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 State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will use this grant to acquire approximately 8,200 acres of a planned 20,500±-acre purchase of shrub-steppe habitat occupied by the Columbian sharp-tailed grouse. The property is located southwest of the town of Nespelem along the south shore of the Columbia River in Douglas County. The acquisition will help conserve an important connectivity link between and through sharp-tailed grouse populations in Douglas, Okanogan and Lincoln counties and a strategic component in WDFW’s ongoing efforts to maintain and recover sharp-tailed grouse in these counties.