Fire Resilience for Union Valley Community
Content, video and photos contributed by:
Gary Smith, Union Valley Landowner/Cascadia CD Cooperator
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In August 2022, multiple fires ignited along Union Valley (UV) Road. They merged and grew quickly in strong winds prompting immediate Level 3 ("Go Now") evacuation orders. Union Valley Road was closed to all through traffic. This posed the potential to be an out of control and devastating wildfire, but thankfully the road was the recipient of near immediate suppressive air and engine support.
As the work progressed and the road enhancement began to show its promise, CCD foresters contacted Gary about a 300’ shaded fuel break along the entirety of the route. CCD foresters made an informative visit to answer questions and allay owners’ concerns regarding the thinning of timber and fuels on their properties.
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Burn piles were scattered across the project site. A burn plan was developed by CCD, approved by DNR, and once again distributed to impacted landowners for the their review and consent. When appropriate weather conditions were achieved in late fall, the slash burning commenced with a CCD hired crew, a CCD burn boss, and local volunteer firefighters.
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The approachable, competent and helpful staff at CCD made this project possible. They were invaluable at turning a community’s vision for its safety into a reality by using proven best practices. They guided that vision through the technical, scientific, and bureaucratic maze with clear communications to impacted parties all throughout the journey.
- Gary Smith
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The Union Valley community benefitted greatly from CCD staffs' knowledge, support, and guidance throughout the process. We now have a viable alternate exit pathway to safety when the next wildland fire erupts. Our firefighters now have an established fuel break to use to hold flames from advancing up the hillside and into the community. The road improvements support its use by emergency vehicles. The project built new bonds between the affected landowners, the local volunteer firefighters, and with the foresters of CCD. Less tangible but no less important, collectively we have a renewed sense of community purpose and preparedness for the inevitable threat of wildfire.
-Gary Smith
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A Strong Start to Restoration Season
Written by: Alex Harwell
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This season has been off to a great start as we continue conserving and restoring important riparian habitat across Chelan County. Our Riverscapes field crew has been hard at work in multiple watersheds maintaining existing restoration sites to ensure the long-term success of past projects. Regular maintenance—including irrigation, weed control, and monitoring—is essential for helping native vegetation become established and thrive.
We were also fortunate to partner with the Washington Conservation Corps and Ecological Services LLC, whose hard work helped prepare restoration sites for the hot, dry summer months. Together, our crews mulched native plantings to retain soil moisture, collected natural materials for upcoming in-stream habitat enhancement projects, controlled invasive weeds, and installed and maintained irrigation systems at newly planted sites.
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These efforts improve riparian vegetation, stabilize streambanks, provide shade that keeps water cooler for fish, and create healthier habitat for wildlife. While much of this work happens behind the scenes, it is critical to the long-term success of restoration projects.
Do you live on or own property along a stream, river, or other waterway? We'd love to talk with you about opportunities to improve riparian habitat on your property. Contact Cascadia Conservation District at [email protected] or (509) 436-1601 to learn whether restoration projects may be a good fit for your land.
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Wildfire NCW website now live!
Building a Wildfire Ready Region Together.
This bilingual website has been in the works for nearly 5 years now, we want to extend a thank you to Our Valley Our Future, the Chelan County PUD, and all of the partners who had a voice in shaping this website. We hope it is a wonderful and useful tool for our communities. More information can be found on Wildfirencw.org, or fuegoncw.org
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Local Funding Supports: Agriculture, Education, Forests, Water, and More!
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Cascadia CD is proposing additional funding from local county rates and charges. This helps the conservation district deliver non-regulatory public services that turn county commitments into action, supporting wildfire preparedness, outdoor education to students, agricultural viability, and natural resource enhancement.
Our proposed renewal includes a modest rate increase to help keep pace with significant increased demand for conservation services.
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Now is the time to invest in the future of our community!
Our system of rates and charges is a source of sustainable funding for Cascadia CD to deliver conservation services at a county wide scale. We need your support to see that continue!
Our rates and charges proposal provides stable, flexible funding for public services that reflect local priorities like water resources, wildfire preparedness, farms, habitat, K-12 education, and more!
For more information and to find out how you can get involved please visit Cascadiacd.org or contact us at (509) 436-1601 or [email protected].
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Cascadia Named "Educator of the Year"
by WA Department of Fish & Wildlife
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Cascadia Conservation District’s wide range of educational programs connect students to wildlife and habitat restoration through highly engaging and hands on learning experiences. Students learn through skill building when they set up and analyze photos using wildlife cameras or they learn through fun when they take on the role of beavers improving stream habitat in creative games. Conservation Districts are important partners in building a generation of curious youth and adults who care about fish, wildlife and habitat in Washington.
-Lindsay Walker, WA Dept of Fish & Wildlife
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Submit your photos!
*Deadline extended to August 7th!
Help capture the natural beauty of Chelan County! The top 2 photos per category are to be featured in Cascadia's 2027 calendar.
Details and submission form here!
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Leavenworth Community Block Party
Thursday, August 20, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Osborn Playfield (between Evans & Birch St.) for free BBQ, bouncy houses, inflatable waterslide, and informational booths from local organizations.
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The Eastside Rebuild Tool Library has 900+ tools, including a recently updated Farm and Food Tool Library! Several new tools include a BCS walk behind tractor with flail mower and spreader, a dehydrator, pressure canner, and freeze dryer! to learn more or get involved, visit Eastside Rebuild's website here.
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Please take our short survey to help us better serve our community!
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