Beaver Habitat Assessments

Date: Saturday, October 4 (9:30 am) - Sunday, October 5 (3:00 pm)  

Location: High Lakes Area, Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Description: Help us find homes for beavers! We are conducting beaver habitat assessments around Gifford Pinchot National to learn where our favorite rodents are currently living and to find locations that could support beavers in the future. We will use iPads to collect data on beaver activity and habitat features in streams and meadows in the High Lakes area.

We will provide all the necessary training on Saturday morning, do some practice surveys, and then split into small teams to collect data throughout Saturday and Sunday. We will be camping at a developed campground in the High Lakes area, however it will be closed for the season so services will not be available.

We will meet at the Cowlitz Valley Ranger Station in Randle, WA and caravan to our survey site which is about an hour southeast of Randle. If you are traveling from a location closer to the southern side of the forest (Trout Lake, Hood River, etc.) please let us know if you would like to meet us in the field.

This is an overnight trip. Due to the technical nature of the survey and the necessary on-site training, we are unable to accommodate requests to join for a single day.

Work Conditions: We will be walking in and alongside streams and across meadows. Some of the survey sites are near roads while others are accessible from hiking trails. The terrain may be very uneven, slippery, or muddy. Please be prepared to hike on and off trail and to navigate under and over logs and other brush in and out of the water.

Gear: Please bring sturdy hiking boot and rubber boots or waders, appropriate layers for the weather, sun protection, a daypack to carry your gear in the field, enough food and water for Saturday and Sunday, and camping equipment. You may find a trekking pole or walking stick helpful for walking around the survey sites.

CFC will provide iPads and any other survey equipment we might need. We also have rubber boots available to borrow. Your registration confirmation will include a complete gear list and information on how to borrow boots. 

Transportation and Vehicle Access: Please contact us at trips@cascadeforest.org if transportation is a barrier to participation. We can arrange carpools if necessary. Our survey sites are located in a remote area of Gifford Pinchot National Forest on forest roads, several miles from the nearest paved road.