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
WDFW staff constructed 90 BDA structures in a 0.50-mile reach of West Foster Creek. The creek is on the West Foster Creek unit of the Wells Wildlife Area which is located 7 miles south of Bridgeport, Washington. Between 2023 and May of 2025, WDFW implemented the following: > Built 62 structures in September 2023. > In January 2024, used donated Christmas trees to add weave and mattress material to the above structures. > In September 2024, built 28 new structures, plus repaired or modified 25 of the structures built in 2023. > Planted 300 deciduous tree and constructed 7 fenced enclosures to protect them from deer browsing. Species planted were coyote willow and water birch. (Water birch is an important winter food source for the state endangered Columbian sharp-tailed grouse). > Linear feet of creek treated: 2,900 feet (approximately). > Removed Russia olive saplings from a 1-acre area next to the creek. Amendment 1 extended the project’s end date. The request was necessary due to WDFW delays in completing required cultural resource clearance. A number of internal and external groups provided assistance with the project, staff from WDFW Habitat Program, WDFW Washington Shrubsteppe Restoration and Resiliency Initiative, Douglas County Public Utility District, Washington Conservation Corps, Foster Creek Conservation District, Pheasants Forever, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service, and Anabranch Solutions.