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CCascadeascade LLookoutookout A PublicationPublication ooff tthehe UU.S..S. FForestorest SServiceervice — 22004004 OOkanogankanogan andand WenatcheeWenatchee NationalNational ForestsForests t is my pleasure to share a few words and The most important of the threats is dealing A NNoteote ffromrom thethe thoughts with the readers of this, the 7th with fi re and fuels. Wildfi re has been an important Iedition of the Cascade Lookout. I be- issue for the residents of north central Washington came Forest Supervisor for the Okanogan and for many years. Most recall the devastating fi res FForestorest SSupervisorupervisor Wenatchee National Forests in October, 2003. of 1994, 2001, 2002, and the summer of 2003 in Prior to moving here, I was the Forest Supervi- which several hundred forested acres burned. The sor for the Sierra National Forest, in California, center pages of this newspaper have been devel- for the previous 18 years. oped to be “pulled out” and stand alone as a fi re I am replacing Sonny J. O’Neal, who has retired information sheet. These pages address the con- after a distinguished Forest Service career includ- tinuing threat of wildfi re and Forest Service plans ing 16 years as supervisor of the Okanogan and for fuels reduction on overcrowded forests. This Wenatchee National Forests. information is especially important to people who I’ve had a chance to visit each of the seven live adjacent to national forest lands. ranger districts on the Okanogan and Wenatchee The other “threats,” that are affecting national National Forests, and have met most of the Forest forests are unmanaged off-highway vehicle cross- employees. I’ve also met with many community country travel, invasive species (both plant and groups who are very interested in management animal) which are encroaching on national forest of National Forest lands. During my travels lands; and the loss of the nation’s private forests throughout the two forests I’ve been impressed and rangelands to subdivision and land conversion, by the beauty and the grandeur of these lands, and resulting in the loss of open space. look forward to working in this wonderful area. The articles in this paper will help you learn The articles contained in this edition of the more about your national forests, some of their James L. Boynton Cascade Lookout address many of the issues that history, and how they are managed. I hope that are affecting most forests nation-wide. Dale Bos- you will plan a visit to personally experience the worth, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, has identi- beauty and diversity of these 4 million acres of fi ed four issues which he calls “four threats.” public forest land. I hope to see you there.

James L. Boynton Forest Supervisor

he year 2004 marks forty CCelebratingelebrating years of a great American ac- Tcomplishment – designation of a National Wilderness Preserva- AAmerica’smerica’s tion System. The Wilderness Act of 1964 was enacted after eight years of heated Congressional debate and WWildernessilderness sixty-fi ve versions of the Bill. The original Act preserved 9.1 by Jim Archambeault million acres of public land as Recreation Planner wilderness. Subsequent legislation & Lisa Therrell has brought our current system to Wilderness Manager over 105,million acres. This means that 4.7% of the United States and a wide variety of ecosystems are now protected as wilderness. On the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests, wildernesses en- compass over one and one-half mil- lion acres, nearly 40% of land within the two Forests. Portions, or all, of eight wildernesses are included in this total: Glacier Peak, and Goat Rocks, established with the passage of the original Wilderness Act of 1964; Pasayten, established in 1968; Alpine Lakes, established in 1976; and Henry M. Jackson, Lake Chel- an-Sawtooth, William O. Douglas and Norse Peak, all established in 1984. The Wilderness Act mandates that wilderness areas be “. . . . administered for the use and enjoy- ment of the American people in such a manner as will leave them unimpaired for future use and enjoyment as wil- and infl uences so as not to alter natural processes. derness.” The toughest challenge will be to keep wilderness The management of wilderness. The Forest “. . . affected primarily by the forces of nature, with Service recognizes that wilderness is a unique the imprint of man substantially unnoticeable. . . ” and vital resource. In addition to offering primi- The National Survey on Recreation and the En- tive recreation opportunities, it is valuable for its vironment shows that Americans who know about scientifi c and educational uses, as a benchmark Wilderness value it tremendously. Management of for ecological studies, and for the preservation the National Wilderness Preservation System to of historical and natural features. Federal policy maintain its legacy of clean water and air, criti- is to manage the wilderness resource to ensure cal habitat for rare and endangered species, and its character and values are dominant and endur- unparalleled opportunity for recreation, refl ection, ing. Managers must ensure that each wilderness and solitude is one of our most important missions. offers outstanding opportunities for solitude and a primitive and unconfi ned type of recreation. Wilderness stewardship does not attempt to mold 2 ■ Cascade Lookout nature to suit people, but to manage human use ees collected from the Recreation Fee pro- from Christmas tree permit sales helped keep some gram have really helped augment regular district offi ces open later during the winter, to better Fannual Forest Service appropriations for serve customers who couldn’t come in during regular operation and maintenance of recreation facilities. business hours. These fees also paid for additional Not only have they paid for maintaining many staff who worked in the woods offering assistance of the spots forest visitors love to recreate in, they and maps to those seeking trees. have provided a source of cash to match grant ap- This year, visitors will see some changes in the plications the Forest makes to other agencies, and Northwest Forest Pass program. About 50 trailheads, have helped defray the costs associated with the mostly those with minor facility development or light large number of volunteers that assist the Forest use, were dropped from the Northwest Forest Pass Service in maintaining our facilities. system. Those trailheads will now be available with- In 2003, over $700,000 was collected in fees out charge. In addition, some changes have occurred from recreation lodging, campgrounds, North- with campsites that were part of the Northwest Forest YYourour MMoneyoney iiss west Forest Pass sales, Golden Passport sales, and Pass system in the past; check with local ranger dis- other recreation programs in the Okanogan and trict offi ces for these changes. Wenatchee National Forests. Before purchasing this year’s pass, trail users MMakingaking a Difference!Difference! Last year, over 830 miles of Forest trails were should check with local Forest Services offi ces, or maintained with Northwest Forest Pass revenues. obtain a copy of the 2004 Northwest Forest Pass by Jim Archambeault An additional 1,200 miles was maintained with Site Guide to make sure that their favorite sites still Recreation Planner grant money, and Northwest Forest Pass funds require a Northwest Forest Pass. The 2004 North- were used to leverage support from volunteers. Numerous volunteers from the following groups helped in this effort--Washington Trails Association, Backcountry Horsemen of Washing- ton, Student Conservation Association, North- west Youth Corps, Wilderness Volunteer Corps, Skagit Audubon Club, Washington Outfi tters and Guides Association, Pacifi c Northwest 4-Wheel Drive Association, and Washington Conservation Corps. In addition, fees provided replacement of campground amenities, such as fi re rings and tables, and funded employees who serviced and maintained campground facilities. Fees also helped maintain the Nordic ski trails at Echo Ridge, paid for maintenance of the boat west Forest Pass Site Guide is available at all ranger docks at recreation sites on Lake Chelan, provided district offi ces and also can be downloaded from our staffi ng to run the limited entry permit system for forest web site. the Enchantment Basin in the Alpine Lakes Wilder- Revenues from the sale of passes will continue ness, and funded wilderness rangers. More informa- to go to locations based on visitor use. Where tion on specifi c accomplishments can be found at people go is where the money goes. As tax dollars www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee/recreate/ decline, recreation pass revenue continues to be a rec-fee-accomplishments-2003.pdf key source of income for maintaining services on Photos show before and after trail repair Christmas tree permits are also part of the Rec- public lands. Be assured, your money is defi nitely reation Fee Demonstration program. Fees collected making a difference!

hose interested in temporary employment “Three websites provide the tools for job with the Okanogan and Wenatchee Nation- seekers to get the information they need and to TTemporaryemporary Tal Forests are encouraged to view job op- provide their application for the 2004 temporary portunities and apply online for summer/seasonal employment fi eld season,” Spargur said. jobs, said Anita Spargur, Human Resources man- www.fs.fed.us/fsjobs/ –Provides basic informa- SSummerummer JobsJobs ager for the two National Forests. tion on Forest Service employment. www.usajobs.opm.gov –Pro- vides a listing of all government jobs, including temporary positions on the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests. www.avuedigitalservices.com/ usfs/applicant.html –Accesses the online application process. “We strongly encourage applicants to apply on-line to eliminate the mail- ing and scanning time that hard copy applications encounter,” Spargur said. To be eligible to apply for these summer jobs, individuals must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Some positions are subject to drug testing and/or require a com- mercial driver’s license. To qualify for fi refi ghting positions, individuals “Each year we recruit for a wide variety of must be able to pass a physical fi tness test. De- summer jobs, including those in fi re fi ghting, pending upon the position, pay will vary between campground maintenance, trail construction, fi sh- $9.08 and $11.40 per hour. Most jobs are entry- eries and wildlife survey work, engineering, road level forestry aid/technician jobs. maintenance, and more,” Spargur said. The easiest Applicants with additional questions may call way to fi nd out more and submit an application is 509/664-9386, or 509/664-9235 to obtain a hard to use the Internet system set up specifi cally for copy application. this purpose, she noted. Cascade Lookout ■ 3 any people care deeply about how na- Establish what the Forest Service must do to JJoinoin tthehe EEffortffort tional forests are managed. Whether you monitor and evaluate management activities and Mvisit them regularly and have intimate effectiveness. knowledge of them, or simply dream about visit- Evaluate and determine whether roadless areas ttoo RReviseevise tthehe ing them, you can make a difference in how your should be recommended as part of the National national forests are managed for the future. Wilderness Preservation system, and address You are invited to join us as we change the which rivers and streams be recommended for FForestorest PPlan!lan! “blueprint” that directs management of the na- inclusion in the Wild and Scenic Rivers system. tional forests. Currently, a team of Forest Service employees is revising the plans for the Colville, Much has changed in our world and in the man- Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests. Your agement of the national forests since the late 1980s ideas and opinions will be important to updat- and early ‘90s. Ecological conditions have changed, ing the plans, which were last completed in 1988, public expectations are different, and new laws and 1989, and 1990 respectively. By law, this blueprint, regulations have been implemented since the plans offi cially known as the Land and Resource Man- were originally created. These changes need to be agement Plan, is revised every ten to fi fteen years. refl ected in the new forest plans. Plans defi ne how the Forest Service manages Rather than making sweeping change, Forest the national forests. Each national forest and Service planners expect to build on the existing grassland has its own plan which establishes the forest plans and make changes only as necessary. desired future condition for the land and resourc- The Forest Plan Revision effort is expected to es, and sets broad, general management direction. be completed by March, 2006 so there’s plenty Forest operations must be consistent with of time for you to join us and not get left behind! Forest Plan standards and guidelines, as well as its Some public meetings have already been held, and goals, objectives, and management requirements, more will be planned as new information is avail- and all relevant overarching laws and regulations. able. Besides public meetings, you can also partici- Although management plans identify where and pate anytime by writing us via U.S. Mail, e-mail- under what conditions an activity or project can ing us your comments, or by giving us a call on proceed, they do not normally make site-specifi c the phone. For more information on Forest Plan decisions to undertake particular projects. Revision, you may also access our web site. Here’s Forest Plans make these six decisions: how you can reach us. Establish forest-wide multiple-use goals and Margaret Hartzell, Forest Plan Revision Team objectives. Leader, 509-682-3275 Establish the forest-wide management require- Rick Acosta, Public Affairs Offi cer & Social ments for implementing projects under the plan. Lead, 509-664-9210 Determine the boundaries of management areas E-mail: [email protected] and prescribe the activities that may be applied Web site: www.fs.fed.us/r6/colville/cow in them. Mailing Address: Forest Plan Revision Team Identify land suitable for producing timber and Colville, Okanogan, Wenatchee establish how much timber the Forest Service National Forests is allowed to sell from lands suited for timber Okanogan Valley Offi ce production. 1240 Second Avenue South Okanogan, WA 98840

ach summer the annual human RRecreationecreation DDamsams migration to the Okanogan and EWenatchee National Forests oc- curs. Thousands of people come to the BBrakerake FFishish forests to recreate and escape the summer heat of the valleys. When streams are low, there is a temptation to construct MMigrationsigrations rock and wood dams to deepen pools for swimming. Each year hundreds of large By Gary Torretta recreation dams are found on the forest. Fisheries Biologist Another migration happens at this Naches Ranger District time of year, too. From spring through fall, native salmon and trout return to spawning in unsuitable habitat areas, causing poor survival areas in national forest streams. Chinook salmon, for their eggs. Rock dams can also entrap juvenile coho salmon, steelhead trout, bull trout, and west- trout in side channels, with no protection from slope cutthroat trout swim upstream to spawn, of- predators. ten returning to the same stream where they were Building play dams may also damage fi sh habi- hatched. Most of these fi sh are federally protected tat. Moving cobbles and small boulders disturbs under the Endangered Species Act. the streambed, destroying aquatic insects that fi sh What people may not realize is that building feed on. Stream banks may be trampled, and veg- recreational dams can actually harm fi sh by block- etation and trees cut for dam materials, increasing ing or delaying them from reaching their spawning the risk of stream bank erosion. Plastic sheeting grounds. A single dam can prevent all spawning and other litter found in play dams is unsightly. reproduction in a stream for that year. You can help protect our native fi sh runs Hundreds of bull trout migrate from lakes into If you fi nd a recreation dam, please dismantle it a few small spawning streams on the forest each totally, or notch it open, so fi sh can swim through summer. When stream fl ows are at summer lows, freely. Or let a Forest Service employee know the large salmon and bull trout (which spawn between locations of dams that need removal. Discourage August-October) fi nd it diffi cult to swim through others in your group from constructing new dams. shallow areas. Explain to others how these dams harm endan- Water fl owing over play dams is often too gered fi sh populations. shallow to allow fi sh passage, because most of the Each year, considerable time is spent by Federal water is seeping through the dam. Fish unable and State fi shery managers dismantling play dams to swim over a dam are susceptible to poaching, to restore fi sh passage. With your help, native fi sh predation, disease, or even death if water tempera- may return in stronger numbers to national forests 4 ■ Cascade Lookout tures get too warm. They may be forced to spawn for the enjoyment of future generations. of excitement, education and entertainment in a relaxed and family-friendly atmosphere, there’s DDon’ton’t MMississ tthehe something for everyone at the Salmon Festival. We look forward to celebrating this special event with you. And, it’s all free! WWenatcheeenatchee RRiveriver The festival is located on the grounds of a working national fi sh hatchery located along the Icicle River. The rugged peaks of the Cascade SSalmonalmon FFestivalestival Mountains, and clear blue, sunny skies frame the setting. You’ll have a chance to visit the nearby Ba- varian theme village of Leavenworth when not at the festival. For more information call (509) 548- 6662, or catch our website at www.salmonfest.org

