In recent years, the beaver population in the Cascadia area has fallen to just 5% of its historical levels. This loss has rippled across the landscape, leading to eroded stream banks, fewer essential in-stream woody materials, and reduced biodiversity in these vital ecosystems.
To combat this, Cascadia Conservation District has teamed up with local landowners and the Forest Service to install innovative man-made systems that replicate the natural benefits of beaver dams. So far, they’ve installed over 200 beaver dam analogs, planted 9,000 native plants along streambanks, and restored 2 miles of riparian habitat! These efforts are helping reconnect floodplains, improve stream health, and support thriving fish populations.
Delaini Disher’s photo, “Well-Attended Field Demonstration” captures the use of livestock in sustainable farming, highlighting the importance of biomass collection from a grazed cover crop field.
Mckenzi Coleman's "Exclusion Fence" photo highlights the enduring value of exclusion fencing as a tool for protecting natural resources like salmon streams and safeguarding livestock.
The winning photo from the conservation district calendar contest highlights hands-on salmon education.
