Management Plan for the 4-0 Ranch Unit of the Chief Joseph Wildlife Area - Appendix of the Blue Mountains Wildlife Areas Management Plan (2019)
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
July 2019
Management Plan for the
4-0 Ranch Unit of the Chief Joseph Wildlife Area
Appendix of the Blue Mountains Wildlife Areas Management Plan (2019)
The mission of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is to
preserve, protect and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems
while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
1111 Washington Street, SE
Olympia, WA 98501
Table of Contents
Plan Purpose and Use ............................................................................................................................................. 2
Property Description ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Species Management & Objectives ........................................................................................................................ 8
Management Action Timeline ............................................................................................................................... 28
References............................................................................................................................................................. 29
Appendix A: Parcel Table with Tax Lots and Parcel Maps .................................................................................... 30
Appendix B: Species to Benefit ............................................................................................................................. 34
Appendix C: Rare Plants ....................................................................................................................................... 37
Appendix D: Grazing Management ....................................................................................................................... 38
Photo cover by Justin Haug, WDFW
Photo this page by Alan L. Bauer
1
Plan Purpose and Use
This Management Plan was developed for the properties on the 4-0 Ranch Unit of the Chief Joseph
Wildlife Area (Figures 1 and 2), acquired in fee title (from 2014 on) with financial support from the
federal Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund’s Habitat Conservation Land Acquisition
grants. Accordingly, these properties, listed in Table 1, are to be managed in perpetuity for the
benefit of the federally listed bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus), Snake River steelhead trout
(Oncorhynchus mykiss), and Snake River fall Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), as well as
other state species and other target species.
This Management Plan is in effect from July 2, 2019 until it is updated, replaced, or supplemented by
documents approved by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service (USFWS). WDFW will undertake management activities herein as funding and
staffing allow. If any management activities on the property result in generating revenue, the
revenue will only be used for management of the property in keeping with the grant purpose.
The 4-0 Ranch Unit of the Chief Joseph Wildlife Area (part of the Blue Mountains complex) was
purchased in five phases, from 2012 – 2016, with Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation
Fund’s Habitat Conservation Land Acquisition (CESCF) grants and Recreation Conservation Office
(RCO) – Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) funding. This plan covers lands
purchased in phases 4 and 5 (see Table 1 for properties purchased from 2014 on). It is included as an
appendix to the Draft Blue Mountains Wildlife Areas Management Plan (expected to be completed in
spring 2019). The 4-0 Ranch Unit is 10,451 acres, in two management sections, Grouse Creek, west of
Wenatchee Creek, and Mountain View, east of Wenatchee Creek. This plan covers the western
portion of the property, Grouse Creek, which is 4,069 acres. Management activities conducted on
the Grouse Flats will also apply to and benefit the whole 4-0 Ranch Unit, as well as other properties in
the Blue Mountains Wildlife Areas.
This acquisition addresses two recovery objectives for bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus), from the
Snake River Salmon Recovery Board (2004, 2011): 1) Protect, restore, and maintain suitable habitat
conditions for bull trout, and 2) Use all available conservation programs and regulations to protect
and conserve bull trout and bull trout habitats.
The entire project area supported by CESCF funds includes both Grouse Creek and Mountain View,
and will protect approximately 15 miles of river and creek habitat for at least nine aquatic species
covered by the Washington Forest Practices Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) including federally listed
bull trout (see Figure 3).
In the 10-year Draft Management Plan for the Blue Mountains Wildlife Areas, the overall vision of the
Chief Joseph Wildlife Area, where the project is located, is “To protect native range and forest
habitats, cultural resources, and big game winter range, while offering excellent hunting opportunities
and world-class fisheries on the Snake and Grande Ronde Rivers.”
The overall management objective of the 4-0 Ranch Unit is the conservation of a diversity of high
quality habitat types, state and federally classified fish and wildlife species, and numerous plant
species.
2
Property Description
The Blue Mountains Wildlife Areas is made up of three wildlife areas: Asotin Creek, Chief Joseph, and
W.T. Wooten, and cover 77,177 acres in Asotin, Garfield, Columbia, and Walla Walla counties of SE
Washington (Figure 1). The 4-0 Ranch unit is part of the Chief Joseph Wildlife Area, in the Snake River
and Grand Ronde River watersheds. The 4-0 Ranch unit is located about 30 miles southwest of
Clarkston (Figure 2). Primary access to the unit is from Highway 129, to the Grande Ronde Road, to
Grouse Creek Road. The unit is bordered by the Umatilla National Forest, US Bureau of Land
Management, and private property. The creek that runs through the property appears as Wenatchee
and Menatchee on different maps. In this plan it will be referred to as Wenatchee, the name on the
legal documents and the locally used name.