t’s going to be the most fun-fi lled Wenatchee River Salmon Festival you could imag- Iine. Don’t know what Salmon Fest is? Well then, swim on over to Leavenworth, Washington September 18 and 19, 2004 and take part in this premier, educational and award-winning, outdoor environmental education event! Featured on CNN, and in Sunset Magazine and the Wenatchee World for its unique blend

t could be mountain weather data collection land health and water quality, or improve the or thinning for fi re risk reduction, or replacing maintenance of existing facilities within the forests. SSupportingupporting Ia culvert to improve fi sh passage. Maybe it’s A citizen advisory committee reviews the proj- noxious weed control or roadside brush cutting. ect proposals and recommends to Boynton which NNeededeeded NNaturalatural Sometimes it’s road resurfacing or relocating of them should be funded. The Resource Advi- campsites away from sensitive streams. sory Committee members represent a wide variety Other times it may be completing recreation of citizen interests including forest users, industry, RResourceesource WWorkork project work, like trail maintenance or wilderness tribes, and local governmental representatives. by Marta Ames campsite rehabilitation, while giving local youth They are residents of each of the four counties. Public Affairs Specialist an opportunity to work and learn in the national Members of the committee include Daryl Asmus- forest. Over the last three years, these projects and many others have all received fi nancial support through Title II of the “The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000.” In fact, since this special funding became avail- able, over $1.7 million has been allocated to proj- ects on national forest land in Okanogan, Chelan, and Kittitas Counties. Enacted by Congress in 2000, the law provides payments to local counties as compensation for the impact of large federal land acreages within their boundaries. “This law guarantees a secure level of funding for schools and roads,” said Jim Cabin Creek Trail on the Okanogan National Forest Boynton, Forest Supervisor of the Okanogan and sen, Geraldine Gillespie, Midge Cross, Robin gets a facelift from Pacifi c NW Trail Youth Crew Wenatchee National Forests. In addition, the leg- Stice, and James Weed from Okanogan County; islation also provides monies that can be devoted Cary Condotta, Steve Tift, Chester Marler, and to projects that benefi t the national forest lands Everett Burts from Chelan County; Janice Os- within the counties, he noted. monovich, and Bill Hinkle, from Kittitas County; “Although many project proposals are devel- and Saundie McPhee, Jess Heaverlo, Lee Carl- WWestest NNileile VVirusirus oped by local ranger districts, project applica- son, and James Hall from Yakima County. Terry West Nile Virus was fi rst recognized tions may also be submitted by other agencies, Wallgren, Kittitas County; and Jerry Gutzwiler, in the U.S. in 1999. Although, as of local governments, organizations, or individuals,” Chelan County, serve as replacement members. spring 2004, no cases had been found said Boynton. Proposals for the FY2005 funding For 2004, twenty-one projects were recom- in either Oregon or Washington, health round were due April 1, 2004, he said. Boynton mended by the committee and approved by the offi cials say it is very likely that the virus added that FY2006 will be the fi nal year of pro- Forest Service. They included projects to improve will soon spread to these states. gram, unless the Act is reauthorized by Congress. roads, maintain trails, control weeds, educate The virus spreads by the bite of a By law, projects must benefi t national forest young people while putting them to work in the mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected lands, directly or indirectly. The projects are to woods, restore fl ood plain lands, and help clean by biting infected birds. More informa- enhance forest ecosystems, restore and improve garbage from forest areas. tion on West Nile Virus may be found on the Washington State Department of Health website: www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ ts/Zoo/WNV/WNV.html or by calling the toll free West Nile Info Line at FForestorest CContractorontractor HHonoredonored (866)788-4787. Reduce the risk of being bitten by baldo Perez, owner of Green Tree Refor- and selectively logging, pruning the lower branch- following these tips: COVER UP by estation of Grandview, Washington, will es of trees, and clearing brush to reduce excessive wearing long sleeves and pants; KEEP Ube honored as the Region 10 Prime Con- fuels that could feed a wildfi re. The work is critical MOSQUITOES OUT by using screens tractor of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Ad- to the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests’ on windows and doors; REPEL MOS- ministration during National Small Business Week Dry Forest Strategy that seeks to move overgrown QUITOES by using repellents that con- ceremonies in Orlando, Florida, May 19 - 21. forests toward a more sustainable, healthier, and tain DEET; DRY OUT SURROUND- Perez was nominated for the award by the safer condition. INGS…empty anything that holds Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests. In Perez joins nine other SBA Regional Prime standing water. nominating Perez, Forest Service contracting of- Contractor of the Year award winners in competi- fi cer Charlotte Carter highlighted the responsive- tion for the national Prime Contractor of the Year ness and competency of his crews. Most of Perez’ award. work with the Forest Service involves thinning Cascade Lookout ■ 5 he realities of living in a fi re dependent eco- The objectives of the plan are to assess the CCommunityommunity system, where the natural processes of fi re community’s capacity to suppress and deal with Thave been suppressed for nearly a century, the impacts of wildfi re, and identify areas that have become all too clear in recent years to people may be at the greatest risk of fi re. The plan will FFireire PPlanninglanning in north central Washington. help identify areas that may be a priority for fuels Residents of Okanogan and Chelan Counties reduction treatments, and areas that need better remember the impacts of recent wildfi res such access for emergency vehicles. Homeowners will by Deborah Kelly as Needles, Farewell, Libby Creek, Thirtymile, also learn where to obtain information on how Public Affairs Specialist Mount Hull, Isabel, Virginia Lakes, Indian Dan to improve their defensible space and develop an Canyon, Rex Creek, North 25 Mile Creek, evacuation plan. Deer Point, and Union Valley fi res. Last summer, the communities of Lost River, Mazama, Chelan, Union Valley, Tonasket, Pateros, and Brewster were put on evacuation notice. Residents of Okano- gan learned you don’t need to live right next to a forest to be at risk from wildfi re. In less than two hours a suspected human- caused fi re, pushed uphill by strong hot winds through dry grass and sagebrush, quickly engulfed 9 homes. People in each of these communities have experienced the risks of living near Residents of the upper Methow Valley attended private, state and federal wild lands. Experience many meetings last summer with fi re offi cials to be informed of the Needles Fire situation and gained from dealing with these wildfi res has un- The Methow Valley Community Fire Plan will evacuation alerts. derscored the need for communities to be pre- also identify areas where further planning and pared. This past winter, a group met to discuss the funding efforts should continue. The Coordinat- Photo right: The Needles Fire burns near homes funding and application process for 2005 National ing Group has applied for a 2005 National Fire in the Methow Valley. Fire Plan grants. They recognized the need for Plan grant to hire a part-time planning coordina- a comprehensive fi re plan that would provide a tor and public outreach coordinator to continue framework for long-term community fi re protec- this effort. The group’s goals are to work together tion. This plan would cross boundaries and include to increase wildfi re protection and prevention, in- state, private, and federal lands. crease wildfi re education and outreach, and create The Methow Valley Community Fire Plan a safe environment for fi re suppression. Coordinating Group, in partnership with local To view a copy of the community fi re plan agencies such as the county, rural fi re districts, developed by the Methow Valley Community Fire Washington Department of Natural Resources and Plan Coordinating Group and see a listing of the Forest Service, has taken the fi rst steps in develop- cooperators, log on to www.okanogancdc.com ing a community fi re plan.

s a part of ongoing watershed improve- To correct this problem, old culverts will be FFishish PPassageassage ment efforts, seven culverts on the Methow replaced with larger steel plate arches that have AValley Ranger District will be replaced natural stream bottoms. Installation of the new with larger structures that allow for improved fi sh arches requires the stream channel to be temporar- RRestorationestoration passage and larger fl ood fl ows. ily diverted around the existing culvert. The old The aging culverts targeted for replacement culvert and fi ll is removed, then a new channel is By Jennifer Molesworth are at the end of their expected structural life. excavated to fi t the new structure. Fisheries Biologist Originally only sized to withstand a 20-year Next, concrete footings are constructed and the and fl ood event, the culverts are much narrower than steel-plate arch is bolted to the footings. A stream- Dana Bardsley the natural stream channel. The narrow culvert bed is constructed using natural materials and North Zone Engineer constricts the creek water fl ow causing high water water is diverted back into the new channel. The velocities and scour at the outlet. Overtime, this new structure is then backfi lled and road rebuilt scouring causes the culvert to be perched higher over the top. The site is re-vegetated with native than the natural streambed, creating a waterfall. plants to control erosion and the disturbed area is The combined effect of high water velocity, monitored for noxious weeds. shallow water depth at low fl ow, and the waterfall In summer 2004, work will take place on the at the culvert outlet creates an impassable barrier South Fork of Beaver Creek Road #4225 and Lib- to young fi sh and migrating adult fi sh. Once up- by Creek Road #4300. In addition, the War Creek stream habitat becomes inaccessible for spawning crossing on Twisp River Road #4420 will be re- and rearing fi sh, the long term effect is a decline in placed with a bridge because War Creek is a large fi sh populations. stream that requires a wider crossing than a steel Undersized culverts also trap large woody plate arch can span. These projects involved a lot debris and gravel, starving downstream reaches of of planning, close coordination and consultation these valuable building blocks of quality habi- with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National tat for aquatic and Marine Fisheries Service, and Washington State riparian species. Such Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). The culverts are also more hydraulic project approval from WDFW limits vulnerable to failure the timeframes when in-stream work can be done during fl ood events. to July 1st to August 15th. Check with the ranger If the culvert fails, district for specifi c road closure updates. the road washes out, The planning, permitting, design and contract- blocking the road ing of these seven stream crossings projects will and damaging down- cost a total of $825,000. A total of 33 miles of stream fi sh habitat valuable fi sh spawning and rearing habitat will be with sediment and restored, benefi ting anadromous steelhead trout, debris. bull trout, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, young spring Chinook salmon, sculpin and, possibly, Coho salmon.

Photos show before and after culvert 6 ■ Cascade Lookout replacement with steel arch. he full impact of trail damage sustained (motorized and non-motorized) until repairs can from last summer’s fi res and October be completed. Work will begin as soon as the road FFireire aandnd FFloodsloods Tfl ooding on the Methow Valley Ranger Dis- melts out. Once work is completed, the road will trict has yet to be seen. Snow that fell immediately re-open to public travel, hopefully by August. following heavy rains prevented district crews The Meadows Campground located in the IImpactmpact RoadsRoads from making a full inventory of fl ood damage to Harts Pass area was completely burned in the trails and fi re burned areas last fall. Needles Creek fi re. The loss of this campground “A full account of the damage won’t be made reduces the developed campsites in the Harts Pass aandnd TTrailsrails until the snow melts this summer, and we have a area to the 6 in the Harts Pass Campground, so by Deborah Kelly chance to walk the trails,” said Jennifer Zbysze- there will be competition for campsites in this area. Public Affairs Specialist wski, District Recreation Manager. The October fl ood damaged one bridge, caused The Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests portions of two trails to fail, and left deep trenches received $243,000 to begin repair of fi re and fl ood in others. One of the bridges on the Rainy Lake damage to trails and roads. The Methow Val- Trail (#310) was severely damaged, so the trail will ley District will use its portion of the $243,000 be closed until the bridge can be replaced in mid- to repair the Harts Pass road, replace the Rainy to-late summer. Sections of the West Fork Methow Lake Bridge, repair the Robinson Creek Trail, and Trail (#480) and the Twisp Pass Trail (#432) were prepare a contract to fi x the Andrews Creek Trail. damaged, and another damaged section on the When funding is received, the Andrews Creek Chancellor Trail (#754) was enlarged by the fl ood. contract will be advertised and awarded. The The Twisp Pass Trail is currently open to hikers Meadows Campground and most of the damaged but closed to stock. It will be repaired by a volun- trails will remain closed until funding for restora- teer group this summer. The West Fork Methow tion becomes available. and Chancellor Trails will remain closed until The following trails have known impacts from funding becomes available for repair. The Rob- last summer’s Needle Creek and Farewell Fires, inson Creek Trail (#478) sustained tread damage and will remain closed until funding can be se- during the fl ooding, but is not closed. Crews will cured for their repair: Andrews (#504), Lake Creek be working on the trail this summer. (#500), Crystal Lake (#1517), Fire Creek (#561), A very short section of the Pacifi c Crest Trail Peepsight (#525), and Coleman Ridge (#505), (PCT #2000) that parallels Highway 20, just east of Andrews Creek Trailhead Little Andrews (#537), Diamond Jack (#514), Rainy Pass, was covered by a debris slide but will Driveway Butte (#481), West Fork Methow (#480), be repaired this summer. Other sections of the Lake Creek Trail and Trout Creek (#479). PCT located on the Darrington, Leavenworth and “These fi re damaged trails have holes in the Lake Wenatchee Ranger Districts, also sustained a tread, thin crusts of tread over burned-out roots lot of damage. under the trails, hazardous trees hanging over the A project that was not connected to the fi res or trails, destroyed turnpikes, and burned bridges,” fl oods is the replacement of a bridge on Cutthroat Zbyszewski said. “It’s a very dangerous situation Trail (#483). The trail will be closed from July 12, for hikers and horseback riders, so the trails will 2004 until August 27th to replace the bridge. remain closed until they can be repaired,” she said. This summer, fees collected from the North- The Chewuch Trail (#510) was also damaged west Forest Pass program are being used for rou- by the Farewell Fire, but is not closed. Crews will tine maintenance on trails that were not damaged be working on the trail early in the summer to by the fi res or fl ood. The fees will also help fund improve a ford, fi ll in a few holes in the trail, and the replacement of Cutthroat bridge, and bridge restore the tread. and trail work on the Pacifi c Crest Trail. The Harts Pass road (#5400) was damaged by Contact the Methow Valley Ranger District the Needle Creek Fire, and fl ood waters com- (509-996-4003) or go to www.fs.fed.us/r6/ pounded the fi re-created slope and road stability okanogan for the latest updates on road and trail problems. The road will remain closed to all traffi c conditions and closures.

