The Instream Wood Bank Network — sourcing wood for aquatic restoration across Washington’s South Cascades

There is a pressing need to restore fish habitat on a large scale. There are fallen trees over roads and logs on timberlands that can’t be sold for lumber—all of which could be used to help build this habitat. But, there has never been a system in place to connect these two ends.

And that is exactly what the Instream Wood Bank Network is designed to accomplish.

We source non-lumber wood from a variety of landowners, and manage a series of 'wood banks' to store wood until it is ready to be used for aquatic restoration work.

By matching downed wood with stream habitats, we can help increase the pace and scale of aquatic restoration across the region.

At its heart, the Instream Wood Bank Network is a partnership of landowners, state and federal agencies, tribes, and nonprofits.

It is one of the rare opportunities that is a win-win for landowners, local economies, and conservation. It is a deeply collaborative project that brings together a variety of stakeholders to work together in making our waterways healthier and more resilient.