Elevations on the 4-0 Ranch Unit range from about 1,400 feet to 3,500 feet. Close to the Grande
Ronde River, narrow canyons and steeps slopes are common. Above the major drainage breaks,
broad ridges and gentle benches tend to prevail. The dominant drainage pattern is to the southwest
toward the Grande Ronde River. Many relatively level areas have been under recent cultivation and
or harvest. Average annual precipitation is approximately 19-21 inches.
At the time of acquisition, WDFW’s interest in acquiring this property was due to its relatively
ecologically intact and diverse landscape that will protect habitats and species, as well as connecting
large blocks of public land. The unit includes ten miles of river and creek habitat, with parts of the
Wenatchee, Cougar, Grouse, and Medicine Creek drainages, tributaries, and shorelines of the Grande
Ronde River, a tributary of the Snake River.
Various National Ecological Systems are present, with the Columbia Foothill and Dry Canyon
Grassland and Northern Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine and Woodland Savanna predominating (see
Figure 4).
There have not been any significant recent fires on the 4-0 Ranch Unit. However, before fire
suppression efforts began in the 1900’s, the forest and grasslands are thought to have burned every
16-40 years historically. Due to fuels accumulation over the last 100 years, changing vegetation
conditions, and fire suppression, the surrounding areas have more recently experienced large, often
stand-replacing wildfires such as the Grizzly Bear Complex fire of 2015 which burned over 82,000
acres and came within a few miles of the 4-0 Ranch Wildlife Area.
Tribal Treaty Rights
The Blue Mountains Wildlife Areas are in part of the aboriginal range of the Nez Perce, Walla Walla,
Cayuse, Umatilla, and Palouse Tribes. The Nez Perce Tribe and Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla
Indian Reservation have treaty harvest rights within the subbasin. The tribes have retained the right
to take fish at all “usual and accustomed” places, and to hunt, gather, and pasture livestock on open
and unclaimed land. The Treaty of Walla Walla (June 9, 1855) and the Treaty with the Nez Perces
(June 11, 1855), both signed at Camp Stevens, Walla Walla Valley, include language about these
rights. Treaty tribes have been recognized as managers of their treaty-reserved resources, and have
interest in the management decisions in the Blue Mountains Wildlife Area (US. v Washington 1974).
WDFW honors and respects Tribal treaty reserved rights, and will take into consideration traditional
3
hunting and gathering sites in any actions in this plan that may affect them. Communicating and
coordinating with tribes is an objective of the Blue Mountains Wildlife Areas Management Plan.
Land Use
Prior to the WDFW acquisition, the 4-0 Ranch was a well-managed working ranch, with agricultural
fields and cattle grazing. The former town of Mountain View, which currently lies on the 4-0 Ranch
Unit, had a post office until 1951 and a school until 1954 before purchase by a private ranching
company. Part of the purchase agreement with WDFW allowed the seller to continue agricultural and
grazing practices, but the seller ceased operations in 2017. In 2018, an agreement was reached with
two new operators to graze cattle and grow crops in a similar fashion. Grazing is regulated under the
terms of the management plan, described below (see Appendix D for Grazing Management Plan).
Land use is predominately open space, agriculture/grazing, and recreation. Recreation on the 4-0
Ranch Unit includes hunting, fishing, wildlife and wildflower viewing, camping, horseback riding, and
shed antler gathering. Management actions across the entire wildlife area include grazing and
agriculture, forest management, weed control, road management, and public education through
signage. Additional management actions, as noted in the Blue Mountains Wildlife Areas
Management Plan, will be prioritized by wildlife area field staff based on technical, logistical, and
financial considerations.
