Blue Mountain Land Trust (BMLT) is offering public tours on our protected properties! Come out to experience unique landscapes, learn about the protection, restoration, and stewardship of important natural resources from BMLT and partners. Plus, spend the day outdoors in a special place not accessible to the general public.

Join us on Saturday, November 16th, for a tour of two adjacent conservation easements—North Touchet and Touchet Orchards. These easements collectively protect approximately 1.6 river miles and 35 acres of historic floodplain and riparian habitat along the North Fork Touchet River, just upstream of Dayton, Washington. The conservation easements support river and floodplain restoration efforts prioritized and implemented by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) and include water transactions to enhance summer in-stream flow for aquatic species. For background information on the Touchet River projects, please click here.

Special kudos to Bill Warren (landowner) who received a 2024 Eisenhower Fellowships Impact Award for his role in this work.

Trip Details:

• What you will learn:

  The tour will be led by BMLT staff, property landowners, and partners from the CTUIR Department of Natural Resources. The tour will also include the participation of Salmon-Safe, an organization that works to build regional partnerships supporting place-based management practices critical to the recovery of Pacific Salmon.

  Topics include:

  • Restoration priorities of the Touchet River and connection to CTUIR First Foods Mission/River Vision

  • Landowner perspectives and motivation to pursue restoration on their properties

  • Function of conservation easement in permanently facilitating and protecting investment in floodplain restoration on private lands.

  • Water transactions that incorporated enhanced in-stream water in this river reach.

• What's Included:

  • Hot beverages and snacks

  • Unique guided tour a complex and highly impactful river restoration project.

• Meeting location:

  Meeting Location:

  We will meet on the conserved property, which is a short drive from Dayton, Wa.  Specific directions will be provided upon registration. 

• Schedule:

  9:00 am - 9:15 am: Arrive at Property

  There will not be public restroom facilities on site.  Please stop in Dayton prior to the visit  as it will be your last chance to use a restroom.

  9:15 am - 10:00 am: Welcome and Introduction
  Project partners will review the development of the restoration and conservation project. Topics  include:

  • Restoration need, and restoration focus of this priority reach of the Touchet River and connections to CTUIR First Foods Mission/River Vision

  • Landowner perspectives and motivation to pursue restoration on their properties

  • Function of the conservation easement to permanently facilitate and protect investment in floodplain restoration on private lands.

  • Water transactions that incorporated enhanced in-stream water in this river reach.

  Additionally, Kevin Scribner of Salmon-Safe will present on developing partnerships and opportunities for producers and land-owners to incorporate management practices to protect water quality, watershed health, and aquatic habitat for the benefit of Pacific Salmon.

  10:00 am - 11:30 am: Tour of restoration area and discussion of implemented restoration elements. Generally tour will move to the west along the southern perimeter of the easement area.

  Implemented Restoration Elements for discussion:

  • Levee removal

  • Large wood structures

  • Native vegetation planting and establishment

  • Ongoing invasive management

  • Easement/restoration monitoring

  • Others

  11:30am - 12:00pm - Return to parking area. Debrief on visit takeaways.

• What to bring & wear:

  ✅ Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing (prepare for cold weather and rain this time of year), appropriate footwear such as hiking or muck boots

  ✅ Gloves/Hand warmers

  ✅ Water

  ✅ Snacks

  ✅ Packs to carry water, snacks, extra socks, etc.

• Contact information:

  Please email Andrew Addessi, BMLT Stewardship and Restoration Director if you have questions. andrew@bmlt.org

• Notes

  • Phone service is spotty in and around the property. Please get in touch with us ASAP prior to the event and download directions to the property prior to departure.

  • Space is limited, please register soon. Registration closes on November 13th, 2024

  • We’re currently following CDC guidelines for all BMLT sponsored events. Please stay home if you are feeling unwell.

  For more information about this event, please get in touch with Andrew Andrew@bmlt.org

This event is generously supported by funding provided by the Salmon-Safe Columbia Basin Partner Network.

Thank you to partner presenters:

Gerald Middel, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Kevin Scribner, Salmon-Safe

Special thanks to our hosts:

Bill Warren (landowner) 

Nolan Empey (landowner)