statement complete, 

continued livestock grazing has been authorized on 

three of the four allotments (Revis allotment has not 

been permitted for the past eight years) consistent 

with Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines while 

implementing specific resource improvement 

measures. 
FOREST HEALTH RESTORATION

Analysis was completed and a decision was signed 

in July to move forward with the Annie Restoration 

Project covering 5,200 acres of National Forest 

Land about 17 miles east of Tonasket. Analysis 

like this takes a significant investment of time 

from many different kinds of specialists who 

work in an interdisciplinary effort to study the 

current condition on the landscape, determine 

what restoration efforts may be needed to move 

the forest toward a more resilient and sustainable 

condition and then to analyze the effects of those 

proposed restoration activities. The team worked 

collaboratively with interested citizens, agencies 

and Tribal Leaders to determine objectives and what 

treatment activities were needed.

Analysis of the current condition found an increased 

probability for insect and disease outbreaks and 

reduced the ability for successful fire suppression, 

which threatened nearby private and State lands. 

This information was used to determine the 

objectives which included: 

Restore the structure, composition, and pattern of 

vegetation, and allow natural processes to function 

that will provide resilience to uncharacteristic 

wildfire and climate change as well as provide 

sustainable wildlife habitat. 

Protect life and personal property of the residents 

of the Upper Bonaparte drainage by modifying the 

structure and pattern of dry forest stands. 

Improve, enhance, and accelerate the development 

of habitat for lynx and their prey. 

Reduce the impacts of roads on water quality, water 

quantity, flow regimes, noxious weed spread, and on 

wildlife. 

To accomplish these objectives, restoration activities 

will include thinning, about 1,700 acres of timber 

harvest and prescribed burning as well as fencing 

to protect aspen patches and wet meadows, and 

changes to the road system. Treatment will reduce 

overcrowding, remove diseased trees and create 

openings needed for trees to grow. Thinning would 

remove small trees to reduce opportunities for 

fire to climb into the overstory and reduce the 

competition for sunlight and nutrients; expediting 

the growth of desired tree species. Prescribed 

burning would be used to improve the effectiveness 

of treatments and to reduce ground fuels. Like 

most restoration projects, there are multiple phases 

of implementation. After being sold at auction in 

September, thinning began in February of 2016.
Chelan Ridge Raptor Migration 

2015 – Year 19

Each year, the Forest 

hosts the Hawk 

Migration Festival. 

This well-attended 

event is part of the 

Chelan Ridge Fall 

Raptor Migration 

Project, which since 

1997 has stationed 

volunteer biologists 

on Chelan Ridge, one 

of ten HawkWatch 

sites in the U.S., where 

migrating raptors are counted from August through 

October. The information gathered helps determine 

long-term population trends, assess the health and 

fitness of individual birds (which demonstrates the 

condition of the habitat through which they have 

flown), and provides indications of the effects of 

climate change on the avian community. Despite 

fire on the doorstep of the Chelan Ridge, the 

HawkWatch site was open almost the entire season. 

This year, wildlife biologist Kent Woodruff was 

presented with HawkWatch International’s Lifetime 

Achievement Award for his outstanding service, 

passion, and life-long dedication. Kent has been 

working with Hawkwatch International for 19 years 

at the Chelan Ridge Raptor Migration site.

Methow Beaver Project – Year 6

The Western Division of the American Fisheries 

Society selected the Methow Beaver Project on the 

Methow Valley Ranger District of the OkanoganWenatchee National Forest to receive the 2015 

Riparian Challenge Award for excellence in riparian 

and watershed habitat management. The project 

restores active beaver colonies to streams in the 

Methow River sub-basin, and thereby returns key 

watershed processes that have been missing in some 

drainages for as long as 200 years. Beaver dams 

increase water storage, improve water quality by 

reducing stream temperatures, increase nutrient 

availability in streams, and increase stream function 

by reconnecting floodplains. 

The Methow basin provides significant spawning 

areas for Spring Chinook salmon and also supports 

spawning steelhead, cutthroat trout, and bull trout, 

and maybe still a few critically endangered Pacific 

lamprey. Water stored behind beaver dams in 

tributaries and delivered later in the season, along 

with the cooler ground water arising from beneath 

beaver ponds are important habitat improvements 

for aquatic species and critical water for people.

The project team meets with willing landowners 

who have encounters with beavers. In some cases, 

as an alternative to lethal removal, they live trap 

and move unwanted beavers to a holding facility 

at the USFWS National Fish Hatchery, where the 

beavers are evaluated, weighed and measured, 

gender determined, and grouped together with 

other beavers to then be released, usually in river 

tributaries. 

