Below is a news release from the Ochoco National Forest & Crooked River National Grassland. RMEF has helped the Blue Mountains Elk Initiative complete nearly $10 million of habitat improvement projects to date across Oregon’s Blue Mountains.

More than 100 volunteers recently gathered in the heart of the Ochoco National Forest to restore critical wildlife habitat during the annual “All Hands All Brands” event, one of the clearest examples yet of how diverse partnerships can accomplish more together than any one group could alone.

Organized under the banner of the Blue Mountains Elk Initiative, the multi-day event brought together federal and state land managers, Tribal Nations, conservation groups and volunteers to tackle restoration work across several key areas, including Gray Prairie, Antler Prairie and Williams Prairie.

From pulling invasive weeds to building structures that mimic beaver dams, participants worked side-by-side to improve habitat not just for elk, but for the broader ecosystems that support fish, birds, amphibians and pollinators.

“This event shows what’s possible when everyone brings their strengths to the table,” said Monty Gregg, wildlife biologist with the U.S. Forest Service. “The Forest Service couldn’t do this alone, and neither could any one group. But together, we can get real work done, at a scale that matters.”

A Model Built on Partnership

The Blue Mountains Elk Initiative (BMEI) was launched in 1990 with a single goal to improve elk habitat across the Blue Mountains through coordinated, on-the-ground conservation. Over the past 35 years, that mission has expanded into one of the most successful and enduring examples of landscape-scale partnership in the Pacific Northwest.

Rather than acting alone, BMEI partners—including the Forest Service, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation, National Wild Turkey Federation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and other conservation organizations—pool resources, expertise and labor to increase the pace and scale of restoration. By combining grant funding, volunteer power and agency support, the Initiative has delivered nearly $10 million in habitat improvements to date.

“All Hands All Brands isn’t just a name, it’s a philosophy,” said a conservation partner who participated in this year’s work. “It means your logo doesn’t matter. Whether you’re a biologist, a rancher, a student or a volunteer, your hands help get the work done.”

Scaling Up Restoration

This year’s projects focused on high-priority work that supports habitat connectivity and ecosystem function:

Beaver dam analogs (BDAs): Crews repaired BDAs in Gray Prairie to slow streamflow, raise water tables and restore wet meadows, boosting habitat for elk, beaver, trout and native vegetation.

Fence removal: Old fencing was dismantled in Antler Prairie to allow for free wildlife movement, particularly during calving season.

Travel management signage and road closures: Crews installed new signs and reinforced barriers to guide responsible recreation and protect fragile habitat from off-road damage.

Aspen stand restoration: Encroaching conifers were removed to give struggling aspen groves space to regenerate, a benefit to songbirds and native pollinators as well as elk.

Invasive plant removal: Volunteers pulled woolly mullein around Williams Prairie, where native plant restoration efforts are underway.

“Each partner brought something critical to the table—whether that was tools, science, local knowledge or people willing to put in the work,” said Gregg. “That’s what lets us get more done, faster and in more places.”

A Shared Vision

While the fieldwork is physically demanding, the mood at the event was one of camaraderie and shared purpose. Many participants returned for their second or third year, citing a sense of accomplishment and pride in contributing to the health of the forest and the wildlife that depend on it.

“It’s one thing to talk about conservation,” said one volunteer. “It’s another to be out here cutting fence, building BDAs and seeing the willows come back. You know you’re part of something bigger.”

(Photo credit: Ochoco National Forest)