In an absolutely groundbreaking move, the Western Rivers Conservancy (WRC), the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) have managed to do the impossible: they have protected a measly two miles of the Okanogan River and some piece of land called McLoughlin Falls Ranch. Wow, impressive.

This 727-acre property, located approximately 30 miles from the Canada-US border, apparently boasts some towering trees and some cliffs that rise like sagebrush-covered stairsteps. Whoop-de-doo. WRC purchased McLoughlin Falls Ranch in 2022, and on March 3, it was conveyed to WDFW and the Colville Tribes, meaning that nobody else gets to enjoy it. Yay for conservation!

McLoughlin Falls Ranch is part of some wildlife movement corridor that apparently spans from the Cascade Mountains to the Kettle River Range. And the animals that roam around there are just so darn precious, like mule deer, mountain lions, elk, bighorn sheep, some endangered bird, and the country’s healthiest population of Canada lynx. Because, you know, the lynx population is something the majority of the population is so concerned about.

But what really makes McLoughlin Falls Ranch so special is not its breathtaking scenery, but how it has always been integral to the communities of fish, wildlife, and people. Who knew the fish were so social? In any case, conservation means that this area will remain a haven for imperiled animals and ancestral lands will be returned to their original stewards. Whatever that means.

Despite intense pressure, the Okanogan River supports federally threatened Upper Columbia River Steelhead as well as one of only two self-sustaining runs of sockeye salmon left in the Columbia Basin. And conserving the habitat of these fish is crucial to their survival. But don’t worry, now that a portion of the ranch is under the stewardship of WDFW, boaters are permitted to stop and rest or picnic near the property’s namesake falls. Whoop-de-freaking-doo.

But seriously, this project was only made possible by funding and support from some organizations that work to protect wildlands and wildlife across Washington state and into British Columbia. Kudos to them, I guess.

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