The Methow Valley Ranger District has released a Draft Decision Notice and Final Environmental Assessment for the Twisp Restoration Project. The Project has been significantly updated and modified since it was first proposed in October 2020. In response to the Cedar Creek Fire (2021), which burned into the planned area, the size of the project was reduced by about 50% and now primarily focuses on the risk from wildfire in the lower watersheds of the Twisp drainage, closest to the homes and the towns of Twisp and Winthrop.

The 24,140-acre Project Area includes the lower Twisp River, Alder Creek, Newby Creek, Poorman Creek, and Myers Creek drainages and the eastern slope of McClure Mountain. A small area lies at the west end of Twisp River Road. In response to public comment, additional changes include reducing the duration of the project from 30 to 20 years, dropping proposed ATV routes and reducing the maximum diameter in all overstory thinning prescriptions to 21” diameter at breast height (dbh). Trees that are 21.1-25” dbh can be removed if they have a high dwarf mistletoe rating and are within 30 feet of a healthy tree over 18″ dbh.

Monitoring of the Project is Vital

The Project still includes several elements that will require us to work in close partnership with the Methow Valley Ranger District to make sure they are done right. Our concerns include the harvesting of overstory trees along sensitive riparian areas, tractor logging on steep slopes up to 45 degrees, and continuous log hauling though residential neighborhoods. It is vital that stand improvement treatments–areas of noncommercial, small tree removal and fuels reduction–are completed as these treatments are important for forest health and fire resiliency.

MVCC is working with North Central Washington Forest Health Collaborative to develop a monitoring program. We are looking for a team of people interested in setting up photo monitoring points and sample plots that will measure forest vegetation trends such as tree density and size. Those interested and excited to participate in forest monitoring and photo points should contact Sam Israel at sam@mvcitizens.org

New Funding Will Help to Implement these Restoration Projects
The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has received additional federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which will allow them to conduct thinning and prescribed burning on 24,000 acres across the Forest this year. The Okanogan-Wenatchee NF plans to treat 124,000 acres through 2024. Total funding will be $102.6 million.

This funding will be used almost immediately to help implement local restoration projects and fill in funding gaps. Funds will support environmental review of the Twisp Restoration Project and could also be used to start work on the ground if a decision is signed this summer. Funds will also support ongoing work on Mission Restoration Project.

The Twisp and Mission Projects are part of the regional Central Washington Initiative which includes 2.45 million acres of federal, state, tribal and other lands stretching from Winthrop to Yakima. This landscape has been prioritized for federal funds because it has projects that are ready for implementation, have been collaboratively developed, and bring investment to underserved communities.  Learn more about the Central Washington Initiative here.