Andrews Creek Trail

fter two years of preparation, the effort to By taking precise measurements of pine nee- learn how birds respond to prescribed fi re dles, grass, ponderosa pine trees, and even dead ““BirdsBirds aandnd Atook a big step forward with the Finley trees, both before and after fi re, biologists can Canyon burn in March. The burn was one of three fi nd out what changes take place as a result of being evaluated on the Methow Valley Ranger Dis- controlled burning. Information gathered after the Burning”Burning” StudyStudy trict under the “Birds and Burning” study. fi res can be compared to the hundreds of records As one part of a larger eight-state research proj- already collected before burning. The compiled ect, biologists from the Okanogan and Wenatchee data will show how birds respond to fi re. by Kent Woodruff National Forests and the Wenatchee Forestry To date, little specifi c information has been Wildlife Biologist Sciences Lab are carefully evaluating the effects gathered on the benefi ts and consequences for of spring burning on both songbirds and cavity birds of intentional burning. However, biologists nesters. suspect that the results of these three prescribed Biologist Kent Woodruff and a fi eld crew of fi res will show a benefi t to many types of birds. six have spent the last several seasons setting up For centuries, natural fi re has renewed the for- study plots, gathering data, counting birds and est vegetation, and has created healthy habitat for nests, and measuring and identifying vegetation many species of animals, including birds. in preparation for a study on the effects of fi re on As employees of birds and their habitat. the Okanogan and Songbirds either live year-round in one loca- Wenatchee National tion or are migratory, returning each spring from Forests continue warmer winter climates in the south. These birds forest restoration feed and nest on the ground or in shrubs and trees. work through the Some can consume thousands of insects a day. use of prescribed Above: Video screen view of three small birds. Cavity nesters like woodpeckers drill holes for fi re, fi re managers Left: Setting up the ‘peeper’ camera to view a bird nesting. They eat insects that bore holes in living and biologists will nest inside a snag cavity. Tiny camera is mounted and dead trees. Other cavity nesters, like blue- continue working at end of long pole. birds, follow behind woodpeckers and use aban- together to monitor doned holes from previous years. Bluebirds are the effects of fi re almost exclusively insect eaters. on birds and other wildlife. Cascade Lookout ■ 7 our years of assessment, analysis, review, planned which will help those species of brush DDry-Sitery-Site UUrbanrban comment and, fi nally, approval have result- that thrive with naturally occurring fi re. Fed in a fl urry of activity west of Conconully Many stands of trees were overgrown with in the South and West forks of Salmon Creek smaller trees. This creates a fuel ladder which can IInterfacenterface WWorkork Watershed on the Tonasket Ranger District. The carry wildland fi re up to the branches of the larger, Conger project is a continuation of the District’s healthy trees. The stand structure also makes it work to improve forest conditions in areas where easier for spruce budworms to fall from host trees, CContinuesontinues private lands are adjacent to national forest lands. spreading to the trees below. An assessment of the area, which lies three The smaller trees and infected trees are being By Shannon O’Brien miles west of Conconully, illustrated the need to selectively removed. Much of the work is being Public Affairs Specialist remove trees that are heavily infected with insects done during the winter. This allows treatment to and disease. Work needed to be done to improve take place with minimal soil disturbance. The open the health of this dry forest and to reduce fi re stands of trees left after thinning are better spaced hazard in the area. “Work occurred in this area to reduce threats from insects and disease, allow about 20 years ago,” said Mark Morris, District for natural regeneration, and lower the threat from Ranger at Tonasket. “We are returning to the area intense wildland fi res. as a maintenance measure.” “The goal with these projects is not neces- In order to achieve the improvements recom- sarily to bring the stands back to their historical mended by the analysis, a number of activities will conditions but to bring them within a sustainable take place. In most stands, thinning will provide condition that history indicates is acceptable,” said the desired result. Where insects and diseases, such Morris. “While the District has completed other as spruce budworm and root disease are too well dry-site projects, such as Sneed and Coco, the established, stand regeneration will be encouraged. Conger project is the most recent and it is larger Work will also be done to encourage new growth and more visible.” in existing aspen stands. Prescribed burning is also

Dense stands, like the ones pictured above, are unhealthy for a variety of reasons. Large Commercial thinning provides a more desirable, open landscape. Remaining trees numbers of trees, growing in close proximity, restrict the growth normally found in will experience better growth, remain more resistant to insects and disease, and will healthy stands of trees. These unhealthy stands are also more vulnerable to insect and support the process of natural regeneration. disease problems. The small trees, with branches close to the ground, will provide a ladder for fi re to climb through the branches and straight to the crowns of the larger trees. Once a fi re is in the crowns of trees, it travels more quickly and is much more diffi cult to suppress.

mployees of the Okanogan and Wenatchee oversee the effort. A fi re crew comprised of 20 HHistoricistoric SSitesites National Forests will receive a special award employees from the Methow Valley and Tonasket Efrom the Washington State Offi ce of the Ranger Districts manually wrapped both cabins Archaeology and Historic Preservation for pro- and two structures from the Tungsten mine in fi re PProtectedrotected – tecting the historical structures in the Pasayten shelter material held in place with metal staples. Wilderness last summer during the Farewell fi re. The task was quite daunting given erratic fi re The Forest Service has received the 2004 State behavior, extreme temperatures, dense smoke UUSFSSFS HHonoredonored Preservation Award for Site Stewardship. and the size of the buildings. It took more than a During 2003, the Farewell Complex of wildfi res week to wrap the Tungsten Mine buildings alone By Powys Gadd on the Okanogan National Forest threatened three and to clear vegetation from around all three sites. Forest Archaeologist historic sites located in the Pasayten Wilderness. In the end, the fi re avoided both cabins and came With information from fi re behavior analysts, to within two miles of the Tungsten Mine. After Tonasket District Ranger, Mark Morris initiated the fi re was contained, Forest Service employees the effort to preserve the sites known locally as returned to the three sites and manually removed Spanish Camp Cabin, Horseshoe Basin Cabin and the fi re retardant wrapping material and the the Tungsten Mine. thousands of staples used to secure the wrap to the The Spanish Camp Cabin was built in 1943 by exterior of each structure. Charles Johnson as a Forest Service guard shack. The Canadian government was impressed by The 14-square-foot, one-room log cabin with a this effort and invited Ms. Freeman to instruct Ca- shake roof sported four bunks and a barrel stove. nadian fi re teams in historic structure protection. The Horseshoe Basin Cabin was built in the early In doing so she became the fi rst Forest Service 1930s by sheep rancher Omar Smith. This log employee in Washington State to work under an cabin was used to store salt for sheep grazing in international agreement. the area until it was turned over to the Forest Service and used as an adminis- trative guard shack. The Tungsten Mine consists of several structures associated with the mining of tungsten from 1906 to the 1950s. Among those still stand- ing is a bunkhouse/cookhouse and the supervisor’s cabin adjacent to it. The mine was most active between 1915 and 1918. Vanessa Freeman, Forest Service Wilderness Fire Advisor and a student at Central Washington University was 8 ■ Cascade Lookout assigned to organize, coordinate, and n the 1980s, the Forest Service got an idea to In 2002, twelve years of hard work and nearly grow genetically improved trees from seed half a million dollars later, the seed orchard un- TThehe PPeonyeony CCreekreek Iharvested from nearby National Forest lands. derwent its last planting. Every year, trees have The idea was formulated by large timber compa- been planted, thinned and pollinated with only the nies some time before, but proved to be both an healthiest and tallest trees remaining. The geneti- SSeedeed OOrchardrchard innovative and original quest for a government cally superior trees are called the primary trees. agency to embark upon. The idea, if it worked, “Eventually, I will eradicate all the trees but the By Estrella Rehanek would offer local solutions to local problems – an best looking ones,” Hughes said. “They will get to Information Receptionist economic concept offering a sustainable, renew- stay and reproduce with the trees around them.” able resource. This stock of superior trees would While the past emphasis of such projects grow faster, healthier, and be more durable than has been fast growth, now it’s more about gene average. The trees could then be used to replant conservation. Hughes hopes to underplant exist- areas ravaged by fi re or otherwise in need of re- ing forest stands with seedlings derived from his planting. orchard. Inspired, the Tonasket Ranger District followed “In the summer of 2000, Dave Colbert and suit, choosing to utilize a 30-acre parcel of land I climbed and picked cones from 60 new select near Peony Creek to plant a seed orchard consist- trees,” Hughes said. “This spring I planted 6,000 ing of Douglas-fi r, Western larch, and ponderosa of the seedlings myself.” Hughes is proud of the pine tree seedlings. The groundwork was laid in project and is dedicated to its success, ensuring the 1988 by the Pacifi c Northwest regional geneticist trees have water and are protected from pests. Pete Theisen, and was implemented locally by The job isn’t always an easy one. Gophers, Laurie Walters in 1988. Forestry Technician Brad parasites, pollination problems, frost, hot and dry Hughes took over the project in 1990. conditions, and rocky soils all pose problems. As with other seed orchards, the Peony Creek However, as Hughes points out, the trees that sur- project began with a select tree program. Techni- vive at Peony Creek will likely thrive anywhere on cians combed the District in search of conifer the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests. trees with superior growth and form. Once a “plus “The trees will already be acclimated to the dry tree” was located, its tree rings were measured to environment that is typical of our forests, as well insure it was indeed the fastest growing tree in the as our extreme temperatures,” he said. stand. The tree was then monitored, and when the Despite setbacks, the seed orchard has been cones were produced they were harvested and sent hailed a success. The Peony Creek seed orchard is to a tree improvement center. There the seed was sure to be an invaluable asset to the Okanogan and extracted and stored, then planted into the seed Wenatchee National Forests. With growth increas- orchard. es already observed at 30-40% above average, the future is promising.

