Writings by Andrea Watts

I am a freelance writer/editor who specializes in covering forestry and natural resources issues. What I bring to each project are undergraduate degrees in English and forestry, a master’s degree with coursework in silviculture and science communication, and on-the-ground experience managing the family tree farm.

  • All Fermentables Welcome at Urban Farm Fermentory

    CIDERCRAFT Volume 7 The foundation of every alcoholic beverage is fermentation. At Urban Farm Fermentory (UFF), located in Portland, Maine, co-founder Eli Cayer and his team brew fermented beverages beyond the traditional cider, beer and mead. CIDERCRAFT caught up with Cayer to learn about his approach to fermentation and his love of experimentation. Read more…

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  • Elliot Bay Seawall Project Nearing Completion

    Construction Equipment Guide March 20, 2017 After nearly three years of traffic and pedestrian detours throughout the city of Seattle’s historic waterfront, the Elliot Bay Seawall Project is nearing its anticipated completion in spring 2017. The project is a complete replacement from Yesler Way to Pine Street of the seawall’s early 20th-century design of old-growth…

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  • A Look Ahead at Steep Slope Logging in 2017

    TimberWest January/February 2017 Industry experts discuss the future of steep slope logging. Read more…

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  • Decommissioning of SR 520 Floating Bridge on Schedule

    Construction Equipment Guide January 23, 2017 Since its opening in 1963, the state Route 520 Bridge provided Seattle and Eastside residents a shortcut across Lake Washington. By the 1990s, its 1950’s design couldn’t accommodate the increased number of vehicles crossing the lake, resulting in lengthy backups during rush hour. Discussion to replace the bridge began…

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  • Trusted Advisor: British Cider Expert Peter Mitchell on North American Cider

    CIDERCRAFT Volume 6 Before there was a cider revival, when those who imbibed the beverage were few, the first formal cidermaking course taught by cider expert Peter Mitchell was offered at Washington State University’s (WSU) Mount Vernon Research and Extension Center. Read more…

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  • The Idiosyncrasies of Streams: Local Variability Mitigates Vulnerability of Trout to Changing Conditions

    U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station Science Findings November 2016 Land use and climate change are two key factors with the potential to affect stream conditions and fish habitat. Since the 1950s, Washington and Oregon have required forest practices designed to mitigate the effects of timber harvest on streams and fish. Yet questions remain…

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  • New HQ for Idaho State Police’s District 5 Under Way

    Construction Equipment Guide October 26, 2016 The Idaho State Police’s District 5 is one of two districts that doesn’t have all its divisions combined into one facility, but not for long. Construction of a new 23,300 sq. ft. (2,165 sq m) facility in Pocatello, Idaho, is under way, and following its grand opening in May…

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  • Homegrown Success

    TimberWest September/October 2016 RCD Timber is a young company succeeding in a competitive market. Read more…

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  • Solvay’s Longview Expansion Nears October Completion

    Construction Equipment Guide September 28, 2016 The pulp and paper industry may be traditionally associated with the production of pulp from wood for use in newsprint and other paper products, but there is an emerging pulp market that Solvay Chemicals is looking to capitalize on, and it’s the reason behind their $22-million expansion of their…

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  • I-5 Improvements Ease Congestion

    Construction Equipment Guide September 2, 2016 Since the I-5 Madigan Access Improvement project’s start in October 2015, drivers traveling the stretch of I-5 alongside Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) had to contend with nighttime lane closures while users of Berkeley Street had to navigate construction on the southbound off-ramp and across the Freedom Bridge. With the…

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