The greatest benefit to wildlife in this area is the protection from land development that comes with
public ownership of the land, and management more attuned to the needs of species of conservation
concern. The landowner preferred to sell the property to WDFW so that the land would remain
intact and managed for fish and wildlife, reducing the risk of the property being subdivided into
recreational lots. The very qualities that make the project area so unique – spectacular views of the
Blue Mountains and Grande Ronde River, diverse habitat, excellent hunting and fishing – make the
site vulnerable to development. Land conversions that might appear to be relatively minor, such as
development of a single residence, reduce the conservation potential of adjacent lands managed for
wildlife habitat. Development of vacation properties is a potential threat. However, the management
actions described in this document will provide conservation benefits to federal, state listed and rare
species above and beyond protection from development.
Rare Plants
In 2015, WDFW contracted for a botanical and rare plant survey on the 4-0 Ranch Unit, with the
results of the survey to support future planning and management in the area. The survey
documented eight rare or state listed plants: Cusick’s milk-vetch (Astragalus cusickii var. cusickii),
sagebrush lily (Calochortus macrocaropus var. maculosus), Sheldon’s sedge (Carex sheldonii), smooth-
leaved gilia (Gilia capillaris), Blue Mountain penstemon (Penstemon pennellianus), wax currant (Ribes
cereum var. colubrinum), Idaho gooseberry (Ribes oxyacanthoides var. irriguum), and prairie
cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) (Beck 2015). See Appendix C of this plan for a list of these plants,
including state and federal status. These plants were found on the 4-0 Ranch and may or may not be
present in the areas covered by this plan. Any areas where rare plants are found, including other
plants not on this list, activities such as grazing, agriculture, and recreation will be evaluated and
adjusted if necessary to protect the rare plants.
4
Federally threatened Spalding’s catchfly (Silene spaldingii), endemic to the Pacific Northwest, is
present on other areas of the Blue Mountains Wildlife Areas but has not yet been documented on the
4-0 Ranch Unit. As part of the overall Blue Mountains Wildlife Area Management Plan (2019), the
entire wildlife area will be surveyed for S. spaldingii, and a management plan developed.
Spalding’s catchfly
Photo by David Woodall, WDFW
5
Figure 1: Map of the Blue Mountains Wildlife Area (includes 4-0 Ranch unit)
6
Figure 2: Map of 4-0 Ranch Unit
Area covered by this plan is cross-hatched (Phases 4 & 5).
7
Table 1: 4-0 Ranch Unit Properties Covered by Management Plan
This table shows the property acquisition phases and location. The full table with the tax lot numbers
is found Appendix A, along with the parcel maps.
Parcel Tax Lot # Acres Location (TRS) Grant # Date of Approval Fed Share
Name
Phase 4 See 2005.84 T6N, R43E, Sections1, 2, 3, 4, 12, 13 F12AP01111- Commission Date: $3.7 M
Appendix A T7N, R43E, Section 34&35 0001-007A 11/07/14
Recording Date:
12/12/2014
Phase 4 See 2005.84 T6N, R43E, Sections1, 2, 3, 4, 12, 13 F15AP00001- Commission Date: $2.0 M
Appendix A T7N, R43E, Section 34&35 0001-0530 11/07/14
Recording Date:
12/12/2014
Phase 5 See 2063.05 T6N, R43E, Sections 2,3,4,10,11,14 F15AP00001 Commission Date: $3.77 M
Appendix A T7N, R43E, Sections 27,33,34,35 11/13/15
Recording Date:
01/29/16
Species Management & Objectives
Overview of Listed Species Management
There are many terrestrial and aquatic species present on the unit. (See the species management
section below and the Blue Mountains Wildlife Areas Management Plan – Table 13, for a list of all
species conservation status). Many wildlife species inhabit the area, including elk, mule deer,
bighorn sheep, wolves, cougar, black bear, golden eagles,
northern goshawk, and a diversity of reptiles,
invertebrates, neotropical migrant birds.
