The Climate Commitment Act and the Infrastructure Recovery Act come with federal funding for creating crossing structures, corridors, etc. Brian could write an ILC or support thesis students interested in wildlife research on these two sites.

  1. South Thurston County, Rochester. This is the site that Garrett Brummel was observing. A former farm/current brownfield in recovery with a large pond, some oaks, and what was originally Mima prairie. One area on the property is very active and needs SD cards and batteries maintained. It is a big property that hosts an elk herd and borders I-5. Depending on student interest, more camera traps could be set up on this large property.  For now, I will maintain the camera traps.
  2. Weyerhauser land near Castle Rock. This is a new parcel of land that Conservation Northwest is acquiring for conservation. This is large contiguous forested acreage (if I remember correctly, the conservation easement is ~10,000 acres) near I-5 where WSDOT data shows a wildlife-vehicle collision hotspot.  It hasn’t been studied yet. This is one of the areas that will have enhanced crossing structures over/under I-5; very exciting!

Contact Brian Stewart at: bstewart@conservationnw.org