Cascadia Conservation District

: As of today, July 18, the national has increased to PL5.

Significant wildland fire activity is now occurring in most geographic areas with a high potential for additional large wildland fires to emerge. National resources like hotshot crews, airtankers, smokejumpers and communications equipment, are heavily committed and the National Interagency Coordination Center is coordinating requests for these resources with geographic area coordination centers. Active geographic areas are intensively engaged in prioritization of incidents and reallocation of resources as needed to ensure effective incident operations.

The National Multi-Agency Coordination Group establishes the level throughout the year. Their decision is dictated by fuel and weather conditions, fire activity, and fire suppression resource availability throughout the country. The five preparedness levels range from the lowest (1) to the highest (5). For more information on preparedness levels visit our website here ➡ https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information



📸Photo from the by Southeast Region-Department of Natural Resources.

Register to adopt your calf for FREE today at discoverdairy.com/adopt! 🐮

Got Lawn? Come to our 3rd Saturday event Growing a Healthy Lawn tomorrow to learn about lawn maintenance, problems, and alternatives.

The talks will be held on the lawn in the shade.🌳🌳🌳

📚 Book Spotlight: A Seed in Need: A First Look at the Plant Cycle by Sam Godwin 📚

A first look at the plant cycle has never been so fun. In this book a colorful parade of inquisitive insects follow the progress of a sunflower seed in their first look at the life cycle of a sunflower. This book accompanies lessons on life cycles and seeds.

Follow the link to learn more and discover lesson plans associated with this resource: https://agclassroom.org/matrix/resource/117/

The Horan Natural Area in Wenatchee, Washington at the confluence of the Wenatchee and Columbia Rivers, offers a rich wildlife habitat and a variety of recreational opportunities. This serene natural space is perfect for bird watching, hiking, biking, and picnicking, with trails connecting to the Apple Capital Loop Trail. It also serves as an outdoor classroom with interpretive signs providing educational insights into the local ecosystem and conservation efforts. Easily accessible and open year-round, the Horan Natural Area is a must-visit for nature lovers and families seeking outdoor adventure. Learn more at VisitChelanCounty.com

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s actually a flying mammal which is arguably the coolest option. WRI and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife are excited to introduce you to the spectacular world of bats! Sign up for this nighttime excursion to watch biologists capture and study bats before releasing them into the night. Register online here: https://wenatcheeriverinstitute.org/event-calendar.html/event/2024/08/03/bat-night-with-wdfw/486792

Quick Facts for July 17, 2024:
• 20,348 acres*
• 14% contained
• 14 crews, 9 helicopters, 20 engines, 23 water tenders, 18 heavy equipment

Access to the Pioneer Fire has been challenging throughout the duration of the fire. More boats are arriving to shuttle firefighters across Lake Chelan to reach the fireline. Photo credit: Zac Doll

(*Acreage pending updated IR data)

Have you tried our augmented reality app? Swim with the salmon, watch a water molecule on its trip through the dam turbine, and fly a drone over Rocky Reach Dam! Visit us to learn more!

A little about Wápupxn (or Canada Lynx)

- They disappeared from Northern Washington in the 1980s
- Muntain ecosystems have been out of balance in their absence
-There’s a dedicated team of individuals, tribes, and conservationists implementing a plan to reintroduce Wápupxn to its ancestral homeland.

We’ve missed seeing you all in the Red Barn and are excited to invite you to learn more about this project from Rose Piccini, Senior Wildlife Biologist to the Colville Tribe’s Fish and Wildlife Department.

This is a FREE event with a donation basket at the door. Doors open at 6:30pm for a community social with beer and wine available for purchase. The presentation will start at 7:00pm. Join us in person or online via YouTube livestream. Learn more here: https://wenatcheeriverinstitute.org/event-calendar.html/event/2024/08/01/red-barn-event-the-return-of-w-pupxn-canada-lynx-/488873

Low-elevation, ponderosa pine forests historically were very resilient to frequent, low-intensity fires. Forest conditions are much more susceptible to wildfires than in the past across much of the West. Now when fires occur, they are likely to kill many more trees and be more difficult to manage.

Scientists have spent decades trying to understand how to best promote resilient forests and reduce fuels. Prescribed burns? Mechanically cutting trees? Or does the additive effect of both cutting and burning provide the best alchemy?

