Columbia Land Trust and SDS Lumber Company announced July 21 the conservation of 4,900 acres along the Klickitat River Canyon in Yakima County, Wash.
The newly conserved land completes the nearly 11,000-acre Klickitat Canyon Conservation Area, representing the final step of a multi-phase effort and the culmination of 12 years of planning, research, fundraising, and partnership, according to a press release. The conservation area brings together a culturally diverse group of stakeholders and benefits forest health, fire and climate resilience, jobs and economic opportunity, and exceptional wildlife habitat.
The forested canyon and surrounding area are the ancestral lands of the Yakama people. The vision for conserving Klickitat Canyon was developed with support from the Yakama Nation.
“The Klickitat River is (Washington’s) longest wild river, a third of which lies within the Yakama Nation reservation. It is an essential artery that supports our culture and way of life. We support and depend on partners and owners like Columbia Land Trust that strive for good stewardship. It is important to share the understanding of the importance of enhancing and protecting these significant aquatic and ecological places because a watershed like the Klickitat is the last of its kind,” said Phil Rigdon, superintendent, Yakama Nation Natural Resources.
The total Klickitat Canyon Conservation Area includes 7.8 miles of Klickitat River frontage, bringing nearly the entire upper two thirds of the river into conservation. Conserving these lands maintains connectivity for ecosystems and wildlife, bridging the Yakama Indian Reservation, a national forest, a state natural area, and a state fish and wildlife area.
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