A Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) contracted employee found herself in a precarious situation while conducting a stream survey in Wahkiakum County this past Tuesday. The survey, which was focused on the migration patterns of Coho salmon in the Crooked Creek tributaries near the Eden Valley area, took an unexpected turn when the employee's mapping tool malfunctioned, leaving her unable to find her way back.
Upon receiving an SOS notification via the employee's Garmin inReach device, the Wahkiakum County Sheriff’s Office sprang into action. The call for help also roused WDFW Police, local search and rescue teams, and the U.S. Coast Guard, who worked together to track down the stranded employee. Communication was patchy, with messages intermittently going back and forth before rescuers pinpointed her location.
After a few tense hours, the search teams finally located the WDFW employee. She was quickly assessed by medical personnel at the scene and, fortunately, did not require further medical attention. The employee, whose name has not been disclosed, was released soon after the check-up with no reported injuries.
"We would like to thank the Wahkiakum County Sheriff’s Office, Wahkiakum County Search and Rescue, Cowlitz County Search and Rescue, and the U.S. Coast Guard for their quick efforts to locate the employee," WDFW Capt. Dan Chadwick expressed his gratitude in a statement following the incident. This rescue underscores the inherent risks and unpredictability of fieldwork in remote areas – and the importance of having a contingency plan.
For more information about the rescue operation in Wahkiakum County, you can read the full statement on the WDFW website.