A well maintained beaver pond at South Fork Beaver Meadows

Education about the benefits of beavers for salmon 

habitat and adapting to climate change is a core 

project activity. Another ongoing project component 

is conducting a highly rigorous study of the 

temperature and stream flow improvements realized 

with beaver restoration.

A wide array of partners across sectors are working 

collaboratively on this project, including the 

Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation; U.S. Forest 

Service; Washington Departments of Fish and 

Wildlife, Natural Resources, and Ecology; Methow 

Conservancy; Yakama Nation; Confederated Tribes 

of the Colville Reservation; Wildlife Conservation 

Society; Methow Watershed Council; Pacific 

Biodiversity Institute; Ecotrust; U.S. Bureau of 
Reclamation; Salmon Recovery Funding Board; 

Douglas County and Grant County Public Utility 

Districts; Bonneville Environmental Foundation; 

National Forest Foundation; Seattle City Light; U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service; Woodsmith Watershed 

Consulting; and more than 100 community 

volunteers.

A brand new beaver pond in the lower Chewuch.

In 2015 the project team relocated 44 beavers to 17 

sites and have so far seen 5 new well established 

sites to add to the existing list of sites in the 

Methow watershed. They hosted 65 volunteers who 

contributed 1751 hours during which they cleaned, 

carried, fed, trapped, educated, monitored, and 

learned alongside project staff. They also hosted 

an intern from England, Izzie Tween, as part of 

an International Knowledge Exchange funded by 

the Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation. While 

she was here, Izzie measured 62 beaver ponds at 

establishment sites and recorded an amazing 5.24 

million gallons of water being stored there. Beneath 

these ponds is an estimated additional 38.7 million 

gallons of groundwater.

The team made presentations to seven groups 

including five workshops in four states, the annual 

State of the Beaver Conference, and the Salmon 

Recovery Conference and hosted a Techniques 

Workshop and Open House for 26 participants 

from 6 states. They contributed a chapter to the new 

Beaver Restoration Guide. That’s more than enough 

water stored in these beaver complexes to supply all 

the household water use for all the residents of the 

nearby community of Twisp for a year.

TREASURED LANDSCAPE — 

Majestic Methow 

A suite of volunteer projects in the National Forest 

Foundation’s Treasured Landscapes: Majestic 

Methow campaign were completed in 2015.

Dozens of volunteers from the local area, and as far 

away as Seattle, joined forces to construct the new 

more sustainable trail to a newly popular climbing 

area known as The Matrix. “It was remarkable to 

see the climbing community show up in such force 

for this event and build an excellent trail in just 

a few hours,” said Natalie Kuehler, the National 

Forest Foundation Methow Valley staff member. 

“The Volunteers built much more than a new trail 

however, the event was a successful step toward 

developing a cooperative partnership between local 

climbers and the Methow Valley Ranger District.”

“The success of the Matrix trail construction project 

is a model of how partnerships can benefit outdoor 

recreation and reduce resource impacts,” said Mike 

Liu, Methow Valley District Ranger. “I am excited 

to build on the relationships that were developed 

during this project.”

Matt Perkins, a volunteer and member of the 

Washington Climbers Coalition and the Access Fund, 

succinctly summarized the event: “This is a fabulous 

day for climbing, and for recreation in Washington 

State.”
The National Forest Foundation held their firstever “Plant-and-Camp” volunteer weekend on 

National Public Lands Day high in the Cascades 

on the Forest’s Maple Pass trail. The trail had only 

been completed in 1993, and already there were 

large spots that had been entirely denuded by 

hikers straying off the trail into fragile meadows. 

The area was, truly, being loved to death. What is 

worse, the damage was being done to alpine heather 

communities that, unbeknownst to most people, 

took as many as 7,000 years to establish themselves. 

A single user-trail can alter the water flow and, over 

time, cause the entire community to perish. 

Earlier in the year areas had been roped off, free 

maps and educational brochures were placed at 

the trailhead, presentations were given about the 

fragility of heather plants, and trail sign were 

erected. Then the volunteers arrived to eliminate 

user trails and jumpstart new growth by planting 

thousands of plants meticulously grown at a 

National Park Service greenhouse. At the end of 

day one, some volunteers hiked back down to 

return the next day, while others began setting up 

their tents in the driving snow to camp overnight. 

