Kittitas Conservation Trust

02/13/2026

Ever wonder what types of fish are in Gold Creek Pond? We did too! Check out our blog post for answers.
https://www.kittitasconservationtrust.org/2026/02/13/whats-in-the-pond/

01/16/2026

Historic day as our partners restore Columbia River flows to enhance salmon habitat! The Bateman Island causeway has created a thermal barrier for decades to migrating salmon. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qy3Y9v_KTSHjMPHj4xmoUL_xXECVMCDr/view
Let the river run free!

12/17/2025

Celebrating 126 years of Christmas Bird Counts! On the morning of December 15th, volunteers performed a "Christmas Bird Count" at KCT's Eagle Bend Property and documented16 Species and 147 individuals!
Here's the data they shared.
79 Canada Goose
19 Mallard
2 Ring-necked Duck
6 Bufflehead
7 Common Goldeneye
4 Common Merganser
2 Great Blue Heron
1 Belted Kingfisher
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Steller's Jay
3 American Crow
4 Common Raven
15 Black-capped Chickadee
1 Mountain Chickadee
1 Red-breasted Nuthatch
1 Song Sparrow

Let us know what critters you see on our conserved lands!

12/17/2025

July through September are the dryest and hottest parts of the year, with 2025 being the third consecutive year of drought in the Yakima…

12/09/2025

Kachess River Restoration Project is complete! Thank you partners for your support!

2019-2025 After 6 years, KCT’s work on the Upper Kachess River Restoration Project is officially COMPLETE! Starting in 2019, KCT began working with the US Forest Service (the landowners for this project) to develop required agreements and permits for the project. In 2022, KCT brought on experts fr...

10/28/2025

KCT is requesting proposals from qualified engineering firms to provide professional services in support of a conceptual floodplain restoration project on a 235-acre property near Thorp, Washington. The selected firm will work in collaboration with KCT and local stakeholders to develop and evaluate restoration alternatives, ultimately delivering a 30% design plan for a selected alternative.

https://www.kittitasconservationtrust.org/request-for-proposals/

10/15/2025

Are you “Reddy”?
The Bull trout sure are! Staff at KCT are anxious for fall rains to return Good Creek flow so Bull trout can spawn. Each year a small number of fish make their way to the headwaters of Gold Creek to dig their Redds and deposit their eggs —- the next generation.

KCT, USFWS, WDFW, and Mid-Columbia Fisheries joined forces to survey for Bull trout redds this week. We found that a small number of fish made it to the headwaters before the creek dewatered this summer. Think rainy thought!

09/10/2025

We are honored to receive this award. Thank you to all the partners that continue to support our work.

09/10/2025

KCT is requesting bids for Construction Services to complete a small project near Mineral Creek Trailhead in Kittitas County, WA that will include road decommissioning, installation of drivable dips, and improving a road and parking area. Bids are due September 19th at 4:00 PM. Please follow the link below for the full RFB of the Kachess River Restoration Phase II project.
https://www.kittitasconservationtrust.org/request-for-proposals/

09/02/2025

Bidding season is open for the Gold Creek Valley Restoration Project - Phase 1. We are looking for a good contractor(s) to help us restore 2.5 miles of Gold Creek to help improve habitat and migratory conditions for Bull Trout. For more information please navigate to this address.

Preserving the Forests and Rivers of the Upper Yakima River Basin Steward Our Lands ROSLYN OFFICE Kittitas Conservation Trust 120 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 207 (Post Office Box 428) Roslyn, WA 98941-0428 (509) 649-2951

08/07/2025

KCT staff aided our federal, state, and tribal partners this week in their efforts to evaluate various techniques to defish Gold Creek Pond. KCT is very grateful for the "all hands on deck" as we determine the most effective tools to remove fish in the 27 acre, nearly 60 foot deep legacy gravel borrow pit. Learning the most effective techniques this year will allow for efficient fish removal prior to our restoration work in the summer of 2026. Thank you U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Yakama Nation Fisheries, and US U.S. Forest Service.