The species covered by this management plan are bull
trout, Snake River steelhead trout, and Snake River fall
Chinook salmon (Table 2). WDFW also identified
additional priority species in need of conservation
including Rocky Mountain tailed frogs, great blue heron,
bald eagle, golden eagle, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep,
Rocky Mountain elk, and gray wolf. Bull trout
Photo by Eric Anderson
8
Table 2. Federal and State Status of species likely to benefit from management of the 4-0 Ranch
Common Name Scientific Name Federal Status State Status Occurrence
Key Federal Species
Bull trout Salvelinus confluentus Threatened Candidate Present
Snake River Oncorhynchus mykiss Threatened Candidate Present
steelhead trout
Snake River fall Oncorhynchus Threatened Candidate Vicinity
Chinook salmon tshawytscha
Other Fish Species
Interior redband Oncorhynchus mykiss None Present
trout gairdneri
Pacific lamprey Lampetra tridentata Concern Vicinity
Paiute Sculpin Cottus beldingi None Present
Bridgelip sucker Catostomus columbianus None Present
Largescale sucker Catostomus macrocheilus None Vicinity
Peamouth Mylocheilus caurinus None Present
WDFW Priority
Species in Grant
Rocky Mountain Ascaphus montanus None Candidate, SGCN* Present
tailed frogs Priority species**
Great blue heron Ardea herodias None Priority species Present
Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Concern SGCN Present
Golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos None Candidate, SGCN Present
Priority species
Rocky Mountain Ovis canadensis None Priority species Present
bighorn sheep
Rocky Mountain elk Cervus elaphus None SGCN Present
Priority species
Gray wolf (eastern Canis lupus Endangered SGCN Present
WA) Priority species
Endangered in
wester 2/3 of state
* WDFW Species of Greatest Conservation Need
** WDFW Priority Habitats and Species
WDFW priority species that are present include: gray wolf, giant Columbia River limpet, western
toad, western rattlesnake, Columbia spotted frog, northern goshawk, willow flycatcher, flammulated
owl, bald eagle, Lewis’s woodpecker, white-headed woodpecker, Vaux’s swift, loggerhead shrike,
yellow-billed cuckoo, golden eagle, bighorn sheep, American badger, white-tailed deer, Rocky
Mountain elk, and moose (for the full list, see Appendix B of this plan).
Additionally, the 2015 botanical survey of the 4-0 Ranch identified two State Status threatened or
endangered plants (determined by the Washington Natural Heritage Program, 2015): Sagebrush lily
(Calochortus macrocarpum var. maculosus) and Idaho gooseberry (Ribes oxyacanthoides var.
irriguum).
9State and federal listed species will benefit from the conservation efforts of restoration, weed
management, and grazing management described within this plan and the Blue Mountains Wildlife
Areas Management Plan.
The 4-0 Ranch unit includes ten miles of river and creek habitat, with parts of the Wenatchee, Cougar,
Grouse, and Medicine Creek drainages, tributaries, and shorelines of the Grande Ronde River, a
tributary of the Snake River. Federally listed steelhead, spring and fall Chinook and bull trout occur in
this section of the Grande Ronde, as well as many other resident fish species (Figure 3).
Fishing regulations in the Grande Ronde provide opportunities to harvest gamefish including rainbow
trout and hatchery origin steelhead. Season structure, gear restrictions, and tributary closures
provide protection of spring and fall Chinook, bull trout, and natural origin steelhead.
WDFW releases 225,000 steelhead smolts from Cottonwood Acclimation Facility on the Grande
Ronde as harvest mitigation under the Lower Snake River Compensation Program. These releases
and hatchery fish produced in Oregon provide for a popular steelhead fishery that draws anglers from
across the country. The Chief Joseph Wildlife Area and water access sites provide access to this
fishery.
Because of the large amount of stream miles and riparian and upland habitats protected, this plan
has multiple benefits for six other fish species covered by the Washington Forest Practices Habitat
Conservation Plan: interior redband trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri), Pacific lamprey (Lampetra
tridentate), Paiute sculpin (Cottus beldingi), bridgelip sucker (Catostomus columbianus), largescale
sucker (Catostomus macrocheilus), and peamouth (Mylocheilus caurinus).
Grande Ronde River
Photo by Alan L. Bauer
10Figure 3: Listed Fish Distribution Map - 4-0 Ranch Unit
11Life History Background
Bull Trout - Salvelinus confluentus
Bull trout in this Columbia River Distinct Population Segment (DPS) face threats from habitat
degradation and fragmentation, poor water quality, and introduced native fishes. They spawn in
headwater streams and rivers from late summer to late fall, with falling water temperatures between
41 to 48 degrees Fahrenheit, and require colder water than other trout species. Eggs hatch in late
winter or early spring, and fry emerge from gravel in April or May. Small bull trout eat terrestrial and
aquatic insects, and shift to preying on fish as they grow larger. Resident and riverine migratory
forms may co-occur, and each form produces offspring with either life history strategy.
