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Skookumchuck Watershed Phase 1
- Status
- Funded in 2007
The Department of Fish and Wildlife will use this grant to buy 10,000 acres of high quality shrub steppe, encompassing virtually the entire Skookumchuck watershed, a tributary of the Columbia River north of Vantage in Kittitas County. The Skookumchuck watershed project is a unique opportunity to protect a large tract of shrub-steppe habitat and link the largest remaining blocks of shrub-steppe in the state. This is the first phase in a two-phase acquisition proposal. In addition to protecting shrub-steppe, this acquisition would establish landscape-scale connectivity between two existing wildlife areas that abut the property to the north and to the south. The Skookumchuck provides critical habitat for numerous federal, state, and priority listed species, including endangered Upper Columbia River steelhead, state-listed sage grouse, and bighorn sheep. This key piece of property supports the majority of the shrub-steppe-dependent species endemic to Washington. It has been identified as a target for conservation in the Columbia Plateau Eco-regional Assessment and designated as an Important Bird Area in Washington by Audubon. Sixty percent of the shrub-steppe in Washington already has been lost.
Location
By 4WD proceed north through Vantage toward the old Vantage Hwy. Take the 2nd right which leads to a boat launch. Through a locked gate on your left (lock managed by Ginkgo State Park), roughly parallel to the Columbia River for 9 miles. Contact Mark Teske as a guide.
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Skookumchuck Watershed Phase 1
- The Department of Fish and Wildlife will use this grant to buy 10,000 acres of high quality shrub steppe, encompassing virtually the entire Skookumchuck watershed, a tributary of the Columbia River north of Vantage in Kittitas County. The Skookumchuck watershed project is a unique opportunity to protect a large tract of shrub-steppe habitat and link the largest remaining blocks of shrub-steppe in the state. This is the first phase in a two-phase acquisition proposal. In addition to protecting shrub-steppe, this acquisition would establish landscape-scale connectivity between two existing wildlife areas that abut the property to the north and to the south. The Skookumchuck provides critical habitat for numerous federal, state, and priority listed species, including endangered Upper Columbia River steelhead, state-listed sage grouse, and bighorn sheep. This key piece of property supports the majority of the shrub-steppe-dependent species endemic to Washington. It has been identified as a target for conservation in the Columbia Plateau Eco-regional Assessment and designated as an Important Bird Area in Washington by Audubon. Sixty percent of the shrub-steppe in Washington already has been lost.
- 47.0479536 -120.03934561
What is the WWRP?
The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) is a state grant program that creates and conserves local and state parks, wildlife habitat and working farms. The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office administers WWRP grants, and the legislature funds the program.
