We've teamed up with Kittitas Conservation Trust, a local non-profit, to support them in stewarding and managing a 71 acre forest near Kachess Lake. Their goal is to create high quality wildlife habitat for a slew of wildlife species.

The updated plan and re-inventory we've done for KCT includes prescriptions and management recommendations that will improve forest health and help foster biodiversity. We look forward to working more with KCT on forest stewardship across the county. 

Leigh Henderson, a private landowner with 20 acres in Cle Elum, reached out to us in early 2024 about a forest health assessment. We found her forest to be in particularly poor condition, with forest health in rapid decline. 

It's important to note that Leigh's property, along with many other forests in Kittitas County, were clearcut/nearly clearcut in the past. This type of timber harvesting causes a large disruption to the forest, often inhibiting the ecosystem's ability to regulate itself. 

Selective thinning, if done appropriately, is backed by decades of scientific research to help get forests in decline back on track. By retaining the dominant trees and removing highly stressed trees, we can bring the forest back down to an appropriate density, reducing inter-tree competition. Dominant trees are then able to establish themselves, accumulating old growth qualities and becoming legacy trees that would likely survive in the event of a large wildfire. Furthermore, opening up the canopy allows more sunlight to hit the forest floor, spurring the next generation of seeds to life.

In the fall of 2024, we were hired by Bryan Pitman, a Cle Elum small forest landowner with about 9 acres, to prepare a Forest Stewardship Plan. Bryan's property is unique, as a wetland meanders through much of it. Bryan explained to us his goals were to steward the forest and help maintain/improve wildlife habitat, with particular emphasis on only using methods with little or no environmental impact.

We found Bryan’s forest to be in excellent condition overall, with high-quality wildlife habitat for a variety of species. The Forest Stewardship Plan we developed for him includes detailed information about the unique soils on his property, practical guidance on how to better Firewise his home, and more. We also identified one small area needing attention and provided Bryan with a practical recommendation to address it in a way that aligns with his commitment to minimal environmental impact. 

We’ve been hired by the Kachess Village HOA to prepare a detailed Forest Stewardship Plan. The HOA spans about 100 acres, encompassing several dozen homes near Kachess Lake, as well as about 35 acres of continuous forest.

This plan will assess current forest conditions across the property, highlighting high-priority areas for action. It will serve as a valuable resource for both individual landowners and the HOA, offering strategies to reduce wildfire risk near homes, improve forest health & associated treefall risk, and enhance wildlife habitat.

Each unique forest stand within the HOA will be analyzed, with tailored recommendations provided for each. Additionally, the plan will include a 20-year timeline of suggested actions designed to help the community achieve its long-term forest stewardship goals.