“The combined thinning and burning treatment gives you benefits that last much longer and minimizes fire hazard over the longest period of time," said research ecologist Sharon Hood of the . "This study shows that proactive management can increase forest resilience to multiple disturbances."

Read or listen here to learn more:
https://research.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/products/sycu/alchemy-addition-cutting-and-burning-together-most-effective-reducing-fuels-and

Sockeye Salmon Season Expanding On Lake Wenatchee WDFW is projecting a surplus of harvestable sockeye to reach the lake, well above the natural spawning goal of 23,000 fish.

MORE ON THE PIONEER FIRE: If you are visiting Lake Chelan, please keep in mind the following:

• Stehekin businesses remain open and continue to welcome visitors.
• North Cascades National Park visitors should visit https://www.nps.gov/noca/index.htm and review the alerts for the latest updates on park visitor access.
• Visitors are advised to review daily updates, recent fire activity and any information about the fire prior to their visit to Stehekin at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wases-pioneer.
• Visitors can find fire information on the fire information board at the boat landing in Stehekin. Public information officers are stationed in Stehekin and meet arriving ferries to answer questions, and they visit local businesses daily to provide current updates.
• Overnight and longer-term visitors are reminded that conditions can change, and they should keep abreast of current fire information.
• The Chelan County Sheriff's Office, North Cascades National Park, The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Washington Department of Natural Resources and fire managers are constantly evaluating fire conditions and closures to ensure recreational areas remain open as long as access remains safe.

Photo: Firefighters thinning trees last week.

Let's all get together and Show Love for This Place! How can we do this?

#1 - Prepare & Stay Aware - Research the area you plan to visit with resources like the Tread app for real time updates on trail conditions, or the Chelan County PUD Curren App for river conditions. Visit our website for links to both and more helpful tips - https://www.visitwenatchee.org/showlove

Quick Facts for July 15, 2024:
• 15,757 acres*
• 14% contained
• 16 crews, 9 helicopters, 18 engines, 21 water tenders, 17 heavy equipment

Earlier in the day yesterday, the fire crossed upper Fish Creek. Hotshot crews hiked in and took action, but were soon hampered by frequent spot fires as daytime temperatures peaked. Helicopters dropped water with minimal effectiveness due to the sheer intensity of the fire. Looking at the thick smoke column in the picture below, the amount of energy in the fire is evident.

(*pending IR data)

Last month, SCC's Riparian Plant Propagation Program Manager, B'Elanna, visited Derby Canyon Natives, a specialty nursery in Peshastin, WA. They are growing over 10,000 trees and shrubs under a specific contract designed to help nurseries and restoration groups by planning plant orders ahead of time and finding hard-to-get plants for projects.

Once the plants are ready, they will go to Palouse Conservation District, Spokane Conservation District, and Cascadia Conservation District for riparian restoration projects.

Thank you, Derby Canyon, for all your hard work!

The record-breaking temperatures we are seeing this week have left our state bone dry. After discussions with staff here at DNR, we have decided to implement a statewide burn ban on all DNR lands. This ban includes outdoor burning, campfires, the use of charcoal briquettes, and prescribed burns through Sept. 30, 2024.

Fire danger is high throughout our state, with several fires already burning. These restrictions are an important step in protecting our firefighters and our communities this summer. Please do not start a fire outside, regardless of jurisdiction, and do your part to reduce wildfire risks by:
⛓️ Ensuring tow chains are properly secured and not dragging
👀 Checking weather conditions
🔥 🚫 Checking local fire restrictions for all areas you are traveling to
🌲 Staying on established trails and paths

For those looking for more wildfire information and how you can stay safe through the rest of this wildfire season, head to dnr.wa.gov/WildfirePrevention.

Bumblebees often nest in the ground. These nests are usually found in dry, undisturbed locations such as grassy areas, gardens, or meadows. Ground-nesting bumblebees prefer loose soil or exposed patches of earth, where they can create a safe and sheltered environment for their colony. These nests are essential for the bees' lifecycle, providing a place for queens to lay eggs and for workers to care for the developing brood. 🐝

Learn more at Hortsense https://hortsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu/fact-sheet/apidae-bumble-bees-bombus-spp/

Dive into the world of grassy gossip where the turf is always greener! Discover the secrets to growing a lawn that doesn't just hang in there but thrives. Flaunt that environmentally savvy style on your slice of the great outdoors!