By late afternoon on Sunday they had planted the 

last plants and blocked off the last user trails. This 

special project was made possible by a dizzying 

array of partners working together closely for 

years. The Moccasin Lake Foundation, REI and 

the Horizons Foundation provided funding to the 

NFF for implementation. The National Park Service, 

paid for much of its work, also donated some of its 

greenhouse space and horticulturists’ time. The 

North Cascades Institute dispatched a graduate 

student to work on this project throughout the 

past two summers. And the Methow Valley Ranger 

District made restoration efforts a priority. All this, 

however, would have led nowhere without the 46 

volunteers who participated on this one weekend 

alone, working a total of nearly 350 hours. 

National Forest Foundation work parties were also 

held at the Forest’s Rainy Pass picnic area, Maple 

Pass loop, and Blue Lake on the Methow Valley 

Ranger District. Fueled by breakfast goodies and 

coffee donated by local businesses, volunteers 

repaired two bridges, hardened a persistently 

muddy switchback, brushed out large swaths of 

trail, and plugged holes in the road and under picnic 

tables. Volunteers worked to restore and protect 

fragile riparian and alpine habitats at Blue Lake, one 

of the Forest’s most popular hiking destinations. 

Volunteers also repaired a footbridge and installed 

stakes and ropes to direct hikers on the trail and 

away from sensitive areas.
North Cascades Wolverine Project – 

Year 10 (Final)

The Methow Valley 

Ranger District 

coordinated the 

field portion of a 

10 year wolverine 

study that was led by 

the PNW Research 

Station and included 

WDFW, Seattle City 

Light, The Wolverine 

Foundation, The 

Seattle Foundation, 

USFWS, BC Ministry 

of Environment, and 

NFF as partners. This 

is the only wolverine 

research project conducted in the Pacific portion of 

their original range and has resulted in important 

contributions to the little that is known of wolverine 

ecology. Fourteen different wolverines were trapped 

and fitted with satellite-based radio collars enabling 

us to gather data on movements, habitat use, natal 

denning habitat, and their distribution in the North 

Cascades. 

Silviculture and Timber

11,200 cords of firewood sold

1.6 MMBF or 3,200 ccf of salvage timber sold 

(Brimstone sale from Carlton Complex Fire) 

1,604 acres of planting seedlings on burned areas

610 acres of site preparation for natural and artificial 

regeneration

1,290 acres of certification of regeneration (natural 

and artificial)

38 acres of seed orchard maintenance

Botany/Invasives

21,395 acres of Threatened and Endangered Species 

and Survey & Manage plant inventoried

10 new sensitive plant sites representing 4 taxa 

documented

2 new Survey & Manage lichen sites and 1 new 

Survey & Manage fungi site documented

55 Biological Evaluations and environmental 

analysis documents completed

5,800 acres treated for invasive plants

14,000 acres of weed surveys on roadsides, burned 

areas, and project areas completed

Each spring a cooperative effort by the Crupina 

Task Force is geared up to prevent the spread of 

crupina, an invasive noxious weed, and to eradicate 

it from the slopes of Lake Chelan, the only known 

location of crupina in Washington State. Over 250 

acres were treated in 2015 with partners including 

the Chelan County Weed Board, Washington State 

Department of Agriculture, Chelan County Public 

Utility Department, Washington State Weed Board, 

and private landowners. 

Wildlife

55,000 acres of wildlife habitat improved

1,383 individuals of 17 species of migrating raptors 

counted at Chelan Ridge and banded 360

9 falcon aeries and 6 bald eagle nests monitored

138 Townsend’s big-eared bats counted in the largest 

and longest recorded active hibernacula in WA

17 miles of Wenatchee River surveyed with 20 osprey 

nests documented

Partnered with the Ruffed Grouse Society to build 

a buck-n-pole fence to protect unique habitat in a 

cattle allotment on the Naches Ranger District

Continued partnering with the Yakama Nation and 

University of Idaho on white-headed woodpecker 

monitoring
Volunteers from the Columbia Basin Job Corps 

Center and a Seattle church group helped the Entiat 

Ranger District improve wildlife habitat impacted 

by wildfires for National Public Lands Day. Led 

by Wildlife Technician Haley Watson, volunteers 

removed barbed wire fencing damaged by the 2012 

Byrd Fire to allow for safe movement and increased 

survival for mule deer and other wildlife. The old 

burned barbed wire also posed safety hazards to 

recreationists. 

Heritage

Worked with Forest Fire Lookout Association to 

restore a lookout tower that is listed on the National 

Historic Lookout Register. Over 500 hours were 

donated by volunteers who repaired the roof, 

shutters, windows, flooring, siding, doors and 

painted the interior.

Grants and Agreements

27 new agreements executed and 76 modified

37 cooperators contributed $3,916,197

The largest influx of funds is the ongoing 

partnership with Washington Department of 

Transportation for the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East 

Reforestation Project. 

