Forest Health / Woody Biomass Projects

The SCW RC&D is a continuing partner in the efforts of the Tapash Sustainable Forest Collaborative, an incredible effort led by The Nature Conservancy with participation from the Yakama Nation, the USDA Forest Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Washington Department of Natural Resources. The primary focus of the Tapash Collaborative is to create an interactive, trust-based structure that can work on pressing threats to forests located on the east slopes of the Cascades in the state of Washington. The Tapash Collaborative’s mission is to restore forest health and protect eastern Cascades forested ecosystems from imminent conversion.

The SCW RC&D has assisted this effort by helping to direct funds for a feasibility study that will give the Tapash Collaborative, and their partners, a better understand of the potential to develop additional sustainable, value-added technologies and enterprises in the region.  Availability and the costs associated with the recovery of woody biomass material generated as a result of landscape level treatments is a primary consideration in the potential development of value-added projects.  The study will help identify the potential availability of a sustainable long-term supply of woody biomass material generated in the Tapash study area.  In addition, the potential to site value-added utilization facilities in the region is of prime interest to both The Nature Conservancy and the Tapash Collaborative.

The 'Woody Supply Assessment for Commercial-Scale Biomass Power Cogeneration and Biomass Utilization Projects in Central Washington' report is now available for download.  Click on image below.  [This is a large document (pdf 8.4MB), if it doesn't open in your browser, save to desktop first and then open. Contact coordinator if you have trouble opening.]

The Woody Biomass Utilization Feasibility study was made possible by a grant from the Yakima Valley Community Foundation.  The Yakima Valley Community Foundation is a charitable foundation committed to improving the economic, social, health, and educational quality of life for residents of Yakima County, with special attention to unmet needs, and to help donors achieve their philanthropic goals.

The South Central Washington RC&D is also partnering with the Tapash Collaborative on a number of other projects to help us achieve our mutual mission of healthy watersheds.  Please stop by a board meeting to find out more about these projects.

Natural resources now and for the future!