Students from Mission View Elementary’s After School Program recently spent 6 days exploring the outdoors and contributing to stewardship projects in our watersheds. For about 6 hours each day students visited a different outdoor location for an outdoor adventure. Everyday students volunteered to serve each other at a daily buffet/family style lunch.

A video slideshow of camp activities is on our You Tube Channel.
https://youtu.be/cezxfp7cdLk

Locations were in the Wenatchee, Entiat and Chelan watersheds and included active restoration sites, a pear orchard, a ropes course at Tall Timber, state parks, and the national forest.

Activities included exploring riparian, shrub steppe and forested habitats, searching for and identifying animals tracks and sign, setting up a trail camera, a water fight after learning about irrigation while building their own pvc water gun, mulching fruit trees, participating in a ropes course, skipping rocks in a river, building beaver dam analogs at a restoration site, removing invasive weeds at a restoration site, learning camping techniques and campfire safety, learning about wildfires from firefighters, exploration hikes, setting up and checking trail cameras.
Special thanks to Ranger Paul at Lake Wenatchee State Park for an awesome fire hose relay race, and to all of our partners and funders who make this camp possible.

A video slideshow of camp activities is on our You Tube Channel.
https://youtu.be/cezxfp7cdLk
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Los alumnos del Programa Extraescolar de la Escuela Primaria Mission View recientemente pasaron 6 días explorando el aire libre y contribuyendo a proyectos de administración en nuestras cuencas hidrográficas. Durante aproximadamente 6 horas cada día los estudiantes visitaron un lugar diferente en busca de una aventura al aire libre. Todos los días los estudiantes ofrecieron su tiempo como voluntarios para servir a sus compañeros de un buffet diario / almuerzo estilo familia.

Una presentación de nuestros días de campo y las actividades está en nuestro canal de YouTube.
https://youtu.be/cezxfp7cdLk

Las ubicaciones se encontraban en las cuencas hidrográficas de Wenatchee, Entiat y Chelan e incluían lugares de restauración activas, un huerto de perales, un curso de cuerdas en Tall Timber, parques estatales y el bosque nacional.

Las actividades incluyeron la exploración de hábitats ribereños, de estepa arbustiva y boscosos, la búsqueda e identificación de huellas y señales de animales, la instalación de una cámara de rastreo, una batalla de agua después de aprender sobre el riego mientras construían su propia pi***la de agua de PVC, el acolchado de árboles frutales, la participación en un curso de cuerdas, el salto de rocas en un río, la construcción de análogos de presas de castor en un lugar de restauración, la eliminación de malezas invasoras en un lugar de restauración, el aprendizaje de técnicas de acampada y seguridad en las hogueras, el aprendizaje de los bomberos sobre los incendios forestales, las excursiones de exploración, la instalación y comprobación de cámaras de rastreo.
Un agradecimiento especial al guardabosques Paul del Parque Estatal del Lago Wenatchee por una impresionante carrera de relevos con mangueras de incendios, y a todos nuestros socios y financiadores que hacen posible este campamento.

Una presentación de diapositivas de vídeo de las actividades del campamento está en nuestro canal de YouTube.
https://youtu.be/cezxfp7cdLk

A big thank you! ¡Muchísimas Gracias!
Cascade Fisheries
Chelan Douglas Land Trust
Wenatchee School District After School Program
Wenatchee School District 246
Community Foundation of NCW
Confluence Health
Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office
Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission

Cascadia has three awesome, hard-working Seasonal Technicians this summer and we’d like you to meet them all!

Today on “Meet the Tech”…

Jack Owen, Seasonal Technician

Jack grew up in the Wenatchee valley and now is studying at Washington State University, where he’ll receive a Bachelor of Science in environmental studies in December 2024. He has a passion for conservation and ecosystem restoration. In his free time, Jack enjoys cycling and backpacking.
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Cascadia cuenta este verano con tres magníficos y esforzados técnicos de temporada, ¡Y encantados de que los conozcas!

Hoy en «Conoce al técnico»...

Jack Owen, técnico de temporada

Jack creció en el valle de Wenatchee y ahora estudia en la Universidad Estatal de Washington, donde se licenciará en Ciencias Ambientales en diciembre de 2024. Le apasionan la conservación y la restauración de ecosistemas. En su tiempo libre, Jack disfruta del ciclismo y del excursionismo de mochila.