Entiat Tyee Ranch Conservation Easement

This project has been an investigation with the goal of protecting extensive riverbank, floodplain and wetlands on the Tyee Ranch at river miles 21.8-23 of the Entiat River. Contiguous parcels include approximately 7,000 feet of riverbank, on two sides except about 1,040 feet where CDLT owns the other side, for a total of about 13,000 feet.

The Biological Strategy identifies the Stillwaters (RM 16-25) as a Category 1 watershed that is critical habitat for spring chinook slamon, steelhead and bull trout. The highest priority is to protect fluvial processes and floodplain function. The January 2009 Tributary Assessment by the Bureau of Reclamation identifies this reach as having high complexity and unconfined active floodplain partially limited by the levees that Cascadia Conservation District is proposing to remove. The RTTs 2009 priorities rank as Tier 1 to protect large pristine areas and also those that have some degradation and an opportunity to conduct restoration activities. This property fits both descriptions.

The goal is to determine the feasibility of a conservation easment on the largest remaining private holding in the Entiat Stillwaters.