The Methow Valley Ranger District has revised the scale of the Twisp Restoration Project as a result of this summer’s Cedar Creek Fire which burned approximately 10,600 acres in the northern part of the planning area. The changes include dropping the entire upper and middle Twisp River watersheds, which are comprised almost entirely of Late-Successional Reserves (old forest habitat). The revised project planning area is 24,140 acres.

All aquatic habitat projects in the original 77,000 acre planning area (pictured in the map above) as proposed in the Draft Environmental Assessment will be implemented under the Forest’s Regional Aquatic Restoration EA. While we realize treatment needs remain important in the upper and middle watersheds, we are grateful that the Methow Valley Ranger District is moving ahead quickly to accomplish the much-needed work closer to our communities. We are hopeful that the recently passed infrastructure bill can help to support vital understory thinning and burning. We will keep you up to date on any changes as this restoration project evolves.