Bull trout in the Mid-Columbia Recovery Unit occur in Washington, Oregon and Idaho watersheds of
the Columbia Basin east of the Cascade Mountains crest. In Washington, there are seven core areas,
and Washington shares two other core areas with Oregon. The area upstream from Chief Joseph
Dam on the Columbia River is currently unoccupied by bull trout. Asotin Creek Core Area was as
rated one of the least robust (most threatened). Some populations are regularly monitored,
especially in the Yakima River Core Area, for spawner abundance, but total population abundance
estimates are not available.
Habitat includes deep pools in cold rivers and large tributary streams, often in moderate to fast
currents, and large, cold lakes and reservoirs. The wildlife area is adjacent to but does not contain
most of this habitat. Conditions that favor population persistence include stable channels, relatively
stable stream flow, low levels of fine substrate sediments, high channel complexity with various cover
types, and temperatures not exceeding about 59 degrees Fahrenheit. Suitable migratory corridors
between seasonal habitats and for genetic exchange among populations are needed. Spawning
usually occurs in gravel riffles of small tributary streams, including lake inlet streams, with sites often
associated with springs and upwelling groundwater. Optimum temperatures for incubation are
about 36 to 39 degrees Fahrenheit and for juvenile rearing, about 45 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit.
Abundance of large woody debris and rubble substrate are important for rearing habitat.
Snake River Steelhead Trout DPS - Oncorhynchus mykiss
Adults in this DPS exhibit summer return-timing. They enter freshwater in immature condition in late
spring, and travel to and enter natal tributaries through summer, fall, and the following spring if they
hold through winter in mainstem reservoirs. They mature in freshwater and spawn from February to
May in a calendar year following Columbia River entry. Adults can survive spawning and migrate back
to sea, allowing some to spawn more than once. Juveniles may rear in freshwater for one to three
years, with most rearing for two years. Juveniles that migrate seaward do so predominately from
March through June; some mature in freshwater without going to sea, more commonly in males than
females. Ocean migration paths are not well-documented but sub-adults may rear in North Pacific
Ocean or Gulf of Alaska, typically for one to three years. Age at first return to spawn usually ranges
from three to six years.
Steelhead in this DPS occur in Snake River tributaries in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Of 24 extant
populations, two are entirely in Washington and two are in watersheds shared by Washington and
Oregon. Historical populations also occurred upstream of the impassable Hells Canyon Dam.
12Adult steelhead use a wide variety of freshwater habitats, spawning or holding in river mainstems
and large and small tributaries. They migrate relatively far upstream in natal rivers and access is aided
by flow conditions during migration timing. Redds are constructed in riffles, glides, and downstream
margins of pools in streambeds where gravel sizes are optimal. Instream woody debris, boulders and
stream bank structure provide important cover. Newly emerged juveniles use shallow gravel bed
areas in riffles, among boulders, or near stream banks. As juveniles grow they move to higher water
velocity areas and maintain individual territories for feeding. During long-term rearing, juveniles may
move throughout watershed, using differing habitats in response to seasonal flow and temperature
conditions. Instream cover is important for overwintering juveniles, and intact riparian vegetation is
essential for contributing woody debris, supporting invertebrate prey, and shading. Freshwater
temperatures over 77 degrees Fahrenheit are expected to be stressful or lethal, and temperatures
above 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit are known to reduce growth and survival and affect migration.
Columbia and Snake rivers are migration corridors, and are greatly modified by dams and reservoirs.
Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon - Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Adults begin entering the Columbia River in August and quickly move upstream, entering the Snake
River from late August through December. Spawning occurs from mid-October through mid-
December in the mainstem and lower areas of Snake River tributaries. Juveniles rear for a few
months in freshwater before migrating to the ocean. Some Snake River fall Chinook may also rear for
a year in mainstem reservoirs. Migration to the sea through the Snake and Columbia rivers’
mainstems occurs from spring through summer. Sub-adults rear in the Pacific Ocean coastal areas off
British Columbia and Washington, and most rear for two to five years before returning to spawn.
Distribution of historical spawning habitat has been significantly altered by Snake River mainstem
dams. Habitat upstream of Hells Canyon Dam is inaccessible, and a 108-mile mainstem reach
between that dam and upper end of Lower Granite Dam reservoir is the remaining primary spawning
habitat. Spawning also occurs now in lower areas of Snake River tributaries such as Grande Ronde,
Clearwater, Salmon, and Tucannon rivers. Fish in two artificial production programs are included in
the Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU). Abundance of wild-born fish has increased in recent years due
to on-going hatchery supplementation, and majority of naturally spawning fish are hatchery-origin.