few years ago, this paper published an article about the beetle infestation in the FFireire FFollowsollows A Tiffany Mountain Area. Since that time, the epidemic has become even more widespread, more visible, and portions of it have even burned. BBeetleseetles For years, green hues of spruce, and lodgepole pine trees have covered the sides of the mountains By Shannon O’Brien from the Canadian border to Conconully. Now, Public Affairs Specialist thanks to the singular appetite of ‘the beetles,’ food source for lynx, reach their highest densities many of those same mountainsides have turned in young (15-40 year old) lodgepole pine forests. hues of red and gray. Lodgepole pine cones require heat to open the A recent aerial survey indicates that almost cones and spread seeds and depend on these fi res 14,000 forested acres in the Tiffany area are suffer- to regenerate the forest. Other species, such as ing from beetle infestation. Studies on the ground the black-backed woodpeckers, are nomadic and depend on large fi res and the insects that follow. Today, with insect infestations becoming more widespread, managers are working to reduce the potential for a catastrophic fi re event. Most of the dying trees are within inventoried roadless areas with only one way in and out. Removing dead trees along existing road corridors may help provide fi rebreaks and safe zones for fi refi ghting efforts. Extreme fi re behaviors, like those experienced with last fall’s Isabel Fire, may continue to be a common occurrence in areas where beetle infesta- tion has taken place. Erratic fi re behavior can cre- show thousands more acres of infestation. Al- ate situations where crews are forced to pull back though some of the trees may remain standing for from their direct attack. a while, they are dead, and serve as an abundant “When a fi re is being pushed by winds, and it source of explosive fuel at risk for wildland fi re. has built up suffi cient heat by traveling through Last October was a good example when the Isa- acres of dead and down trees, even green material bel fi re burned across 4000 acres west of Conco- gets consumed,” remarked Dale Birch, Incident nully. “Without management intervention, this is Commander for the Type 3 Team that provided going to be typical of what’s to come in that area,” initial attack on the Isabel fi re. said Mark Morris, District Ranger at Tonasket. Safety is always the fi rst priority for fi refi ghters In a healthy subalpine fi r forest, insect activity and forest visitors. During wildland fi res, it is impor- is part of the natural disturbance pattern. During tant that people not involved in fi re fi ghting efforts drought conditions it is typical that large, stand- stay well clear. Given the right wind, heat and other replacing fi res will follow the insects. These fi res, factors, a fi re in this terrain has the potential to grow which occur at intervals between 80 and 250 years, at an incredible pace, much faster than a person, or help to regenerate the forest. Some wildlife species even an animal can make the trek over rugged terrain. evolved to depend on this forest type. Forest visitors are asked to check with local offi ces Snowshoe hare and lynx, a threatened species in for information about closures or current activity The Isabel Fire, still burning hot in the middle of the night. the lower 48 states, rely on these disturbances to when planning a visit to forest lands, particularly create good habitat. Snowshoe hares, the principle during fi re season. Cascade Lookout ■ 9 Making Echo Better While Echo Ridge is sure to remain one of the BBreath-takingreath-taking EEchocho RRidgeidge - most breath-taking places to ski in the northwest, improvements have been scheduled to expand and CCanan iitt GGetet aanyny BBetter?etter? YYES!ES! improve the area. Chelan District Ranger, Bob Sheehan said, “Echo Ridge provides great oppor- tunities for people to get out and use their public land. We plan to continue to work to make Echo Ridge even better.” Users should see the fi rst noticeable improve- ments in the winter of 2004-05. New beginner trails, as well as additional skate trails, are planned. There are portions of existing trails that are easier, but many have steep grades and sharp corners more suited to the intermediate skier. By next sea- son, several existing trails will have been modifi ed, and several new trails will have been constructed to accommodate beginning skiers. The new skate trails will connect with existing roads to create a long skate loop for intermediate and advanced skate skiers. Vault toilets will also be added to the t 3,400 feet, high above the sparkling trailhead. surface of Lake Chelan, sits one of During 2005, the winding road to Echo Ridge A will be widened. A second parking lot and new the most beautiful cross-country ski snowshoe trails will be added. The expansion proj- areas in the state. An exaggeration? ect will increase the kilometers of groomed trails We don’t think so. to about 38 kilometers. Into the Backcountry The Vision All Articles by Anna Larsen The Echo Ridge Nordic Ski Area was designed Public Affairs Specialist to give beginning and intermediate skiers the idea According to Ken Dull, Trails Coordinator on of what it would be like to take a cross country ski the Chelan Ranger District, “Echo has the poten- tour through the backcountry, while still provid- tial to continue to expand.” The long-term vision ing the comfort of a groomed trail system. The is to have a mix of different kinds of cross-country loop trails sprawl and wind over a large skiing (and other winter recreation) available for enough area so that it is rarely possible users. In the future, Echo Ridge will boast a mix to see other trails. Designed so even of double and single track trails. Skate and snow- when the parking lot feels full, the trails shoe trails will be added while the current heart of won’t, Echo Ridge does what it sought Echo Ridge, classic cross-country skiing, will be to do – take you into the backcountry. preserved and enhanced. “The idea is to expand The existing trails utilize roads only while preserving the very qualities that make Echo when they enhance the loop system; the Ridge so spectacular,” Dull said. majority of the trails have been built Cooperation with the Lake Chelan Nordic Ski specifi cally for cross-country skiing. Club and the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Trails dip and roll, providing ever- Recreation (IAC) have made Echo Ridge a success. changing, but constant, views of the val- The Nordic Ski Club is responsible for all of the ley below. Unlike many cross-country grooming at Echo Ridge. IAC provides supporting ski areas, Echo Ridge is not located in grant dollars to make grooming and road plowing the valley bottom. As its name implies, possible. Chelan County Public Works helps to it sits on rolling ridges. Its 26 kilometers keep the road in great shape. In short, neither the of trails loop around and through open continued operation nor the planned expansion of forests. Often above the clouds, skiing at Echo Ridge would be feasible without the coop- Echo Ridge makes you feel as though you are on eration and support of our partners. Their help top of the world. makes our shared vision possible. Surprising Summer Use Echo Ridge Nordic Ski Area When Echo Ridge was designed almost 12 years Fee: $5.00 per day, per person to ski on ago, the Chelan Ranger District expected it to be groomed trails, or $40 per person for a season popular for mountain bikes and the use has more pass. than met those expectations. The Ridge is ex- Note: Fees collected are used as a match for IAC tremely popular with beginning and intermediate grants and make trail grooming and road plowing mountain bikers. Hikers and horseback riders have possible. also found Echo Ridge to be enjoyable in the sum- mer. In short, Echo Ridge has become the most popular down-lake recreation spot on the Chelan Ranger District.

he Antilon to Alta (A to A) Ecosystem Res- IImplementationmplementation toration Project will begin this spring. The TA to A project is designed to reduce fuels in areas of the national forest that are in close prox- BBeginsegins inin “A“A toto AA”” imity to urban areas and to develop and maintain large tree character. It will be implemented over In the fall of 2004, prescribed burning may be the next several years. implemented to further reduce brush and woody Project activities begin in the spring of 2004. debris in the A to A project area. “Ultimately, we They will focus on those areas closest to the urban would like to see fuels reduced so this area is more interface. Treatment will include thinning, prun- resistant to catastrophic wildfi re,” said Chelan ing, and piling excess fuel. Hand and mechanical District Ranger Bob Sheehan. “This will help make 10 ■ Cascade Lookout methods will be used. wildfi re suppression safer and more effective.” OOkanogank a n o g a n aandn d WWenatcheee n a t c h e e NNationala t i o n a l FForestso r e s t s Wildfi re News & Information

ildfi re has been a “hot” topic, fl ammable fuels in most mid-and lower so to speak, for the residents elevation dry forests. Today, over Wof north central Washington 600,000 acres of the dry forest, within for many years. Most locals recall the the boundaries of the Okanogan and devastating fi res of 1994, 2001, and the Wenatchee National Forests, are vulner- summer of 2003 in which thousands of able to insect attack, tree diseases, and acres of forests burned. high intensity fi res. Historically, fi re has played a major Defending these dense, thick forests role in developing the forests of North from high intensity wildfi res is becom- America. By studying hundreds of fi re- ing increasingly diffi cult. These forests scarred tree wedges dating back to the will burn again—it’s only a matter of 1600s, fi re ecologists on the Okanogan when. The challenges we face in man- and Wenatchee National Forests have aging wildfi re are great, but not insur- found that fi res frequented our eastside mountable. It has taken decades for the low elevation forests on average of every current forest situation to develop, and 6-20 years. any solution will require time, com- One unintended consequence of 90 mitment, funds, and resources. With years of forest management (fi re sup- perseverance we can restore our forests pression, logging and grazing) has been to a condition where populated areas are the build up of large amounts of highly buffered from large wildfi res. Contributors to Wildfi re News: Jim Bailey, Robin DeMario, Barbara Kenady-Fish, Paul Hart

very now and then someone asks, “Why Why Are We is the Forest Service so bent on cutting trees” or “setting (prescribed) fi res”? So Driven? E“Why can’t they just leave the forest the way it is?” These are fair questions. After all, the For- est Service is assigned the task of managing the nation’s forests on behalf of all Americans. The 154 national forests are located across the country in 44 different states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. They contain a remarkable diversity of natural ecosystems, plants, and animal species. They house the watersheds which supply pure water for much of the nation. Forest science, like all other areas of scientifi c study, is continually evolving. As knowledge of natural processes improves, management practices are modifi ed to protect natural resources, and management objectives change. Research has shown that it is not possible to “leave the forest the way it is.” Forest ecosystems are constantly evolving as trees and other vegeta- tion age and die. Insects, root diseases, fi re, and drought all change the forest in ways that may be acceptable in some areas and not in others. By studying fi re scars in the growth rings of old trees, scientists have discovered that some 600,000 Photo above and right: Karen Wattenmaker acres in the mid and lower elevations of the Okanogan and Wenatchee Forests are unnaturally crowded with trees. These “dense, dry forests” are at risk from catastrophic, uncontrollable wildfi res. “The Tyee and Rat Creek Fires in Chelan Nearly a century of vigorous fi re suppression, past County burned 37 homes, killed almost every tree logging of large trees, and over-grazing early in the over vast areas, choked the valleys with smoke, twentieth century has helped pave the way for this and virtually shut down tourism for much of the epidemic of trees. summer of 1994,” remembers Elton Thomas, This condition provided the fuel Fire Management Offi cer for the Okanogan and bed for fi res, which burned more Wenatchee Forests. than 180,000 acres in Chelan Coun- “An event like that is very traumatic for every- ty in 1994, and another 80,000 one,” he remembers. “At one time, every com- acres in 2001 and 2003. munity in Chelan County was threatened by fi re. Dense, dry forest condi- Thousands of people were evacuated from their tions also contributed to homes. We want to prevent these huge fi res every- the South Libby, Rocky where we can. That’s why we are so dedicated to Hull, and Wilcox fi res in doing active management. We are driven.” the Okanogan Forest in recent summers.

Photo: Bryan Day Wildfi re News & Information

ince 1994, the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Steps to Healthy Forests have adopted land management strategies to Forests and Fire Safe Sreduce the risk of catastrophic wildfi res. The Dry Forest Strategy outlines methods to decrease fuels in our forests. Communities Congress passed the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 that streamlines the planning and environmental process, and authorizes expenditures of government dollars to get the work done. And, local communities are working in partnership with land management and state and county fi re departments to reduce fuels in forest/community interface areas, and to make homes more fi re safe.

he 1994 Tyee and Rat Creek Fires led to drainages, private land, or rural residences. After Dry Forest the development of a ‘Dry Forest Strat- these management practices, forest groves more egy’ for the Okanogan and Wenatchee closely resemble those that existed prior to settle- Strategy TNational Forests. This strategy involves thinning ment of the west. in dry forest areas, leaving larger, well-spaced Each of the seven ranger districts on the ponderosa pine, Douglas-fi r, and western larch Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests have trees. The thinning operations are followed by use designed and implemented projects in the dry for- of prescribed fi re in the spring est zone to help lessen the chance of catastrophic or fall to clean up ground litter fi re. Good examples are the Nile project on the and remove many of the small- Naches District, the Iron Restoration Project on est trees which are too small for the Cle Elum District, the Fish Pole and Pendleton thinning. projects on the Lake Wenatchee and Leavenworth Elsewhere, tree thinning Ranger Districts, Preston Fox Restoration Project is not needed, but burning is on the Entiat District, North Twenty-fi ve Mile done over large areas to reduce project on the Chelan District, Doe Mountain accumulations of brush, fallen project on the Methow Valley District, and Con- logs, branches and needles. The ger and Coco projects on the Tonasket District. objective is the same…to reduce Contact the local ranger district offi ce for more available fuels in the forest and information on these projects. increase the chance that fi re- Because the problem is so widespread, it will be fi ghters have of heading off many years before we are able to restore the dry wildfi res before they burn entire forests to a more defensible, natural condition.

FFireire WebsitesWebsites

ast December, Congress passed and the aandnd PPublicationsublications President signed new legislation designed www.fi rewise.org Healthy Forests to encourage efforts to reduce the risk of – making your home fi rewise, catastrophicL wildfi re on national forests, restore Restoration Act forest ecosystems, and help protect rural residence fi rewise landscaping, fi rewise from fi re. checklists, outdoor fi re safety. of 2003 The Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 www.smokeybear.com/only_you.asp authorizes needed work, and seeks to streamline – the science of wildfi res, good the planning and environmental process to speed fi res and bad fi res, fi ghting fi re. things up. It authorizes the expenditure of $760 million a year to do the work. However, until www.nwcg.gov extra funding is actually appropriated, the Forest – Information on fi re education, Service will seek to direct regular appropriated fi refi ghting, fi re weather, home fi re funding to this work where possible. protection, smoke management, The new legislation is fully wildfi re career opportunities, compatible with the dry forest wildland fi re ecology and research. strategy managers of the Okano- www.boi.noaa.gov gan and Wenatchee National – fi re weather Forests have been working to implement in recent years. www.nifc.gov – National Interagency Fire Center. Information on protecting your home from wildland fi re. www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/ airhome.html - air quality information Living With Fire – a guide for the homeowner published by the Pacifi c Northwest Wildfi re Coordinating Group. Contact any Forest Service offi ce for copies. Wildfi re News & Information

National Forests expect to do prescribed burning on over 28,200 acres. The objectives are to reduce Many Faces of fuel and fi re risk, and to re-introduce fi re as a natural part of the forest ecosystem, or to prepare a site before replanting with seedling trees. Prescribed Fire All of the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests’ prescribed burning projects are carefully planned with thorough analysis and opportunity for public feedback according to the National Environmental Policy Act.

