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
In June 2023, WDFW acquired +/- 401 acres of mixed sagebrush-steppe habitat, cliffs and talus slopes, and evergreen stands comprised of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir. This expands protected habitat areas that are owned and managed by USFS and DNR to the west and southwest. The property protects important areas between the Methow River, located to the north and the east, and federally protected lands to the west. WDFW’s acquisition of this property formed the basis for the creation of the new Hunter Mountain Unit of the Methow Wildlife Area. Since the acquisition, WDFW has expanded the Hunter Mountain Unit with additional acquisitions to the northwest funded by another RCO grant. These acquisitions are part of an agency wide strategy to protect critical habitat in the Methow River Valley for the benefit of mule deer, salmon, and many other species.