LT Murray Forest and Aquatic Habitat Enhancement

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

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) used this grant to implement a restoration thinning and habitat improvement project that enhanced both forest and floodplain condition and function within the LT Murray Wildlife Area. The project objectives were: 1) to restore and protect ecological processes and functions for the purpose of improving habitat diversity for wildlife and improving the landscapes resilience to catastrophic fire within the diverse forests and shrub steppe ecotone of the Taneum/Manastash landscape; and, 2) to improve the functional integrity of North Fork Manastash Creek and associated riparian and upland habitat. This project completed cultural resource consultation with the affected tribes, treated approximately 500 acres of over stocked forests, supplied 3500 pieces of source wood for in stream placement to improve aquatic habitat, and re-seeded disturbed soils.

Quick Facts

WWRP Applicant: Fish & Wildlife Dept of Category: State Lands Restoration & Enhancement WWRP Grant: $375,000.00 Applicant Match: $0.00 Project Type: Restoration County: Kittitas Legislative District: 13 Status: Closed Completed RCO Project # 14-1355

Location Details

From I-90 Ellensburg Exit 106 to Robinson Canyon: Travel Southwest on Thorp Highway across the Yakima River. Watch for KOA campground on the Ellensburg side of the freeway, and WA State Patrol on the far side of the bridge. Follow Thorp Highway around the curve to the right as it heads out to the Northwest. Approximately 1.5 miles past the river watch for Robinson Canyon Road, and turn left onto it. Go approximately 3.75 miles to the end of pavement and County Road, and continue west to the gate in the elk fence. Please close the gate behind you. Please follow Green Dot Road Management regulations, and use a Green Dot map of the area for reference.

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.