The Right Conditions The Forest Service and other land management ….at home agencies do not truly “choose” when to burn. A Every summer, headlines tell of more loss of number of conditions must be met before igniting life and property due to wildfi res. Supported by a prescribed burn. Temperature, relative humidi- the National Fire Plan and the President’s Healthy ty, wind speed and direction, and fuel moisture are Forest Initiative the Forest Service has been put- all critical for a desired outcome. The conditions ting emphasis on treating fi re prone landscapes, that have the best results and meet the “prescrip- especially those near the wildland/urban inter- tion” occur only during a very narrow window of face. By decreasing the amount of fuels available time. In the spring, this window may last for four by thinning trees and using prescribed fi re, the or fi ve weeks. In the fall it may last as little as a day Okanogan and Wenatchee Forests can lessen the or two, but more typically up to two weeks. With severity of wildfi res, reduce the threat of fi re to a tremendous backlog of work to be done, and nearby residences, and give fi refi ghters an area more being added every year, the Forest Service from which to mount a safe defense. must take advantage of every opportunity to burn. During a prescribed fi re, weather conditions ….in the forest are monitored carefully. If conditions are too hot We now know that fi re had a signifi cant role and dry, desired species of plants can be killed and Smoke Management in keeping our east Cascade forests healthy. Since noxious weeds may invade. If burned too cool The Washington State Department of Natural uncontrolled wildfi res are a limited option because and wet, the amount of fuels will not be reduced Resources manages smoke approval for prescribed of threats to life, property, and important natural and not enough thinning may occur. Species fi res. The goal of fi re managers is to conduct resources, we must rely on carefully managed fi re dependant on fi re for rejuvenation (buck brush for prescribed fi res that burn quickly and cleanly to mimic the natural fi re cycle. Prescribed fi re can example) may not be stimulated to grow. with smoke carried up and away from populated help recycle nutrients, thin out small trees and areas. Conditions are watched constantly. Often brush, encourage new plant growth, allow remain- Ignition scheduled burns are cancelled at the last minute if ing trees to grow bigger and healthier by eliminat- Most prescribed fi res are lit by crews using the these objectives can’t be met. Since weather and ing competition for water and nutrients, and create “drip torch,” a hand-carried device that pours out winds are unpredictable, there is always a chance natural openings in the forest that act as barriers a small stream of burning fuel. Sometimes fi res are that some smoke will end up in the valleys. This to the spread of insects and disease. lit from a helicopter. A “helitorch” is used to pour happens mostly at night when cool, calm air fl ows out a large stream of burning fuel from a drum down-valley bringing smoke with it. Conducting a Prescribed Fire slung beneath the helicopter. Sometimes a sphere Information on the location and objectives of During the spring and fall of 2004, each of the dispenser is used, which drops small balls of fuel each prescribed fi re may be obtained at any of the seven districts on the Okanogan and Wenatchee that ignite and burn after landing on the ground. Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests’ offi ces.

arge fi res have become more frequent in recent years in higher elevation areas of the Okanogan and Wenatchee National High Elevation Wildfi res Forests.L In many locations, lodgepole pine and spruce forests in higher elevation zones are near- ing the end of their natural lifespan. Widespread tree mortality from insects and disease is provid- ing a ready fuel bed for large fi res like the Farewell and Isabel Fires on the Okanogan National Forest during the summer of 2003. “Most of these forest stands are located within classifi ed Wilderness or remote unroaded areas and management options are limited,” said Elton Thomas, forest fi re management offi cer. “Wild- fi res will eventually burn through these areas, however, we try to prevent fi res from burning onto adjacent state, private, or Canadian forests.” Firefi ghters actually have been very successful fi ghting fi res in these areas…more than 98 per cent of lightning fi res are put out before they reach one acre in size. Unfortunately, the few fi res that can- not be put out grow to very large size because of extreme weather, drought, and heavy fuels. Fire fi ghters often utilize natural features like Current forest fi re management plans recognize open ridges, streams, and snowfi elds to contain the natural role fi re plays in renewing a forest and wildfi res. This is less costly, has less impact, and removing brush, downed trees, fallen needles, and minimizes risk to fi refi ghters. Such fi res also help branches. establish the fuel breaks Thomas describes. “When conditions and location are favorable, it makes sense to manage lightning fi res to burn About 25% of the two forests are within in- out dead and dying vegetation, breaking up large ventoried roadless areas. These areas are allocated contiguous concentrations of fuels,” Thomas said. primarily to roadless recreation, wildlife habitat, “This creates barriers and control points that will and watershed. Timber harvest is not an emphasis, help limit the spread of future large wildfi res.” although there may be thinning proposed for road- side zones beside such areas to create fi rebreaks. Wildfi re News & Information

he 2003 summer fi re season arrived A Season of amidst a third year of drought conditions. Rainfall in the state for June, July and Au- Fire and Smoke Tgust was 70-85 percent below normal; the driest since about 1895. A persistent ridge of high pres- sure stayed off the coast of Washington all summer long, preventing storms from coming ashore. Following are some fi re statistics for the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests of the summer of 2003: A total of 130 fi res burned in the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests. Of that total, 74 fi res burned in the Wenatchee National Forest and 56 fi res burned in the Okanogan National Forest. The majority of the fi res were started by lightning in June, July and August, 2003. The largest fi re was the Farewell Fire which burned 84,343 acres of forest in the Methow Val- ley Ranger District. Fire crews were able to keep the fi re from reaching Canada and the Loomis State Forest. An International agreement was signed between the U.S. and Canada to make fi refi ghting opera- Farewell Fire tions possible across the border. The agreement fa- cilitated the movement of crews and aircraft across Air tankers hauled 826,385 gallons of retardant. the international border for fi refi ghting efforts. Airplanes and helicopters fl ew over 6,000 hours in The Needles Fire burned 21,000 acres on the fi re suppression and fi refi ghter support efforts. Methow Valley District and threatened numerous homes near Mazama. Campfi re re- Needles Fire strictions went Late season fi res on the Lake Wenatchee and into effect on Leavenworth Ranger Districts, and Tonasket July 9, 2003. Ranger District burned thousands of additional forested acres and caused anxious days and sleep- A campfi re ban less nights for hundreds of rural residents. went into effect on July 25, and was lifted on Oct. 14. Woodcutting activities were completely sus- pended on July 23, and did not resume until September 17. 1944 poster

Isabel Fire

very summer, the sounds of people having time or another. There was smoke from local fun can be heard throughout the Okano- wildfi res, from fi res burning in Oregon, and from Wildfi res and gan and Wenatchee National Forests. the huge fi res in Canada. With all the smoke from ESwimmers splashing, anglers sharing whoppers these wildfi res, it was diffi cult for recreationists to Their Impact about the ones that got away, visitors ooh-ing and know where the fi res were and whether they were awe-ing over spectacular views, mountain bikers in harm’s way. In fact, many changed their plans on Recreation whooshing by, motorcyclists and off-road vehicle and went to other national forests in adjoining users putting through the woods, and a myriad of states where fi res weren’t so prevalent. other sounds of happy forest users. It wasn’t until late September, after fall rains The summer of 2003 was a different story. returned, temperatures dropped signifi cantly, and Although people still had fun, last summer’s most of the fi res were contained, that most of wildfi res defi nitely affected thousands of visi- the bans and restrictions were lifted. Woodcut- tors recreating in the Okanogan and Wenatchee ters were once again able to cut fi rewood, hunt- National Forests. ers could get to most of their hunting areas, and The fi rst effect was a campfi re ban. Campfi re overall, things returned to normal. bans were put into place very early, on July 9 The fi re impacts on recreation during the sum- in fact, and became more restrictive as drought mer of 2003 were great, but most forest visitors conditions and the fi re danger worsened over the understood the need for the bans and closures and summer. By the end of August, a ban on all camp- were very cooperative. fi re use was in effect for most of the Okanogan With fi re season starting earlier than usual this and Wenatchee forests. year, it is very likely that north central Washing- As the summer progressed and major fi res began ton communities and visitors to the Okanogan burning throughout the two forests, access to and Wenatchee National Forests will be affected many forest areas was also restricted. Area closures by wildfi res again this summer. By following fed- were implemented due to safety concerns resulting eral, state and local fi re restrictions, human-caused from major fi res burning in the two forests. wildfi res can be prevented. National forest camp- Along with the campfi re bans and access prob- fi re bans and closures are posted on the Okano- lems experienced last summer, everyone in North gan and Wenatchee National Forests’ website at Central Washington was affected by smoke at one www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee Holden Lake Trail Summer Blossom Trail #1251 #1258 HHitit thethe Trail!Trail! DIFFICULTY: Easy DIFFICULTY: More Diffi cult LENGTH: 4 miles (6.5 km) LENGTH: 6 miles (9 1/2 km.) LOW ELEVATION: 3565’ LOW ELEVATION: 6400’ HIGH: 5300’ HIGH: 7400’ GAIN: 1735’ GAIN: 960’ PARKING AND FACILITIES: None. PARKING AND FACILITIES: Parking is avail- BEST SEASONS: summer, fall able at the Summer Blossom Trailhead. TRAILHEAD ACCESS: Trailhead starts at Hart BEST SEASONS: summer, fall and Lyman Lakes Trail #1256. From Lucerne, hike TRAILHEAD ACCESS: Trail starts at Summer or ride up Railroad Creek Road to the end of the Blossom Trailhead (off Grade Creek Road) and road (at Holden Ballpark Campground). Follow Summit Trail. From Chelan, drive north on High- Hart and Lyman Lakes Trail #1256 for .5 mile to way 97 to Pateros. Turn left on Highway 153 for 17 the junction with Holden Lake Trail #1251. miles. Take the Gold Creek Road #4340/County Imagine… MAPS: USGS – Holden; Green Trails – Holden Road #1034 for 1 mile. Turn left onto South Fork/ Gold Creek Road #4330. Take spur 600 and con- The trail winds through the DESCRIPTION: The trail leaves from Railroad tinue until the junction with Grade Creek Road forest. Limbs of ponderosa Creek Trail and climbs through thick brush on a #8200/Cooper Mountain Road #8020. Turn right pine fi lter the sun which glints hot, south-facing slope. It then traverses across on Grade Creek Road and continue for 8 miles to open slopes, up switchbacks and through heavy Summer Blossom Trailhead. through the trees, beckoning timber to Holden Lake. The views along the route you further. As you break out are spectacular. Holden Lake itself is nestled in a MAPS: USGS – South Navarre, Martin Peak; beautiful, high mountain cirque. From the lake, it Green Trails – Prince Creek of the forest, spectacular views is possible to see Mary Green Glacier on Bonanza DESCRIPTION: This is an excellent trail for steal your breath… and you Peak (the highest non-volcanic peak in the North viewing the Sawtooth high country. The trail is an are so glad you decided to take Cascades). This is one of the best day hikes on old sheep herder’s route through Summer Blos- the District. Campsites are available near Holden som basin, arriving near the summit of North Na- a hike on the Chelan Ranger Lake. There is a closure for overnight camping and varre Peak (7,963 ft.). The peak offers outstanding District! To the left, you will campfi res within 200 feet of the lakeshore. Not views from the snowy Cascades to the vast semi- fi nd a couple of trails to make recommended for stock. This trail is maintained arid plains of the Columbia Plateau. Appreciate annually. the 1930’s Civilian Conservation Corps trail work your pleasant daydream a (rock cribbing) as you hike the ridge down to the reality. If you enjoy these trails, junction with the Summit Trail and at the East be sure to ask for our new Fork Prince Creek switchbacks. The trail has a few steep grades and the tread is light in some spots, district trail guide. due to low use. Water should be carried. There are possible camping areas after 1.5 miles.

he cedar shingles, visible when you walk erator Harbor, the Lake Chelan Boating Club up the sturdy stairs, still have the rusty celebrated with a luau for nearly fi fty people. Tcolor of a shiny new penny. They have not The shelters are a beautiful testament to the yet turned silvery-gray with age. The shingles Boating Club’s hard work. The craftsmanship are part of the new public campground shelters is evident in the details. Cedar shingles trim the constructed by the Lake Chelan Boating Club at front of the shelter, and benches line the inside. Graham Harbor and Refrigerator Harbor. While Even the edges of the two by fours used to provide the actual construction of each shelter only took a frame for the shingles have been rounded, thanks two days, the preparation that led up to that point to the Chelan and Manson High School shop took years. classes. Finishing touches included horse shoes The idea for the shelter was based on the desire for coat hooks and a couple as good luck symbols. to have a safe place for boaters to get out of the The Boating Club has all of the materials marked TTakeake SShelter!helter! bad weather at Safety Harbor. Members of the and ready to go for a third shelter (location to be With the Lake Chelan Boating Boating Club and employees of the Chelan Ranger decided at a later date). Club and Chelan Ranger District District worked together to get the ball rolling. The up-lake shelters are not the only projects When the 2001 Rex Creek Fire closed Safety the Boating Club has undertaken. In addition to Harbor, it was decided the fi rst shelter would be the shelters at Refrigerator Harbor and Graham best located at Graham Harbor. The other shelter Harbor, the Boating Club has constructed steps at would be built at Refrigerator Harbor. One of Graham Harbor and a bridge at Graham Harbor the many challenges was selecting a design that Creek. The Boating Club dedicated last Father’s refl ected the historic construction of other exist- Day weekend to repairs and improvements at ing shelters at Big Creek, Graham Harbor Creek, Mitchell Creek and Deer Point. “The partner- and Moore Point. The design was modeled after ship between the Chelan Ranger District and the the Adirondack style trail shelters constructed by Lake Chelan Boating Club is very benefi cial to the the Civilian Conservation Corps. public,” said Chelan District Ranger Bob Shee- The Chelan Ranger District provided the han. “With hard work and dedication, they have materials for the shelters and the Boating Club created a beautiful, lasting improvement to the supplied the labor. Several work parties were held lakeshore. We really appreciate all of their hard to mark, cut, and pre-assemble the shelters. Once work.” the preparation work was fi nished approximately Visitors can be assured that the shelters will be twenty members of the Lake Chelan Boating Club there for a long time— far beyond the point where rolled up their sleeves to build the shelters. During the shingles weather to gray. the construction of the second shelter at Refrig- Cascade Lookout ■ 15 n September 20, 2003, volunteers and the river. Americorps volunteers installed signs to employees of the Cle Elum Ranger let campers know, “These campsites are free and LLendingending a HHandand District joined more than 80,000 citizens fi sh-friendly!” Participating volunteers ranged O th nationwide in celebrating the 10 annual National in age from fi ve to sixty-fi ve. The younger vol- fforor PPublicublic LLandsands Public Lands Day. In one productive morning, unteers enjoyed sprinkling grass seed. They were volunteers saved taxpayers hundreds of dollars and so committed to the task that they didn’t miss a improved camping areas along the North Fork Te- square inch of bare by Rebecca Wassell anaway River. A feeling of accomplishment stayed ground. If you pass Fisheries Biologist with them long after they’d brushed the last bits a lush carpet of an- of straw out of their hair. Valerie McCallum, nual grasses along mother of the youngest volunteers, commented, “I the North Fork Te- really like what we’re teaching our kids.” anaway this spring, Dispersed camping areas along the North Fork you’ll know it’s Teanaway River are beautiful places for families to one of the restora- get in touch with nature and each other. Unfor- tion sites. tunately, the popularity of these sites has caused Nationally, volunteers and agencies worked at soil compaction, loss of trees, and streambank ero- 520 National Public Lands Day sites located in all sion. These effects lead to degraded habitat for the fi fty states. Volunteers improved 500 miles of trail, steelhead, bull trout, Chinook salmon, cutthroat built more than 60 bridges, planted more than and rainbow trout in the river. 6,600 trees, bagged nearly 2 million pounds of With the support of the Title II Resource Ad- trash, and cleared nearly 60,000 pounds of invasive visory Committee, the Respect the River program plants. In Central Washington, volunteer efforts has worked to restore these sites over the past four focused on improving the areas that impact fi sh years. Respect the River personnel map the sites, habitat in the Columbia River watershed. Volun- talk with campers, and design sites that will pro- teers in Richland cleaned up 200 acres near the tect the river while providing high quality camp- Yakima River, and a work party in the Methow ing experiences. Valley packed 50 pounds of cans and bottles out Typical restoration work includes loosening from Beaver Lake. compacted soil, creating new parking areas, and On the Cle Elum Ranger District, the Kitti- Volunteers spread grass seed moving or restricting access to protect habitat. tas Environmental Education Network (KEEN) on recently closed roads Once this is accomplished partnered with the Ranger District to publicize there is still work to be the event, supply volunteers with edible goodies, done. The most effi cient, and provide people for the work. The partners are and most fun way to planning to celebrate National Public Lands Day accomplish this work is each year. In 2004, we will work on the remaining through a volunteer work campsites along the North Fork Teanaway River. day. If you are interested in joining us, please set aside In the Teanaway camp- September 18. We will meet at 9AM at the Tean- sites, volunteers spread away Guard Station, and move from there to the grass seed and straw on work areas. For more information about this, and recently closed roads, and other environmental education events in Central built new access trails to Washington, check out www.KittitasEE.net. We look forward to working with you!

