Rock Creek-Cleman Ridge Forest 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

Planned commercial treatment for the 709 acre Cleman Mountain site was not completed due to an unresolved legal access dispute. As a result, a Cultural Resource Survey was not completed for this portion of the project. However, existing cultural consultation documentation has previously been provided for the prescribed fire and pre-commercial thinning portions of the project. 348 acres of pre-commercial thinning was completed within the Rock Creek work site and 22 acres of prescribed fire was completed within the Oak Creek work site for a total of 370 acres. Amendments to the project added the Oak Creek Unit to project scope and removed Cleman Mountain from project scope due to the unresolved control and tenure issue stated above. A third amendment added 15 months to grant agreement end date primarily due to delays incurred by COVID laws and policies during this timeframe. But, still this project came up short of goals with the additional setback of losing the project manager summer of 2022.

Quick Facts

WWRP Applicant: Fish & Wildlife Dept of Category: State Lands Restoration & Enhancement WWRP Grant: $108,322.43 Applicant Match: $0.00 Project Type: Restoration County: Kittitas, Yakima Legislative District: 13, 15 Status: Completed RCO Project # 18-1774

Location Details

The FS-1702 (Rock Creek) Rd serves as the primary access route to sections 27, 29, and 33. FS-1702 is located approximately 18.6 miles west along WA-410 after the US Hwy 12/WA-410 junction. Section 31 is accessed by an unnamed gated road approximately 3 miles west of the WA-410/FS-1702 junction. Sections 5 & 7 are accessed via the FS-1708 (Milk Creek) Rd, which is approximately 6.5 miles west of the WA-410/unnamed road junction. Interested parties should contact the project sponsor for additional details and gate access.

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.