Page 2 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - July-August 2025

2

LAND
From page 1
Northwest to acquire and protect
important conservation lands in
support of shared conservation
goals. The objective of the project
is to create a wildlife corridor that
connects the Olympic Mountains
to the Cascade Mountains. Ideally,
this might include a future wildlife
bridge over I-5 that would give elk,
bear, mountain lions and other
wildlife the chance to access their
historical migration corridors.
Vine Maple Farms, owned by
the Erickson Family, is 95 acres.
The farm was purchased in 1890
from the railroad. The original
family home was built in 1893. Five Chehalis Tribal Elder Elaine McCloud offered a prayer before representatives from the state, Conservation
generations of the Erickson family Northwest and the Chehalis Tribe spoke about the significance of the land acquisition.
have lived there. The matriarch of
the family, Mrs. Janice Erickson, Tribe because we know that this be so intense that animals no with wildlife and helping animals
welcomed visitors to the land. was originally the Chehalis Tribe’s longer even try to cross. They just safely navigate the highway
Chehalis Tribal Elder Elaine property. Welcome to each and approach the highway, then turn systems. Where we are standing
McCloud opened the event with every one of you.” around and go back so it forms a is one of our critical wildlife
a prayer and said: “Very thankful nearly complete barrier to wildlife. corridors between the Olympics,
for everyone that showed up, our Margan Carlson Furthermore, we have seen a lot the Cascades and beyond. This
Tribal Elders, Tribal fishermen, Director of of development in many forms area is one of our highest-priority
and friends we have not met yet.” that contribute to habitat loss and locations in the state. The greatest
Several speakers gave Conservation fragmentation and can disconnect barrier to wildlife is here. We can
background and context to the Policy for even some of our amazingly all hear it (I-5 traffic noise). Here,
collaboration. Washington state protected large spaces. So, despite I-5 carries about 70,000 vehicles

Marla LeFevre Department of these challenges, we do know that per day. Studies have indicated
through thoughtful and science-
that 10,000 vehicles per day can
Janice Erickson’s Fish & Wildlife based planning, we can provide be a complete barrier to wildlife
enough space for both people and
granddaughter “I would like to speak briefly these large, protected landscapes movement. A Wildlife Crossing
Structure Feasibility Study was
“We were about how important this that are needed to support completed in November 2024.
connectivity work is to our
thrilled that we mission. The legislation has given Washington’s wildlife. Protecting The main goal of the study was
were contacted us the responsibility on behalf these landscapes is essential to look at this stretch of I-5
by Conservation of all of you and all the people to protecting resilient wildlife and identify and recommend
Northwest talking to preserve, protect, perpetuate populations and is even more ideal wildlife locations based on
about these 93 acres that is mostly and manage all Washington critical as wildlife need to move to biological data and engineering
pristine land, forest, fields. We state wildlife. None of us can do adapt to climatic conditions.” limitations. There were four
knew this was going to be a great this alone. The leadership at the possible sites identified at that
solution for having some safe Tribe, Conservation Northwest, Ahmer Nizam time. Two of those sites have been
wildlife habitat.” Department of Transportation and Environmental developed and are no longer viable
She provided history of the land many others and the leadership Services Director options. Two locations remain
and her family and said, “My family that we each are showing already around mile post 96.1 and at
settled here in 1890. It was Anna and are going to have to keep at Washington 92.8 which is associated with the
and Andrew Erickson who came showing to realize connectivity state Department location where we are standing, ¼
from Sweden and purchased 80 and to maintain it across the of Transportation mile from where we are. As part of
acres from the railroad. We have landscape is such a big deal.” that feasibility study, we identified
had five generations of our family “I want to potential structure types and
here and we feel very fortunate we Julia Michalak express gratitude to the spirits high-level cost estimates to get
have been able to steward this land. of this land – past, present and us a little farther along this path
We always wanted to maintain Section Manager future – whom we honor today of ultimately building structures
respect for the animals that live for Priority with our intentions and our once we get the funding. What
here. We did not want to do any Habitats and sincere wish that we may honor we recommended was a structure
kind of development or any kind tomorrow with our actions.” about 150 feet wide and 350 long
of hazards for the animals. Now Species at WDFW to cross six lanes of traffic. That is
that it’s just my mom and I (she’s Julia spoke Glen Kalisz about the size of the Snoqualmie
88 years old and she has lived about the WSDOT, Habitat crossing. We know that a structure
in the blue house for 60 years), Washington State Habitat like that with the right habitat
we are thrilled. This was just a Connectivity Action Plan. Connectivity features can facilitate wildlife
fantastic solution to invite the Tribe “Thousands of animals are hit Biologist – Fish & movement for all species in this
and Conservation Northwest to each year by vehicles. It causes Wildlife Program area, from salamanders all the
bring this property back to how injuries to people and wildlife way up to elk and everything in
it was naturally. This is a full- in Washington state at great “I typically between. That type of structure
circle moment that this property economic costs to our state. On say my job is crossing six lanes of I-5 can cost
should belong to the Chehalis interstates like I-5, the traffic can finding ways to reduce collisions up to 30 million, but compared