all in the Cascades means that the huckle- On the Cle Elum Ranger District, Stampede HHuckleberriesuckleberries berries are ready and waiting. The Cascades Pass is the most popular harvest area. Explor- Fhave seen traditional harvests by Native ing other areas along the Cascade crest can yield Americans for centuries. Wildlife depends on the patches that receive little or no harvest - and more by Nancy Jones berries to ready them for winter. Modern times berries! Information Assistant see continuing harvest of the berries by wildlife In the lowlands the berries ripen as early as and humans. mid-July, but do not ripen at the higher elevations A trip to the Cascades to pick huckleberries until mid-August. Labor Day weekend traditional- makes for a wonderful family outing. Every one ly brings the most folks to the woods for the peak from the toddler to grandma and grandpa can en- of the harvest. Many people won’t pick until the joy a day in the mountains picking and eating the berries have received the fi rst frost of the season, juicy purple berries. Time spent together in the claiming the frost brings out the taste. The berries woods leads to sharing memories over huckleberry are usually too soft to pick by late September. pie in the months that follow. As with any crop, some years are better than others. Don’t expect anyone to tell you where their secret spot is, as most Huckleberry pickers won’t disclose the location to even their closest friends or family! To fi nd your own secret spot start scouting the area early in the season, looking in open areas for bushes with green berries. When you come back to pick, and fi nd that your spot didn’t produce, don’t be discouraged. Keep look- ing - you will nearly always fi nd a patch that will produce enough berries to make it worth the trip. While picking, be aware of your surroundings. You may be sharing a patch with some of the local wildlife (including bears), which if surprised, could be protective of their favorite patch. To avoid this, occasionally call out, talk, or sing while picking. From I-90 you can access miles of forest roads at Exit 62, the Lake Kachess / Stampede Pass Exit. Forest Road #54 will lead not only to Stampede Pass, but to miles of additional roads from Lost Lake to Blowout Mountain. Forest Road #49, towards Lake Kachess gives access to Keechelus Ridge and Gale Creek. Exit 63, Cabin Creek, will lead you to Amabilis Mountain. Good luck and 16 ■ Cascade Lookout happy picking! hether you go to snowy places for a shrew go in the winter? It becomes recreation or because it’s the place you subnivean! A subnivean animal spends Wlive, nature in winter provides unique the winter under the snow, at ground opportunities to witness the wonder of survival. level where a constant temperature, A few feet of snow opens doors to investigation. food and shelter are available. Shrews Where do the animals go? How do they cope? have plenty of company under there; What keeps them alive? All these questions can be moles, voles, and some mice all con- answered by looking deeper into winter ecology. gregate where berries, seeds, insects Consider what it’s like to live in a forest elevat- and water all abound. ed 10 feet above ground. That is the experience What are those black bugs fl ipping animals are faced around on the snow? You may see with when winter such black critters called Springtails stacks snow in the singly, or by the millions. Springtails Cascades. Imagine are a common insect that can be seen your everyday life on warmer winter days squirming at work, school, in and fl opping across the snow. A tail the grocery store, or shaped like a lobster’s helps propel WWinter’sinter’s where you are sitting them across the snow in search of as you read this with food and companionship. They fl ock to the fresh challenges of being snow to feast on microorganisms and also are ““WonderWonder LLand”and” 10 feet higher than searching for that perfect mate. Consider the ex- you are now. tra protein you may be eating with that refresh- by Kim Larned Animals in winter ing handful of snow! Public Affairs Specialist must adapt to the Plants are not exempt from the necessity of piles of snow, as well adaptation to the winter environment. as the change in food Trees buried beneath the snow can absorb supply, cold tem- enough sunlight to continue the photosynthetic peratures, and chal- process of making food. While their processes lenges of fi nding shelter. Innovative adaptations have slowed considerably, basic needs continue. accommodate a variety of needs. Lynx grow extra Some plants save energy by dropping their leaves fur on their feet that act as snowshoes. Snowshoe and slipping into a dormant state and storing their hares change the color of their fur to blend in with food in roots or tubers. Spring growth is triggered the pristine white environment. In the fall, a hor- by the lengthening day. mone triggered by the shortening days causes the Winter provides an opportunity to observe hare to enter its white phase. nature’s patterns and processes. As you wonder While some adaptations are easily observed by about how the natural world reacts to an envi- the winter investigator, there are unseen changes ronment buried in snow, will you be inspired to happening in more obscure places. Where does investigate further?

n 1993, Jacque Higgins-Rosebrook answered a Stampede Pass Weather Station call to work at the Stampede Pass Weather Sta- A WWeathereather Ition as a certifi ed weather observer for the Na- tional Oceanic Atmospheric Association (NOAA). The weather station has been in operation since OObserverbserver UUnlikenlike the 1930s when it began as a Forest Service fi re lookout and has slowly evolved into the facility it is today. The remote station sits at 4,000 feet and AAnyny OOtherther gets plenty of snow – about 120 inches a year. For the last 10 years Jacque has made this place her acres out her back door. Jacque has been success- by Kim Larned permanent residence. Public Affairs Specialist ful raising native plants from seed at the station although domestic garden foods inevitably fall prey to the hare and deer. Things Jacque misses most in winter are fresh veggies and books. She maintains that she can- not keep enough books stocked at the station to satisfy her. When in the city, she misses the quiet and solitude found at her mountain home. Beginning mid August, Jacque is usually visited by between 100-150 Pacifi c Crest Trail through- hikers…those who started their trek in Mexico Jacque accesses her winter home in April, hoping to reach Canada before the snow through the second story window fl ies. Jacque has cooked many meals for these weary travelers, listened to their fascinating stories, A typical winter work day for Jacque begins at and shared an evening of company and comfort. 8 am with snow shoveling to clear an egress from “They are very interesting people by the time they the offi ce building. She then treks out to the snow have walked from Mexico to Stampede Pass. Most fi eld to measure the snow for depth and water have gone through some sort of transformative content. This process occurs daily between 9 and experience on their way here,” said Jacque. It’s a 3-hour trip by snocat to get the mail 10 am, and is repeated in the afternoon between Jacque feels grateful to have a group of people 3 and 4 pm when she measures snow again and looking out for her at her remote workstation. The then climbs to the instrument platform to record ‘Giard cabin gang,’ Tommy Willis, and Tim and 24 hour high, low and current temperatures. She Hillary Foss are among several U.S. Forest Service spends the rest of any given winter day shoveling employees. Others include Colleen Hawley and out the necessary doors and equipment the staff at Easton State Park, Tacoma Watershed The summer routine is much easier, checking Patrol, the Hyak Department of Transportation, gauges only once a day for high and low tempera- and the High Country Snowmobilers. All have tures and 24-hour precipitation. Data is trans- helped Jacque during 10 interesting years at the ferred to the NOAA offi ce in Seattle where it is weather station, whether in a time of need or just stored and compiled. Spare time is spent garden- to drop a bag of freshly picked chanterelles. She is Cascade Lookout ■ 17 ing, hiking and exploring the literally millions of equally thankful for both. he Entiat Ranger District has 200 miles MMadad RRiveriver & of multiple-use trails, reaching from Lake TChelan to Lake Wenatchee. This system crosses Tyee Ridge, Entiat Ridge, Devils Back- DDevilsevils BBackboneackbone bone, Shady Pass, and the Mad River and Entiat drainages, making it one of the most diverse mul- tiple use trail systems in the state of Washington. OHV Trail Riding at its Best Unlike non-motorized trails or restricted use areas on National Forest lands, the Forest Service by Barbara Kenady-Fish manages multiple use trails for a wider variety of Public Affairs Specialist uses. The trails are popular with horseback riders, backpackers, mountain bikers and motorcyclists (also called off highway vehicles, or OHVs). “We are pleased to offer such an extensive multiple use area for the recreating public,” said Randy McLandress, trail manager for the Entiat Ranger District. Managing this type of trail system Riding the Trails does have its challenges. With current use on these trails, McLandress says safety issues are a concern. This system of trails offers a full spectrum of “You could go around any corner and encounter diffi culty and accommodates anyone from novice horse back riders, a motorcyclist or a family riding to veteran. With many riders coming from the mountain bikes,” he said. Seattle area, the Lake Wenatchee area is the more Because many of these trails are popular with popular point of access to the trails. Many rid- all users, the increased popularity can have an ers travel over State Highway 2 and then up the impact on trail conditions. “Today’s motorcycle Chiwawa River. and mountain bike technology has allowed riders You may wish to pick up a free map of the to go at higher rates of speed than was envisioned Devils Backbone, Mad River, Lower Chiwawa and for these types of trails,” said McLandress. Inap- Devils Gulch multiple use trail system. These are propriate use by all trail users including traveling available at any Okanogan and Wenatchee Na- at excess speed, cutting switchbacks, and violating tional Forest offi ce. seasonal closures, can contribute to trail widening, ruts, and erosion. McLandress knows that public contact is an important component in helping to increase public safety awareness and proper OHV rid- ing techniques. During the summer he hires two OHV Patrol Offi cers who make contacts with visitors, enforce regulations, assist during emer- gencies, and help increase awareness of safety and resources issues. Mike Forney and Mason Schuur spend their summers contacting people who use the trail OHV Offi cer measures exhaust decibels system. Both are OHV enthusiasts who know trail riding techniques for maximizing enjoyment while Motorcycle Requirements: minimizing impacts. “We emphasize proper use of the throttle and clutch in our education outreach Make sure your motorcycle is legal for rid- to avoid roosting,” said Forney. ‘Roosting’ is a ing Forest Service trails that are open to motor- term used to describe tire spinning and kicking up ized use. This includes a working headlight and the dirt. “Poor riding can move a lot of soil and re- tail light, USDA Forest Service approved spark ally damage the trail,” he said. “However, you can arrestor, muffl er that limits exhaust noise to 105 put the right amount of traction to the ground by decibels, and current ORV permit tabs. All trails using your clutch properly.” are closed to ATVs. Although the primary mode of travel for the Seasonal Closures. The Upper Mad River OHV Rangers is by motorcycle (they can cover a area has a seasonal closure to protect the trail from lot of ground on a bike) they are knowledgeable rutting and erosion until the tread dries out. about each of the recreation uses and are equally All trails are closed to 4-wheeled vehicles. at ease talking to backpackers, horseback riders and mountain bikers. Chiwawa River Road Access (Lake Wenatchee): Access the trail system from Alder Ridge Trail #1523, Chikamin Creek Trail #1534, or from Goose Creek or Deep Creek Campgrounds. Both Upper Chikamin Trail #1561 and Alder trails have seasonal closures in conjunction with the seasonal closure on Upper Mad Trail #1409.1. These areas are signed and violators will be ticketed. The trails are closed to wheeled use and horses for resource protection until the trails dry out. Depending on the season, this area generally opens around the middle of July or the fi rst of August. Entiat Valley Access: A popular hub for OHV users is the Entiat Valley. From Lake Creek Campground users can With the sun shining brightly and the snow access the Devils Backbone and Lake Creek sys- melting in the mountains, McLandress, Forney tem during one day, and the Upper Mad, Tommy and Schuur look forward to getting out on the Creek and Tyee Ridge system the next. These areas trails once again. With 200 miles of trail to patrol, offer a complete day of riding for each area. Some they have their hands full with enforcement and popular destinations include Mad Lake and the education. Between trail maintenance and public Klone Peak area. 18 ■ Cascade Lookout contacts, this year is sure to be another busy one. orking side by side with professional The WSU 4-H Forestry Education Program forest managers, fourteen 4-H students gets funding from the Secure Rural Schools and ‘‘A’A’ fforor Wfrom Entiat and Chelan gained valuable Community Self Determination Act Title III, work experience while learning to appreciate the which is secured and allocated by the Chelan beauty and value of the amazingly diverse natural County Commissioners. This unique educational AAccomplishmentccomplishment world that surrounds their communities. program for high school students in Chelan During the summer of 2003, the Entiat Ranger County benefi ts both students and local, state and District participated in this mutually benefi cial federal agencies. Students receive a small stipend opportunity to educate high school students and for their participation and earn school credits dur- WSU 4-H Forestry to accomplish work that wouldn’t ordinarily have ing this summer program. been done. While the students learned what it was like to Project tromp through acres of forest in 90-degree tem- peratures counting and recording snag trees, the by Barbara Kenady-Fish district was able to accomplish about 15 acres of Public Affairs Specialist surveys that were needed to meet habitat manage- ment requirements for birds and mammals that depend on snags for survival. Other projects included much needed camp- ground maintenance at Silver Falls Campground, and clearing brush and debris from the Silver Falls Interpretive trails. In addition, employees of the Entiat Fish Hatchery and Entiat Ranger District put their heads together to design an interpretive trail at the hatchery. In just 3 days, the 4-H students hauled and spread many yards of gravel, learned about streamside ecology and how to interpret it, built a bench, fl agged additional trail to be built in the future, and agreed on messages and themes for interpretive signs that will be installed along the trail. The rewards of such collaboration can be mea- sured both in acres and dollars, but there is much satisfaction in building relationships, learning together, and working toward a common goal to protect our natural resources.