272 additional agreements are still in active status 

from prior years with a total contribution from 

cooperators of $19,086,722 (includes cash, non-cash, 

and in-kind contributions)

Partners participated in 

Stewardship Agreement Workshop

The Okanogan-Wenatchee and Colville National 

Forests held a joint workshop to explain how to 

use stewardship agreements to increase the pace 

and scale of restoration in eastern Washington. 

Specialists and partners on the Deschutes and 

Fremont-Winema National Forests also shared 

their first-hand experiences with attendees 

including employees from five National Forests 

in R6, Yakama Nation, Tapash Sustainable Forest 

Collaborative, North Central Washington Forest 

Health Collaborative, Northeast Washington 

Forestry Coalition, Trout Unlimited, The Nature 

Conservancy, American Forests Resource Council, 

Cascadia Conservation District, Chelan County 

Natural Resource Department, Chelan Douglas Land 

Trust, and representatives from industry and county 

commissioners.

Fire

126 total fires on Okanogan-Wenatchee National 

Forest lands

76 fires caused by lightning, 50 fires caused by 

humans

174,779 total acres burned on Okanogan-Wenatchee 

National Forest lands

101 responses to fires on cooperator lands

150,456 total acres burned on cooperator land 

responses
284 responses to fires on all other National Forest 

lands

526,482 total acres burned on all other National 

Forest lands

407 responses to wildfire by North Cascades 

Smokejumpers

72 responses to wildfire by Wenatchee Valley 

Rapellers

32 Incident Management Teams hosted

319 fire personnel

2,853,649 gallons (650 loads) of retardant delivered 

from Moses Lake Air Tanker Base to 83 wildfires

26,591 acres of fuels treatments

2015 was a long and severe fire season for the 

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. We will 

grieve the tragic loss of firefighters Rick Wheeler, 

Andrew Zajac, and Tom Zbyszewski and reflect 

upon the sheer magnitude of wildfire across North 

Central Washington for years to come. Wildfires 

burned more than a million acres in Washington 

state in 2015; that’s more than burned in the last 

five years combined. And yet, given the conditions, 

the losses could have been much higher if not for 

the coordination between the many organizations 

involved, strong commitment of firefighters and 

support staff, and past forest health restoration 

treatments. 

Excellent coordination with our partner 

organizations at the local, state, federal, and 

international level were critical to success. Our 

cooperative agreements with the British Columbia 

Wildfire Service, Washington State Department 

of Natural Resources, U.S. Bureau of Land 

Management, the Colville Agency, local fire districts 

and sheriff departments smoothed the way to 

rapidly shift resources to fight fires that crossed 

jurisdictions. We were also assisted by Washington 

National Guard members and soldiers from Joint 

Base Lewis-McChord serving as firefighters. When 

resources were at their lowest nationally, firefighters 

from Australia and New Zealand arrived to fill key 

leadership roles.

Successful fire suppression efforts in many areas 

were facilitated by previous forest health restoration 

projects and fuel treatments. Firefighters and 

communities saw firsthand the impact forest 

thinning and prescribed fire can have on the spread 

of wildfires. 

On the Tonasket Ranger District, past restoration 

treatments provided effective locations to defend 

against the fast moving North Star and Tunk Block 

Fires by increasing firefighter safety and eliminating 

preparation time for burnout operations. This was 

critical in a season where fires were spotting up 

to five miles out as happened in mid-August with 

the North Star Fire. On the Methow Valley Ranger 

District, crews were able to safely construct direct 

fireline in the Little Bridge Creek Area of the Twisp 

River Fire because similar treatments had helped 

to lower fire intensity, which also reduced tree 

mortality and soil heating and helped limit overall 

fire growth in the area. Crews also had improved 

options for safe and effective firefighting in the 

Squaw Creek and McFarland Creek area within 

the Black Canyon Fire. They used recent treatment 

areas as safe anchor points for suppression and were 

successful with burnout operations because prior 

fuel treatments reduced fire intensity. This success 
help reduce the spread of the wildfires onto private, 

State, and National Forest lands. The spread of the 

Chelan Complex and First Creek Fires on the Chelan 

Ranger District was limited in areas where previous 

thinning and underburning occurred. Treated areas 

on the Naches Ranger District aided firefighter 

efforts and helped reduce the intensity of the Meeks 

Table Fire, allowing a high number of overstory 

trees to survive.

Reducing hazardous fuels on the 

Methow Valley Ranger District

Nearly 2,400 acres of hazard fuel reduction work 

will take place over two years in the upper Methow 

River Drainage, west of Winthrop, Washington. 

