Mountain goats inhabit remote, mountainous terrain from Alaska to the western territories of Canada and south to Washington, Idaho and Montana. Mountain goats play an important role in shaping alpine plant communities and they serve as prey for large predators such as cougars and grizzly bears. The mountain goat is of great cultural significance for several Native American tribes in our region and it is an icon of the rugged Cascade high country for outdoor and wildlife enthusiasts.
Western undergrad Savanna Dayton and grad student Lauren Cohen sample stream flow and nutrient concentrations in Schell Creek, near Ferndale, to help calibrate models of riparian nutrient retention.