Welch-Anderson Shrub-Steppe Restoration

Our Work / State Lands Restoration & Enhancement / Welch-Anderson Shrub-Steppe Restoration

Category Overview

The State Lands Restoration and Enhancement category provides funding to two state agencies to help repair damaged plant and animal habitat. These grants focus on resource preservation and protection of public lands. Projects in this category help bring important natural areas and resources back to their original functions by improving the self sustaining and ecological functionality of sites.

Project Highlights

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife used this grant to restore shrubsteppe habitat on two retired wheat fields totaling 120 acres in the Welch-Anderson unit of Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area. Decadent, non-native, crested wheatgrass was converted to a mix of native and native-like forbs and grasses to support shrubsteppe habitat that hosts several priority wildlife species, including Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, sage grouse, mule deer, and white-tailed jackrabbit. The Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area is located eight miles south of U.S. Highway 2 in central Lincoln County, and 70 miles west of Spokane.

Quick Facts

WWRP Applicant: Fish & Wildlife Dept of Category: State Lands Restoration & Enhancement WWRP Grant: $11,424.68 Applicant Match: $0.00 Project Type: Restoration County: Lincoln Legislative District: 9 Status: Closed Completed RCO Project # 12-1116

Location Details

From Wenatchee, travel east on U.S. Hwy 2, past the town of Creston. Slown down when you see the "Rest Area Ahead" sign. From Spokane, travel west on U.S. Hwy 2, past the city of Davenport. Slow down as you approach the rest area. About 200 meters west of the rest area, turn south onto Telford Road. Continue about 7.5 miles to the intersection with Whittaker Lake Road, and pass through it. About 2.8 miles south of the intersection, turn east (left) onto a dirt trail, through a barbed wire gate. (This gate is just north of a gravel pit along Telford Road.) About .8 miles in, turn south (right) and down the hill. Field is at bottom of hill.

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.