The Methow Conservancy has purchased conservation easements on 15 properties along the Twisp River that have protected 5.1 river miles of riverfront, 232 acres of floodplain, and 454.5 total acres. These actions protect habitat for Methow Spring Chinook, Methow Summer Steelhead, Okanogan Summer Steelhead, and Mid-Columbia Bull Trout. The easements permanently prohibit riparian development and habitat destruction by deeding development rights and habitat protection provisions to the Methow Conservancy. Without protection it is highly likely that riparian vegetation would be cleared for river access and residential
development. The conservation easements permanently restrict certain activities and insure that dynamic fluvial processes important
for maintaining water storage, water cooling, woody debris recruitment, and erosion control persist in perpetuity.