artinez Livestock Inc. has grazed domes- Starting in mid-May, bands of approximately tic sheep on the Entiat Ranger District 1000 ewes with lambs are hauled by semi truck to HHomeome onon tthehe Mfor decades. Entiat is one of 5 districts, the Mosquito and other allotments. The livestock and 10 sheep allotments on the Wenatchee Na- are unloaded at an authorized location and held tional Forest upon which Martinez Livestock until the entire band has arrived. After the ewes RRangeange AAllotmentllotment grazes its sheep. and lambs have paired up, they begin on their es- The grazing season typically begins in mid-May tablished route, working their way up, down, and by Carla Jaeger but, for the Martinez family, caring for the live- across the steep terrain of the Entiat District. Range Technician stock is a 24 hour a day, year-round fi eld season. The band is moved For the band of sheep that grazes on the Mosquito approximately every two allotment (located in the Tillicum Creek area of days, depending on the the Entiat Ranger District), the preparation begins available forage, water, in the middle of winter at the lambing camp in and terrain. There is a Mabton, WA. single herder, frequently At this facility the sheep are sheared and the of South American lambs are born. The shearing is done by a private origin who works with company that brings in their own trailer set up to herd dogs that assist shear sheep and they can do hundreds of animals him with the move- ment of the band, and a guard dog that protects the band from preda- tors. The herder lives in a trailer which he tows behind a farm tractor. Meat, produce, water, and supplies are deliv- ered to him by the Martinez family every few days. The camp sites are often in areas that have been used for several decades. The sheep prefer to bed on open ridge tops, so these are the desired loca- a day. During this time, the ewes are watched tions for the camps. The sheep are bedded near the closely and moved out of the weather into large herder’s camp at night and moved out across the lambing sheds where the lambs are born. When landscape to graze during the day. the lambs are approximately a week old, their tails It is the responsibility of Martinez Livestock to are docked and they are moved outside. With the ensure that grazing is within the standards set by arrival of several thousand lambs each season, the the Forest Service. Midway in the route at a loca- lambing process begins as early as late January tion accessible by semi truck, the lambs are sorted and sometimes continues into April. The animals from the band then loaded back onto the trucks, are brought to this location in mid-winter and and hauled to market. The ewes continue to remain until bands of ewes and lambs are moved graze, moving up through French Corral and then onto various privately owned low-elevation trailing through the Limekiln Allotment on the ranges. The lambs must typically be more than 3 Leavenworth District and fi nally down to private months old prior to going onto the national forest land in Plain. They are then moved back to their range allotments. fall and winter pastures on private ground. Cascade Lookout ■ 19 idden in a quiet forest and nestled among active participant in the community and will be A SSpecialpecial PPlacelace tall cedars, moss and peaceful waters is present at this year’s dedication of the Ware Walk. Ha new interpretive project in the White Please accept Mary’s invitation to follow the River Watershed in the Lake Wenatchee area. Ware Walk Interpretive Trail and learn more about AAroundround tthehe BBendend The Ware Walk is a short interpretive trail that the complex river environments, while strolling takes you gently down to the waters edge of the beneath the tall mountains and breathing the fresh White River. The White River is a major tributary air. You will undoubtedly see many birds, old by Susan Peterson to Lake Wenatchee, and provides critical habitat growth habitat of cedar and fi r, peaceful waters Public Affairs Specialist for many fi sh and waterfowl. It is also a place that teeming with fi sh, and maybe a paw print of some pulls you in and holds you still with its beauty. forest creature. You will also be able to learn more The character of this section of river has about the White River’s story and how the land is changed over the years. Logging and other activ- beginning to heal again. ity altered the area for several decades. Roads, tree plantations and human activity changed the course of the river itself. In the last couple of years though, the Forest Service and oth- er partners have committed to restoring these wetlands to their natural state. By removing old por- tions of road, the White River was restored to its natural fl oodplain. High stream fl ows are now fi l- Mary and John Ware tered through the area, the “Even as a little girl I had a penchant strong currents are reduced to see what was around the next bend to gentler currents that no longer scour the river’s in the trail, so I walked across the channel but provide calmer Sear’s Creek Bridge, saw a trail, and waters that enrich wetland just started walking. It was beautiful habitats. Fish and other with huge cedar and fi r trees. Farther aquatic species have regained access to places of Driving instructions: Take the Stevens Pass up, I heard a clap sound to my right refuge where they can rear their young or escape Highway (Highway 2) to Coles Corner. Follow and walked toward it to discover the hectic pace of the stronger currents. Highway 207 (pass the Forest Service Offi ce) an enormous pond with beaver and The Ware Walk is named in honor of John & to White River Road. Follow this road to Sears Mary Ware, pioneers in the fi elds of recreation and Creek, cross the bridge and follow the road till the muskrat. I returned time after time range management. Their lives were intertwined end. There you will fi nd parking and the fi rst trail to that peaceful place so hidden and in the Upper Wenatchee Valley for decades. John signs. protected that few knew it was there.” passed away several years ago, but Mary is still an —Mary Ware

…Saturday in the park… ““SaturdaySaturday iinn every day’s the Fourth of July People reaching, people touching, a real celebration waiting for us all. tthehe PPark”ark” - Robert Lamm (Chicago)

Lake Wenatchee ooking for something different to do on your Saturdays this summer? Join us at Interpretive Programs Lthe Lake Wenatchee State Park for fun and informative campfi re programs designed for all ages. The U.S. Forest Service, Washington State by Terri Halstead Parks, and the Northwest Interpretive Association Information Assistant offer interpretive programs every Saturday during July and August. The programs are pre- sented in a 300-seat outdoor amphitheater at Lake Wenatchee us celebrate Smokey’s 60th birthday on August State Park, located on 7th this year, complete with cupcakes and visits the edge of beauti- from Smokey’s animal friends. It’s an event for the ful Lake Wenatchee. whole family! They provide a The Smokey Bear programs begin at 11am variety of cultural (wildfi res and weather permitting), and the eve- dance, live musicians, ning programs start at 8 pm every Saturday in July storytellers, natural and August. The programs usually last about an and cultural history hour. Admission is by a $1.00-per-person suggest- programs, and mov- ed donation. Washington State Parks will waive the The view from Lake Wenatchee State Park ies. The schedule changes each summer, so contact $5.00 day-use parking fee for visitors parked while the Lake Wenatchee Ranger Station at (509) 763- attending these programs. 3103 for this year’s line up. Come and enjoy the entire day at the Lake Another highlight for visitors to Lake Wenatchee State Park with hiking, horseback rid- Wenatchee is the Saturday morning program when ing, picnicking, or swimming at the beach. Bring Smokey Bear and his fi refi ghter friends teach along a blanket and a jacket for those chilly nights about fi re prevention and campfi re safety. Kids - and mosquito repellent, just in case! From High- can spray water from a real fi re hose, take pictures way 2, drive 3½ miles north on Highway 207. Turn with Smokey, get an up-close look at fi re engines, left on Cedar Brae Road and follow to the South 20 ■ Cascade Lookout and take home a Smokey Bear “goody bag.” Help Lake Wenatchee State Park. ilderness management can be tricky. Let’s contrast the example of Lake Mary with Failing to act at the right time with the the exceedingly popular Enchantment Lake basin. A TTaleale ooff TTwowo Wright tool can result in long-term dam- Unlike Lake Mary, impacts from stock and com- age to wilderness character. Using two examples mercial grazing were not a management issue in from two different lake basins in the Alpine Lakes the Enchantments – access was too steep and LLakeake BBasinsasins Wilderness we can see how managerial adjust- rocky. However, in the 1960s and 70s, literally ments brought each area toward a more desired hundreds of people were camping at one time in by Lisa Therrell Wilderness Manager condition. the three square mile basin. Campsites occupied Lake Mary, a subalpine lake basin, fi rst suffered virtually every fl at dry spot. impacts from sheep grazing from the 1880s until By the early 1980s, the vegetative condition had the 1950s. In the 1960s, the area became popular declined to a rating of “poor” despite campfi re for hikers, so managers responded by installing closures, installation of toilets, trail hardening, and picnic tables, a hitch rack, and garbage pits. By the group size limits. Measurable fecal coliform from 1980s, the area was now part of the Alpine Lakes human and dog feces were even found in the lakes. Wilderness, and a strategy was needed to reduce Because the basin consists of mostly thin and impacts. Campfi re prohibitions were implement- dry soils, restoration only succeeded in the wettest ed, a toilet was installed, the access trail was moved of locations. to a more durable location, and damaged campsites In 1987, a limited entry permit system was were restored by transplanting salvaged plants implemented allowing no more than 60 people from the trail project. Since the area had been overnight at one time. Group size was further designated as wilderness, all structures other than reduced to eight. To protect fragile meadows toilets were removed. Additional wilderness-wide education messages were strengthened, coaching regulations further restricted use. Group size was people on how to walk and camp, and even where limited to a total of twelve people and stock, and to urinate (the mountain goats paw up vegetation two hundred-foot setbacks from lakes were in- to eat the salt in urine). stalled for stock access. A regulation was adopted Today, visitors notice improvements in the making it illegal to enter a closed restoration site. condition of the vegetation. Trail hardening These strategies worked somewhat, but erosion and a cairn system keep most traffi c on durable and compaction, continued use in closed sites, and routes. Well-established campsites accommodate a loss of organic soil hampered recovery. In 1993, the reduced use level. Prohibiting campfi res and additional strategies were adopted: a quarter-mile providing toilets further limits impacts. This area stock setback: designated campsites to concentrate will always pose management challenges, but the use; and delineation of trails and campsites with overall trend of wilderness quality is no longer barriers such as logs or rock. A more intensive ap- declining. In this case, management actions other proach to restoration work was implemented that than restoration proved to be a more effective tool included seeding, planting, erosion control, site due to the harsh conditions. Prusik Peak in the Enchantment Lakes area. closures, and signage. This tale illustrates that no simple ‘one-size- Photo by John Lindsey Fast forward to year 2002. The revised manage- fi ts-all’ approach works for managing wilderness. ment strategy is a success! The restoration work A successful strategy in one location may not is fl ourishing. Visitors know where they can walk succeed elsewhere. Improvements can be made excerpted from a draft publication on and camp. The lake side area is dominated by na- by adjusting management actions over time. Of wilderness restoration to be published by tive vegetation. Well-located trails replace a huge course, the real lesson is to prevent damage in the the Forest Service Missoula Technology and Development Center. Lisa Therrell is bare dirt campsite that blocked access to the lake. fi rst place, as remedies are expensive, painful, and principal author Visitors now comment that Lake Mary looks far take years for results. better than it did 15 years ago!

he second annual Leavenworth Spring Bird saunter through the forests and shorelines, shop- Fest, centered in the stunningly beautiful ping for works by local wildlife artists, and meeting NNatureature TTourismourism Ttown of Leavenworth, Washington was held birds live and up close that are being rehabilitated Mothers Day weekend of 2004. The event featured from injury. The festival concluded with a song- workshops, fi eld trips, art shows and other bird- bird concert at Canyon Wren Recital Hall. SSoarsoars aatt related activities. In association with International Migratory Bird Day on May 8th, the Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest seeks to teach us all about the LLeavenwortheavenworth conservation and preservation of the birds that nest here every spring. Partici- SSpringpring BBirdird FFestest pants gained a greater understanding of why Neotropical migratory songbirds come to the Wenatchee River watershed by Susan Peterson for a very important, and brief, part of Public Affairs Specialist their year – to breed and fl edge.

