The I-90 Wildlife Bridges Coalition grew out of The Cascades Conservation Partnership, a four-year campaign led by Conservation Northwest that played a lead role in acquiring and protecting over 34,000 acres of forest habitat from May 2000 through 2004. Most of the protected lands are in the immediate vicinity of the I-90 project area.
Formed in 2004 and active into 2018, our coalition’s mission was to advocate for high quality wildlife connectivity measures in the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project, while ensuring the habitat adjacent to these structures contributes to their success. We attracted a diverse set of supporting organizations listed below, and support from a range of individuals from a U.S. Senator to local citizens documented on our testimonials page. Conservation Northwest was the administering organization for this coalition through the regional non-profit’s I-90 Wildlife Corridor Campaign.
The I-90 Wildlife Bridges Coalition officially closed down operations in April 2018, but Conservation Northwest and the network of permanent organizations that made up our coalition listed below continue to work together through the completed construction of the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project and in conservation throughout the I-90 corridor in the years to come.
Coalition staff
I-90 Wildlife Bridges Coalition was staffed by: Charlie Raines (Coalition Director, Sierra Club Checkerboard Project) and Jen Watkins (Coalition Coordinator, Conservation Northwest). Each remain active in the I-90 corridor through other permanent organizations.
Coalition endorsing organizations
- Alpine Lakes Protection Society
- American Rivers
- Animal Advocates of the Inland Northwest
- Center for Tribal Water Advocacy
- Conservation Northwest (administering organization)
- Crystal Conservation Coalition
- Defenders of Wildlife
- Earth Ministry
- Friends of the Carbon River
- Futurewise (formerly 1000 friends of Washington)
- Gifford Pinchot Task Force
- Humane Society of the United States
- In Defense of Animals
- Kittitas Audubon Society
- LEAF (Edmonds Community College Learn and Serve Environmental Anthropology Field School)
- League of Women Voters of Washington
- Middle Green River Coalition
- Moses Lake Audubon Society
- Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust
- North Cascades Audubon Society
- PAWS
- Rainier Audubon Society
- Seattle Audubon Society
- Sierra Club
- Tahoma Audubon
- The Cascades Conservation Partnership
- The Mountaineers
- The Nature Conservancy
- The Rewilding Institute
- WashPIRG
- Washington Environmental Council
- Wildlands Center for Preventing Roads
- Wolf Haven International
Coalition Endorsing Businesses
- BUTY Winery (Walla Walla, WA)
- Erika’s Pet Service (Seattle, WA)
- Fish Brewing Company (Olympia, WA)
- Grouse Mountain Farm (Chelan, WA)
- Mellon Private Wealth Management
- Okanogan Bottling Company (Water More Precious Than Gold)
- Olympic Outfitters (Olympia, WA)
- Outdoor Research (Seattle, WA)
- Portage Bay Goods (Seattle, WA)
- Seventh Generation (Burlington, VA)
- The Summit at Snoqualmie (Snoqualmie Pass, WA)
In addition to the above organizations, our coalition worked with many other partners with a common interest in furthering the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project and conservation of the I-90 corridor. These partnerships and our coalition’s history are highlighted in our documentary film Cascade Crossroads.
The coalition submits our financials through the Conservation Northwest board as Conservation Northwest is our 501c3 fiscal sponsor organization.
6 Comments
Kelli York · January 25, 2018 at 12:08 am
Good Afternoon Charlie and Jen,
I recently viewed the “Cascade Crossroads” documentary film, and am contacting you regarding an invitation to deliver a presentation at an upcoming Yakima Kiwanis meeting. I am always looking to strengthen community partnerships and am hoping the coalition could come and highlight its history! If you, or somebody else in your organization, would be interested, I have some dates in February or March available or any time after that. Thank you for considering, Kelli York, Kiwanis Club of Yakima Board.
Andrew Poultrridge · February 13, 2018 at 5:54 pm
Yes I would like a copy of your promotional poster for the film “Cascade Crossroads” to hang in in my workplace, the WSDOT Library. Thanks
David Christian · January 9, 2019 at 8:32 pm
I am putting together a short promo vid for the Siskiyou FilmFest, and KS Wild of Ashland, Ore. I cannot download your film from youtube and need to extract a couple clips for the promo, since your film is on the program. Could you email me a copy or a trailer that I could use for that? It would be much appreciated!
David Christian, Middle Creek Studio
Dana Davis · April 2, 2019 at 2:44 pm
How did you start getting the Wildlife Bridge started? Bergen parkway in evergreen, Colorado connects to i70. Bergen parkway also is a major crossway for a herd of elk. There is an elk crossing sign there but it seems obvious that a wildlife bridge would be safer for the animals and the people. I’m interested in trying to get the bridge built. Could you help? 303-9999-6799
Jane Wentworth · December 30, 2019 at 4:44 pm
It did our hearts good to see the film recently at the Friday Harbor Film festival. And most delighted to see our old friend Charlie still at the helm. It all started with the checkerboard! Great job everyone. Regards to Charlie. Jane & Keith Wentworth
Elaine Anthonise · July 20, 2022 at 1:44 am
I drive the stretch from Bellevue to Issaquah on the I90 daily, and see animals; raccoons, rabbits, opossums, etc. dead on the side of the road every single day. It’s heartbreaking and senseless. To the North is the Sammamish State Park, to the South the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park and in between is eight lanes of fast moving vehicles. It’s a slaughter house going both ways for wildlife.
So what are the chances of getting a wildlife bridge extended across this highway for wildlife to cross? There are places to help connect these two areas and eliminate the high death toll on our wildlife while enabling them to move between the water community of Lake Sammamish and the woodland community Cougar Mtn. It is necessary for animals to have access to both for breeding, feeding and nesting resources. There is no safe place for animals in this area to move across the I90. A bridge from Park to Park could be useful for bikers and hikers as well. What can be done to get WA and the City of Issaquah on board for a much needed wildlife bridge?