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Partnership Working to Benefit Biodiversity in Tieton River Canyon
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Photo: Lee Trivette, The Nature Conservancy |
Dynamic and diverse, ecological transition zones are frequently nature’s laboratory for trying out new solutions. Now one such area, the Tieton River Canyon, is also the site of an innovative partnership between public and private landowners.
A rugged area at the interface of the Columbia Plateau and the East Cascades, the Tieton River Canyon lies twenty miles west of Yakima.
Majestic animals, including golden eagles, elk, and big horn sheep find habitat in the mosaic of plant communities. Robust shrub-steppe, extensive Garry oak stands, and mature ponderosa pine forest cloak the uplands. The river supports steelhead and bull trout; willow and cottonwood grow on its banks.
The Tieton Forest Collaborative is a partnership of the USDA Forest Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Washington Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), and The Nature Conservancy. Formalized in May 2006, the Collaborative’s aim is to provide better management for thousands of acres in Tieton Canyon.
Shared goals include:
- Restoring natural plant communities
- Controlling invasive non-native species
- Using science-based management tools, including prescribed fire, to restore forest health
- Managing recreation access and use
- Aiding recovery of animals listed under the Endangered Species Act
- Increasing knowledge of the lands and resources.
As a result of its rich biodiversity, the Tieton offers much for recreation. WDFW director Jeff Koenings noted that, “Thousands of hunters, fishers, whitewater rafters, birders, hikers, and climbers use the area every year. I am told that the second largest city in Yakima County during November is elk camp.”
Management has been challenging due to the checkerboard of land ownership in the area. This pattern comes from the 19th century, when Congress gave alternating square miles of land to railroad companies.
“Under the patchwork of land ownership, we have been precluded from using tools such as fire management to benefit the forest ecosystem,” said Koenings. “This agreement will allow us to use those tools to be better stewards of fish, wildlife, and forests.”
“This cooperation will benefit ecosystems and wildlife that don’t recognize ownership boundaries,” said Jim Boynton, Supervisor of the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forest, “and will pay dividends for future generations who will appreciate the wildlife and scenery of this special area.”
“The Tieton Canyon is a spectacular place, and it warrants this kind of attention,” said David Weekes, director of The Nature Conservancy’s Washington chapter.
“Thanks to the farsightedness of our public partners, we have an opportunity to showcase a model of collaboration that will help ensure the Tieton’s ecological health and that we believe can be replicated elsewhere,” Weekes said.