This past Tuesday, while doing a stream survey in Wahkiakum County, a contracted employee of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) found herself in a dangerous scenario. When the employee’s mapping equipment broke and she couldn’t find her way back, the survey—which was centered on the Coho salmon migratory patterns in the Crooked Creek tributaries close to the Eden Valley area—took an unexpected turn.
When the employee’s Garmin inReach device sent out an SOS notice, the Wahkiakum County Sheriff’s Office acted quickly. The U.S. Coast Guard, WDFW Police, and local search and rescue teams were alerted to the appeal for assistance and collaborated to locate the stranded employee. Messages were sent and received sporadically until rescuers were able to determine her whereabouts.
The WDFW employee was eventually found by the search teams after several anxious hours. Fortunately, she did not require more medical assistance after being promptly evaluated by on-scene medical experts. Shortly after the examination, the unnamed employee was released with no reported injuries.
“We would like to thank the U.S. Coast Guard, Wahkiakum County Sheriff’s Office, Wahkiakum County Search and Rescue, and Cowlitz County Search and Rescue for their quick efforts to locate the employee,” WDFW Capt. Dan Chadwick said in a statement after the incident. This rescue emphasizes the necessity of having a backup plan and the inherent dangers and unpredictability of research in distant regions.
The complete statement regarding the Wahkiakum County rescue effort can be read on the WDFW website.
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