2025 Annual Meeting Site Tour
On a rainy August day, the Yakima Basin Fish & Wildlife Recovery Board gathered at Snoqualmie Pass for its 2025 annual meeting field tour, joined by partners from WDFW and Kittitas Conservation Trust. The group visited Keechelus Lake to discuss Bull Trout habitat pressures and declining Gold Creek populations, then explored the new Gold Creek Wildlife Crossing reconnecting critical migration corridors. At Gold Creek Pond, they observed biologists tagging fish to track movement and habitat use, before hiking to Heli’s Pond, where a dry Gold Creek streambed highlighted the urgency of restoration. The tour showcased both the challenges facing Bull Trout and the collaborative efforts underway to protect and restore key upper Yakima Basin habitats.
2024 Annual Meeting Site Tour
The 2024 Annual Board of Directors Meeting tour explored the Little Naches watershed, highlighting efforts to balance ecosystem health with recreation. Stops included Horsetail Falls for an overview of the watershed’s importance, the Little Naches Floodplain Restoration Project to see improved river function and habitat, and the Little Crow Project site to discuss forest thinning and land history. The tour concluded at 780 Hole, where participants considered how to protect river habitat while maintaining recreational access.