The contracted work is part of the Lost Driveway 

project and includes thinning and handpiling in 

the wildland urban interface on National Forest 

lands adjacent to private property. The project is 

the culmination of years of collaboration between 

individual landowners, homeowner’s associations, 

local Firewise communities, Okanogan County 

Conservation District, the state Department of 

Natural Resources, the National Forest Foundation, 

and the Forest Service.

Previously thinned and prescribed burn unit survived the 2015 

wildfire.

In the summer of 2015, crews began thinning 

understory trees to reduce the likelihood of crown 

fires developing. Prescribed burning is planned 

to remove brush piles and accumulated surface 

fuels. Debris that is not hand-piled will be available 

for firewood collection by the public. The work on 

Previously thinned and prescribed burn unit survived 2012 

wildfire.

National Forest lands will complement the efforts to 

reduce wildfire hazards on adjacent private lands.

“Several neighboring landowners have used the 

Firewise program to reduce risk on their own 

lands when wildland fire comes through. They 

have invested time, labor, and funds to adapt 

their landscape to wildfire,” said Meg Trebon, 

Assistant Fire Management Officer for Fuels. “These 

landowners recognize that fire in our area is not a 

matter of if but when, and they have changed their 

landscapes accordingly. We’re looking forward to 

doing the same on adjacent federal lands.”

Historically, fire played an essential role in shaping 

the vegetation pattern on this landscape. The many 

decades of fire suppression has led to stands of trees 

that are thick, overgrown, and often dominated 

by less fire tolerant species. Thinning forests and 

reducing surface fuels are important to reducing the 

impacts of wildfires and increasing the chances that 

fire can be suppressed.

The project is located within The Majestic Methow 

Treasured Landscape, one of 14 landscapes 

nation-wide that were selected by the National 

Forest Foundation for partnering with the Forest 

Service and local partners in restoration efforts. 

The Treasured Landscape campaign supports 

a comprehensive restoration and community 

engagement strategy, including fish and wildlife 

habitat restoration, trail restoration and 

maintenance to support sustainable recreational use, 

forest restoration including fuels reduction, and the 

removal of invasive plants.
Tapash Collaborative Forest 

Landscape Restoration Program

Green Tons of Biomass Removed 33

Acres of Fuels Treated 2,181

Miles of Road Decommissioned 16

Acres of Range vegetation Improved 7,028

Acres Brush Disposal 346

Timber Volume Harvested (CCF) 20,207

Timber Volume Sold 2,371

Wenatchee River Salmon Festival

The Wenatchee River Salmon Festival is a threeday natural resource education event held each 

fall to celebrate the return of the wild salmon to 

the Wenatchee River. The Festival is held on the 

grounds of the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, 

located at the mouth of the scenic Icicle Canyon 

near Leavenworth, Washington. The OkanoganWenatchee National Forest co-hosts the festival with 

the U.S. Fish & Wildlife and partners with numerous 

other partners and tribal members. 

Not only did the festival celebrate its 25th 

anniversary, it was the 75th year of the Leavenworth 

Fisheries Complex. There was plenty of Cascade 

Mountain sunshine, historical exhibits, hands-on 

activities, education, entertainment and outdoor 

recreation for the audience of over 7,000 people.

On school daze (Thursday & Friday) 18 school 

districts participated in the event which included 

29 schools, 78 individual classrooms and over 245 

classes taught, that translates into over 3,000 school 

children in two days (daze). Saturday is family day 

and over 4,000 visitors came to the free event.

The true spirit of Salmon Fest continues to be 

making strong outdoor family connection with reallife nature experiences. This is achieved through 

interactive learning, recreational experiences, field 

exploration and natural resource programs. An 

extensive line-up of activities and entertainment 

promotes “edutainment”- a combination of 

education and entertainment. There’s a Native 

American Tribal Village plus an amazing assortment 

of activities designed around natural resources. 

Here are some fishy facts:

Over 400 volunteers assist with the festival.

Salmon Fest’s curriculum is now the North Central 

Washington pilot project for the new Washington 

State STEM educational requirements. 

33 new teachers attended the Teacher’s Workshop to 

learn how to use Salmon Fest’s curriculum in their 

classrooms.

12 Tribes participated in the Native American Village

We have an amazing safety record including 

development of a water safety plan that is a model 

for the Wenatchee School District.

Almost 1000 entries were received for the poster 

contest (open to third graders only)

An annual $1500 scholarship was awarded to 

graduating senior pursuing a natural resource 

degree.

The festival is supported by the local Chamber of 

Commerce and recognized for the positive economic 

impact to the community.

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest