Heart of the Cascades, Phase 1 (Bald Mountain)

Our Work / Critical Habitat / Heart of the Cascades, Phase 1 (Bald Mountain)

Category Overview

Critical Habitat projects are our state’s primary tool for conserving important fish and wildlife habitat. These projects protect the rich and diverse habitats in our forests, prairies, and wetlands. These funds help maintain our state’s biodiversity and protect species that are popular for hunting, birding, and other outdoor recreation, and are critical for the health of our salmon and fish populations.

Project Highlights

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will use this grant to acquire 2,675 acres of habitat in the Rock Creek headwaters near Bald Mountain. The land is home to spotted owls, goshawk, grey wolf, deer, elk and many other animals. This project would protect key owl habitat and assist with spotted owl recovery. The Department of Fish and Wildlife will utilize this grant as matching funds to a grant from the US Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire similar habitat in the central eastern Cascade Mountains.

Quick Facts

WWRP Applicant: Fish & Wildlife Dept of Category: Critical Habitat WWRP Grant: $1,922,083.07 Applicant Match: $0.00 Project Type: Acquisition County: Kittitas Legislative District: 13 Status: Closed Completed RCO Project # 06-1808

Location Details

This from the appraisal which covered a larger area than that acquired qwith WWRP funding: The property is located approximately 20 miles west of the city of Ellensburg in eastern WA. Access into the property is rated to vary from average to good from existing logging roads. These roads allow access into all sections of the township. Primary U.S. Forest Service roads include: 1701, 1702, 1703, 1708, 1716, 1721 and 1722. Spurs running off of these mainlines include 522, 524, 525, 528, 530, 532, 556, 557, 558, 559, 561, 562, 564, 593, 629. Contact WDFW staff at Oak Creek for access to the parcels acquired with this grant.

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.