Preserving the Forests and Rivers of the Upper Yakima River Basin
What We Do
Our goals are simple: restore habitat to gain as much natural function as possible and protect those places of highest importance from alteration and development.
Land Conservation
KCT works with landowners to conserve critical habitat through land purchases and conservation easements.Protection in Perpetuity
Easements and acquisitions are just some of the conservation tools that we use when working with landowners to keep important habitat lands from being developed.
Habitat Restoration
We identify priority projects that can restore natural processes and improve habitat values in the upper Yakima River Basin.Thriving Landscapes
We enhance fish and wildlife habitat through projects that create river side channels, remove fish passage barriers, place wood back in streams, restore riparian vegetation and much more.
Outreach & Education
We engage the community and visitors to help inform them about their role in protecting and managing the lands they love.Meaningful Engagement
Those living and visiting Kittitas County have a deep connection to the land, and we are furthering that by teaching how they can protect the place where they live, work and play.
Our Projects
From Snoqualmie Pass to the Roza Dam in the Yakima River Canyon, the upper Yakima River basin is home to an astounding array of natural resources that support and nourish both the wildlife and humans that frequent this area. The cold, clear headwaters of the Yakima River and its many tributaries are the lifeblood of the chinook, sockeye, and coho salmon that are born and return here to spawn after a long journey along the Yakima and Columbia Rivers to and from the ocean. Several populations of federally endangered bull trout, spend their entire lives in the in the upper Yakima basin waters. This area, on which so much wildlife depends, and where so many people live, work, and play, is where the Kittitas Conservation Trust calls home.
Who We Are
The mission of the Kittitas Conservation Trust (KCT) is to protect and enhance fish and wildlife habitat, open space, and recreational assets in the upper Yakima River basin.
Interested in Preserving Your Land?
For over 1,000 years, people have felt a deep connection to the land and waters of the Upper Yakima River basin. Today, that tradition continues, and we know that landowners want to preserve the areas that are special to them. There are a variety of options for conserving land, and we work with landowners to find the one that is right for them.
Latest News
Learn more about the important habitat and wildlife in the upper Yakima River basin and the work we are doing to protect our wild places.
Gold Creek Pond: Changing the Dynamics of a Watershed
We're sure you are familiar with flying drones, but have you heard of a floating drone? As part of the Gold Creek Restoration Project we used a boat drone to gather the floor topography (bathymetry) of Gold Creek Pond. Why do we need to know that? We will be using
River Detectives: Trying to Solve the Mysteries of Kachess
We spent some days in October in the field with Inter-Fluve to collect information on the upper Kachess River. Our staff conducted survey work, gathered GPS points, took flow measurements, conducted gravel counts and collected stream bed samples. We also gathered LiDAR data that will be used in conjunction
Tis the Season for Salmon Spawning!
Starting in September, a stroll across Cooper Bridge off Highway 903 will reveal lots of spawning sockeye salmon. These fish, which used to run up to the Cle Elum River every year in the tens of thousands have only recently returned to these waters. Prior to 2009, they had been
Our Partners
Our partners are part of what enable our success in conservation and restoration. Below are some of the organizations helping us get meaningful work done on the ground.
Support Conservation in the Upper Yakima River Basin
Become a steward of these important lands! With your help we can continue to protect the unique habitat and wildlife that make this place special to you!