Methow Valley

From 05/16/2014 to 05/18/2014 we traveled to the Methow Valley. The Methow River is associated with the Okanogan County watershed. It occupies 1890 square miles and is a tributary of the Columbia River. The Confederated tribes of the Colville and Yakama Nation claim that the lands were occupied and used by members of these tribes. Now, mid-upper parts of the valley are known for recreation especially cross-country skiing. 

We met with Dr. Susan Prichard from the USFS Office in Winthrop and took a few sample plots of various forest areas. We examined treated forest stand and discussed various undertory and overstory vegetation that we observed. We also took notice of any insect damage and fire regimes in place. We also discussed a little bit of the glacial history of the area. We also took a second trip to a location near the river where we bird watched for a while in the morning, which was followed by an explanation of the river and the fire history in the area. 

The entire trip was amazingly stunning. The vast amount of species we encountered was very impressive and it was a really great opportunity to understand the landscape. It was very refreshing to see a very different place than what we have seen on other field trips. 

Field Notes:

Sample Plots: