Protecting Land on the West's Outstanding Rivers

With backing from GlobalGiving donors, Western Rivers Conservancy (WRC) is permanently protecting land along outstanding rivers across the western United States. Your gift supports the core costs of purchasing land and placing properties into permanent conservation stewardship.

Your contribution is dedicated to such activities as: developing relationships with willing seller landowners; preserving salmon and wildlife habitat; and creating new hiking trails, boating access and recreational opportunities.

Thanks to your contribution, two of our recent accomplishments include:

- conserving a lifeline for the John Day River’s salmon and steelhead, and forever preserving public access along a great Oregon stream; and

- protecting habitat for large mammals and redband trout, as well as a scenic trail and wetlands in northestern Washington.

Oregon’s John Day River:

Western Rivers Conservancy recently embarked on a land acquisition that will revive the largest cold-water tributary to the lower John Day River: Thirtymile Creek. Our effort at Thirtymile will improve some of the most important summer steelhead habitat in the John Day system and forever protect a public access point that is cherished by anglers, hunters and boaters from around the Pacific Northwest. Our acquisition of these lands will also improve habitat for spring Chinook and California bighorn sheep.

This exciting project became a reality in June 2014, when we signed an agreement to purchase the Rattray Ranch, located 44 miles upstream from Cottonwood Canyon State Park. Acquisition of these lands will conserve four miles of Thirtymile Creek and twelve miles of the main-stem John Day, as well as extensive tracts of inland sagebrush-steppe habitat.

Our work at Thirtymile is important both in terms of conservation and public access, and it is especially important for steelhead. The John Day River is home to the healthiest runs of summer steelhead in the Columbia Basin, making it key to the recovery of steelhead throughout the Columbia River Basin. Given the importance of Thirtymile Creek to the John Day, the creek becomes a critical piece in the larger steelhead conservation puzzle. As the major source of cold water for the lower John Day, it is also essential to the health of spring Chinook within the main-stem.

Rattray Ranch is equally important for wildlife. It lies at the heart of the John Day’s best habitat for California bighorn sheep, supporting an estimated 600 to 650 head, the largest herd in Oregon. The ranch is also home to Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, pronghorn antelope and mountain lion, as well as raptors, upland game birds and numerous sensitive bird species.

After creating Cottonwood Canyon State Park, which now protects 16 miles of the lower John Day, including Hay Creek, this effort is a crucial next step. For fish, wildlife and people—and especially summer steelhead—Thirtymile Creek is a source of cold water worth saving.

Washington’s Big Sheep Creek:

After flowing out of the Monashee Mountains on the Canadian border, Big Sheep Creek winds through an area known as “the Wedge,” a prime movement corridor for large mammals traveling between the United States and Canada. Caribou, moose, grizzly bear, Canada lynx, Rocky Mountain elk, wolverine and the creek’s namesake bighorn sheep all inhabit the area. These species depend on Big Sheep Creek for the excellent habitat it provides.

In an effort to conserve a key stretch of Big Sheep Creek, as well as extensive wetlands and riparian areas around the stream, Western Rivers Conservancy is working to purchase 2,400 acres along and around this unique Washington creek. In spring 2014, we signed an agreement to acquire the first 1,000 acres of this strategically-located property. The combined 2,400-acre parcel is known as the Bennett Meadows Tract and lies adjacent to Colville National Forest.

By acquiring these lands, we will also conserve habitat for rare redband trout, which inhabit Big Sheep Creek. The stream and its surrounding wetlands also support mountain lion, fox, pygmy shrew, Townsend’s big-eared bat, beaver and pine marten, as well as abundant bird species.

In addition to conserving fish and wildlife habitat, the project will place an important stretch of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail into public hands. Inaugurated in 2009, this 1,200-mile national scenic trail runs from the Continental Divide to the Pacific Ocean, bisecting the southern sector of the property en route. By purchasing these lands, we will forever protect this recreational treasure and ensure it remains accessible for all.

Conclusion

With the support of GlobalGiving donors, Western Rivers Conservancy is expanding our efforts to protect riverlands for fish, wildlife and people.

We love to hear from our supporters. Please contact David Wilkins at 503-241-0151, ext. 214 (or dwilkins@westernrivers.org) for further information. Thank you.

• Western Rivers Conservancy: Project Photos (PDF)