The Cascade Land Conservancy will celebrate with the many partners and friends who have helped conserve and restore the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Valley wilderness, with events planned for 10 a.m. Saturday, May 31, to showcase the history and characteristics of the area through guided hikes, a cookout, and other family- friendly activities.

The Cascade Land Conservancy continues to make progress on acquisitions in the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Valley. Several years ago, the Conservancy began an initiative to acquire and protect the last remaining private in-holdings, or privately owned parcels, surrounded by public lands. To date, the CLC has preserved 1,360 acres in the Middle Fork Basin, concentrating on the Granite Creek basin and the Hardscrabble Creek basin. Of that total, 780 acres have been resold to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), which will care for the land forever.

The work of the conservancy and many other partners means that 98 percent of the valley is now publicly owned. Thousands of volunteer hours also have gone into the ongoing stewardship of the valley.

The event celebrating the work in the “Mid Fork” will be at the Middle Fork Campground. To reach the campground take Exit #34 from I-90. Drive north on 468th Avenue. After about a half mile, turn right onto S.E. Middle Fork Road (FS Road #56). Go approximately 12 miles. The campground is a half-mile past the Middle Fork Trail trailhead. Registration is requested by visiting www.cascadeland.org/events or calling (206) 905-6917.