Crab Creek Summit: Past, Present, & Future of a Vital Watershed
- Columbia Basin Conservation District
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
On June 3 and 4, 2025, the Columbia Basin Conservation District (CBCD) hosted the Crab Creek Summit—two days of meaningful conversation, learning, and connection focused on the past, present, and future of the Crab Creek watershed. Held at the Wanapum Heritage Center and in the field at Frenchman Hills #1 public access site, the summit welcomed around 80 attendees representing landowners, farmers, agency partners, conservation professionals, and tribal voices.
The first day took place inside the beautiful Wanapum Heritage Center. Guests were welcomed with opening remarks from CBCD’s Kristina Ribellia and Jason Buck, followed by a full lineup of presentations that explored the watershed’s cultural history, current challenges, and restoration efforts. Jodi Prout from the Washington State Conservation Commission introduced the Ripple Effect campaign, while Don Stewart, a longtime landowner along Lower Crab Creek, offered a rich personal history of the area. Lightning, a local tribal member, spoke about the Wanapum’s wildlife monitoring work, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) Dave Burgess presented findings on native Chinook salmon in Crab Creek.
After a wonderful lunch provided by the Wanapum Heritage Center, the conversation turned toward land and water management with talks on weed control, wetland protection, and riparian restoration. The CBCD team shared updates on local water quality projects, and the day concluded with an open discussion. Participants were eager to engage, ask questions, and share ideas, showing the need for more spaces where landowners and agency partners can have real conversations.
The second day of the summit brought attendees to the Frenchman Hills #1 Public Access site, where they explored ongoing stewardship efforts along Lower Crab Creek. Kaley Wisher, CBCD led a riparian planting demonstration, activity, and interpretive walk. A standout moment was Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife’s demonstration of the Marsh Master, a specialized amphibious vehicle used to manage invasive wetland vegetation. Seeing conservation work in action gave participants a deeper appreciation for the scope of these efforts and the strong partnerships that make them possible.
The Crab Creek Summit served as a powerful reminder of how important it is to care for and protect this unique watershed—not just for today, but for generations to come. CBCD hopes to make the summit an annual event and is already looking ahead to what next year’s gathering might hold!
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