Bird Fest is a unique partnership between Audubon Washington, the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust, Okanogan & Wenatchee National Forests, the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce, North Cascades Birding is the number one leisure activity in National Park Service Complex, the United States, and both fl edgling birders and the North Central Washington experts enjoyed the unique range of events. The Audubon Society, U.S. Fish and weekend was fi lled to the brim with a host of ac- Wildlife Service and Upper Valley tivities from Birding by Boat, to an Owl Prowl, to Arts. For more information fl y to a Mother’s Day Wildfl ower Walk. Tours included a our website at... visit to the future Leavenworth Audubon Center, a leavenworthspringbirdfest.com

Cascade Lookout ■ 21 A visit to the top of Edgar Rock rewards those Edgar, who was married to a Yakama Indian, who are inclined to struggle up a steep trail for an learned of the war party and returned to his A VViewiew ttoo tthehe outstanding view. The peak overlooks the small military group with the news. They fl ed back to mountain community of Cliffdell, 26 miles west of Steilacoom to resume the war at a later time. Pos- PPastast ffromrom Naches, WA. Edgar Rock and the community of sibly in retaliation for this deed, John Edgar was Cliffdell have a unique place in local geology, and killed in what is now called the Yakima Indian War Washington State history. of 1856. Edgar Rock, a remnant of an old volcano, EEdgardgar RRockock Native Americans once camped along the was named in his honor. Naches River near Cliffdell. Those early resident campgrounds weren’t located on the river bank Hiking Edgar Rock by Mike Hiler Special Uses Coordinator, as is common today. At that time the river’s edge Choose one of two ways to get to Edgar Rock. and was relatively unpopular because it was here that These trails are free of snow by June, and either Doug Jenkins grizzly bears and wolves scavanged for salmon, hike is suitable for late spring. Lost Creek Route - Information Assistant and large numbers of dead fi sh rotted in the sun. If you choose the more Instead they chose to camp away “aerobic” route, drive west from Naches on from the river at various fresh Highway 410, or east from Cliffdell. At the old water springs, such as the one at River Road #1704 (just west of Gold Run) turn Spring Creek. It was around this south and drive west across the Naches River and spring that the Cliffdell commu- through the Fontaine area. This was the site of nity developed. the old Fontaine Ranch. The old ranch house still The old Naches Pass Trail stands near the road. At the turn to “Lost Creek once followed the south side of Village,” turn left (Road #1704-311) and drive one the Naches River near Cliffdell, mile down river to Lost Creek to a small parking directly across from Whistlin’ Jack area with a trail sign. This hike takes several hours Lodge, a popular lodge located in and climbs almost 800 vertical feet over its 2 mile the heart of this mountain com- climb. The views are outstanding. munity. The pioneer trail was used Upper Trailhead Route - To approach the by the Wilkes “Pacifi c Exploration peak from the upper road system, depart from Expedition” in 1841. The Long- Highway 410 at the Boulder cave turnoff, one mile mire wagon train also passed near west of Whistlin’ Jack’s Lodge. Cross the Naches here, heading to western Wash- River, turn right on road #1704 and drive 1/2 mile. ington in the fall of 1853. In those Before you reach Camp Roganunda turn left on days the trail was simply a travel road #1706. At approximately 4 miles you will way, but old maps indicate that it reach road #1709. Stay on #1706 two more miles passed near the present location of and look for the Lost Creek Trail sign on the left. the Crag Summer Homes. Park here and hike to the north. In 1856, a singular histori- A detailed map, such as the Naches Ranger Dis- This historic photo of Edgar Rock was taken by Asahel Curtis cal event occurred near Cliffdell, trict topographic map is invaluable here, but you which resulted in the naming of Edgar Rock. can follow road numbers to get to the trailhead. That year John Edgar, an army scout, was rid- Allow approximately 3 hours round trip. Forest ing ahead of a military detachment sent to the Pass not required. Yakima area from Fort Steilacoom. In the vicinity Edgar Rock Lookout, at 3,840 feet elevation, of Saw Mill Flat, Edgar encountered scouts from was a summer fi re watch station between 1934 a group of hostile Indians who wanted to greet and 1951. Its proximity to the old Naches Ranger the military with force. Station made it a popular site for “fi re watch” dur- ing dry periods, weekends, or after local lightning storms. The old lookout station is now gone but some bits and pieces remain to remind us of the old Fire Watch System and the lookouts who worked there.

ange allotments on National Forest lands have a history as long as the Forest Service Ritself. The general public may rarely see the livestock or even the evidence that livestock is out there, with the exception of the occasional fence RRangeange AllotmentAllotment or cattle guard. What might look like recreation to a lot of people, cowboys pushing their livestock through the forest terrain, is actually an ongoing MMaintenanceaintenance PProtectsrotects effort between the Forest Service and the Permit- tee to protect and maintain the integrity of our RResourcesesources forest grazing lands. In the 2003 season, one such project was There are structures and developments within located at 2 Point Springs. It was necessary to by Carla Jaeger the allotments that the permittees are responsible remove the dilapidated wire fence that surround- Range Technician for maintaining. Often a combination of natural ed the spring. In the best interest of wildlife, events such as those associated increased life of the fence and to reduce annual with wind, snow and wildlife repairs, it was decided to replace the fence with a can render a fence non-func- large buck and pole fence. The permittee cut and tional and major repairs or delivered the supplies to the site. The volunteer reconstruction are needed. crew took down the old fence and built the new With the busy schedule of buck and pole fence, and the Forest Service fi re the permittees through the crew removed the old fence debris from the site. summer months, the Forest Through the cooperation of everyone involved, Service will work cooperative- we now have a new buck and pole structure for ly to coordinate the permittees spring protection that is also wildlife friendly. and volunteer groups to ac- This structure should last for years to come with complish some of these repairs only a fraction of the maintenance needed by the and reconstructions. previous wire fence.

22 ■ Cascade Lookout isitors to the Naches Ranger District Extended outbreaks combined with drought have commented on the number of trees conditions may result in weakening trees to the WWhyhy AreAre tthehe Vthat are turning brown and appear to be point they are susceptible to bark beetle attacks dying. This has been most noticeable along the that cause mortality. White Pass and Chinook Pass Highways and in the While it is diffi cult to accurately predict the Bumping drainages, although trees in the Rattle- future of this infestation, some observations are TTreesrees TTurningurning snake, Oak Creek, Nile Creek, and South Fork becoming increasingly clear. Areas where the Tieton River drainages are also turning brown. trees are more widely spaced with a sparse under- BBrown?rown? The tree discoloration is caused by the larval story tend to support much lower populations of (caterpillar) stage of the western spruce budworm spruce budworm and recover more quickly than feeding on the new growth needles at the tips of densely stocked areas. These local observations by John Durkee Forester/Vegetation Management the tree branches. Douglas-fi r and grand fi r are and research results indicate that the most effec- and preferred host species, but Engelmann spruce and tive long-term method of minimizing the adverse Connie Mehmel western larch needles can also be affected. The effects of western spruce budworm and similar Entomologist current outbreak became noticeable on the Naches defoliating insects is to Ranger District in 1999 and has affected over modify the habitat that 200,000 acres. supports them. This habitat modi- fi cation involves stra- tegic thinning of dense forests, particularly those with signifi cant amounts of grand fi r and Douglas-fi r. Reduc- ing the number of host trees and the amount of understory vegetation limits the competition Western spruce budworm adults are triangular, for available moisture rusty-colored moths about ½ inch long. They and nutrients. This tips emerge in late July or early August, living only the balance in favor of long enough to mate and lay eggs. The tiny, new- the forest rather than ly-hatched larvae spin silken shelters under bark the insect pests. and branches where they hibernate for the winter. Complete eradication In the spring they emerge and spend 30 to 40 days of the spruce budworm feeding on needles, buds and cones, reaching a is neither practical nor mature size of 1 to 1 ¼ inches. Then they form desirable. Treatment hard cases, called pupae and, in about ten days, the with pesticides has proven expensive and largely adult moth emerges. ineffective. The goal is to have thinned areas dis- Additional information available Budworm outbreaks appear to be related to a tributed across the landscape to serve as barriers to USDA Forest Service website: combination of the high survival rate of the larvae extensive and destructive infestations. Currently, na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/fi dls/westbw/fi dl-wbw.htm and an abundance of multi-aged Douglas-fi r and tree thinning is completed or planned for approxi- grand fi r. A steady increase of these ‘host’ trees mately 15,000 acres of the insect- and fi re-prone The following handouts are available at Naches has occurred where wildfi res have been suppressed dry forest stands on the Naches District and ad- Ranger Station: Western Spruce Budworm, and timber harvest reduced. Most outright mor- ditional projects are being developed. The thin- and Western Spruce Budworm – Frequently tality has occurred in smaller trees (less than 12 ning will reduce the intensity and spread of both Asked Questions. feet tall) that generally have less well-developed wildfi res and insects such as spruce budworms. Private landowners may contact Karen Ripley, crowns and root systems. Larger trees seem to Forest Health Program, Resource Protection Divi- withstand the defoliation with little more than sion, Department of Natural Resources, PO Box scattered branch or top kill. 47037, Olympia, Washington 98504-7037.

he White Pass Company has requested Public scoping was conducted during in the fall an expansion of their current Special Use and winter of 2003. Alternatives to the proposal WWhitehite PPassass TPermit for the White Pass Ski Area in re- are being developed in response to issues raised sponse to growing public demand for more diverse through the scoping process. The analysis will downhill skiing opportunities, as well as a need to be documented in a Draft Environmental Impact EExpansionxpansion provide additional terrain to reduce skier density Statement (DEIS) and is planned to be available within the ski area. The White Pass Ski Area lies for public review and comment in June 2004. The on the crest of the Cascade Mountains, on Na- DEIS will be followed by a Final Environmental AAnalysisnalysis tional Forest System Lands of the Naches Ranger Impact Statement and after thorough review, a District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Record of Decision will be signed by the Forest UUnderwaynderway Forests, and the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District of Supervisors of the Okanogan-Wenatchee and Gif- the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. ford Pinchot National Forests. Although public The proposed expansion area lies within the input is welcome throughout the process, it is by Sue Ranger Cowlitz Valley Ranger District. It includes: most helpful to our analysis if it is received during Recreation Planner the public comment period. An addition of approximately 700 acres to the To learn more about existing permit area the White Pass Expansion Construction of two new chairlifts and associ- Project, visit the Wenatchee ated ski trails National Forest website at: www.fs.fed.us/r6/ A mid-mountain warming facility within the wenatchee/planning/white- expansion area pass/. Comments may be Additional expanded parking emailed to scoping_com- [email protected]. You may also contact the Naches Ranger District at 10237 Highway 12, Naches, Wash- ington, 98937 or telephone (509) 653-1400. Cascade Lookout ■ 23 Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests Forest Headquarters Naches Ranger District 215 Melody Lane 10237 Highway 12 Wenatchee, WA 98801 Naches, WA 98937 (509)(509) 664-9200664-9200 (509)(509) 653-1400653-1400 (509)(509) 664-9201664-9201 (TTY)(TTY) (509)(509) 653-1401653-1401 (TDD)(TDD) Chelan Ranger District 428 W. Woodin Avenue Okanogan Valley Offi ce Chelan,Chelan, WAWA 9881698816 1240 South Second Avenue (509)(509) 682-2576682-2576 (Voice/TDD)(Voice/TDD) Okanogan, WA 98840 Entiat Ranger District (509)(509) 826-3275826-3275 Entiat Ranger District (509)(509) 662-4396662-4396 (TTY)(TTY) 2108 Entiat Way Entiat,Entiat, WAWA 9882298822 Methow Valley (509)(509) 784-1511784-1511 (Voice/TTY)(Voice/TTY) Ranger District Lake Wenatchee 24 West Chewuch Rd. Ranger District Winthrop, WA 98862 Ranger District (509)(509) 996-4003996-4003 22976 State Highway 207 Leavenworth,Leavenworth, WAWA 9882698826 (509)(509) 763-3103763-3103 (Voice/TTY)(Voice/TTY) Tonasket Ranger District 1 W. Winesap Leavenworth Tonasket,Tonasket, WAWA 9885598855 Ranger District (509)(509) 486-2186486-2186 (509) 486-5144 (TTY) 600 Sherbourne (509) 486-5144 (TTY) Leavenworth,Leavenworth, WAWA 9882698826 Methow Valley (509) 548-6977 (Voice/TDD) Methow Valley (509) 548-6977 (Voice/TDD) Visitor Center Cle Elum Bldg. 49 Hwy. 20 Ranger District P.O. Box 579 Winthrop, WA 98862 803 W. 2nd Street Winthrop, WA 98862 (509) 996-4000 CleCle Elum,Elum, WAWA 9892298922 (509) 996-4000 Open May—Oct. (509)(509) 674-4411674-4411 Open May—Oct. (509)(509) 674-9770674-9770 (TTY)(TTY)

Cover photo: Prusik Peak by Dan O’Connor The CASCADE LOOKOUT is an annual publication of the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests. Managing Editor: Barbara Kenady-Fish Production/Design: Dan O’Connor The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service is a diverse or ga ni za tion committed to equal opportunity in em ploy ment and program delivery. USDA prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political affi liation and familial status. Persons believing they have been discriminated against should contact the Secretary, US De part ment of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250, or call 202-720-7327 (voice), or 202-720-1127 (TTY). 24 ■ Cascade Lookout