The geometric mean of natural-origin adult abundance for the 10 years of annual spawner
escapement estimates from 2005-2014 was 6, 418.
Adults and juveniles use riverine and reservoir habitats of the Snake River and lower mainstem areas
of its tributaries. Habitat available is significantly reduced from historical conditions. The Snake River
Basins’ rainfall is generally low, between 10-20 inches, and snow is major form of precipitation,
between 20-40 inches. High spring-time flows are important for successful juvenile outmigration.
Natural seasonal hydrology has been altered by dams that control Snake River mainstem and some
tributaries’ flows. Four dams in lower Snake River and four dams in the Columbia River migration
corridor negatively affect passage, flow and temperature conditions needed for adult and juvenile
survival. Suitable or optimal freshwater temperatures vary by life stage, but generally range between
41 and 59 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures above 68 degrees Fahrenheit may block adult
migration and over 75 degrees Fahrenheit may be lethal
13Fish management throughout the wildlife areas consists primarily of providing recreational angling
and hatchery fish production while protecting and trying to restore ESA listed species.
Habitat Connectivity
Fish and wildlife survival depends in part on the ability to move through the environment to find food
and reproduce. The degree to which land protection and condition supports these necessary
movements is called habitat connectivity. Recent conservation planning efforts in Washington
incorporate connectivity analysis into evaluation of landscape structure when identifying habitat and
species conservation targets. WDFW is a member of the Washington Wildlife Habitat Connectivity
Working Group (WHCWG) (http://waconnected.org/).
Information gained from this analysis maps core habitat areas for wildlife species. Development
disrupts connectivity, so knowing core areas where species are can help guide management activities.
Habitat restoration and management projects should consider the linkages between habitat blocks
on the Blue Mountains Wildlife Areas and neighboring lands for bighorn sheep, western rattlesnake,
western toad, and elk; on the 4-0 Ranch, primarily bighhorn sheep and elk.
The 4-0 Ranch plays an important role in connectivity. It connects existing protected U. S. Forest
Service lands – the USFS Wenatchee (sometimes referred to as Creek Roadless Area and the Wenaha-
Tucannon Wilderness Area to the north with Bureau of Land Management land to the south and east
(see Figure 2). These ownerships provide habitat connectivity at a geographic scale that supports fish
and wildlife species.
The large reach of the Grande Ronde River protected under this plan provides significant habitat
connectivity between the Snake River and Upper Grande Ronde River for many fish species,
protecting a major gap in the Grande Ronde River riparian corridor.
Predator Species Management
Predators on the 4-0 Ranch Unit include cougar (Puma concolor), gray wolf (Canis lupus), bobcat (Lynx
rufus), black bear (Ursus americanus), as well as many smaller species. Any depredation related
management involving these species is regulated under Washington Administrative Code 220-440.
The gray wolf was listed as endangered by the State of Washington (WAC 232.12.014) in 1980 and
receives protection under state law (RCW 77.15.120) from hunting, possession, malicious
harassment, and killing. Predations on livestock by gray wolves have been confirmed in this area.
WDFW has an established internal program focused on crop depredation by deer and elk, and
livestock depredation by carnivores. Currently, management of livestock and wolves will be
consistent with the statewide protocol that sets out responses to wolf/livestock depredation events.
We acknowledge and recognize that these lands were purchased in part with Section 6 funds
specifically for the purposes of conservation of federally listed species, including wolves. The WDFW
is working to determine how management of wolf/livestock interactions may be managed differently
than the current statewide protocol.
14Species Management Objectives
The overall management objective of the 4-0 Ranch Unit is conservation of high quality diverse
habitat, state and federally listed fish and wildlife species, and numerous plant species. WDFW
acquired the ranch in a well-managed state, and management efforts are focused on protecting and
maintaining or improving the condition of the land for fish and wildlife, with weed management a
high priority. The aquatic and terrestrial habitats are in good condition, but some areas are infested
with weeds, such as the Mountain View area with sulfur cinquefoil. Securing intact uplands ensures
good water quality and quantity for anadromous and resident aquatic fauna.
Species objectives based on recovery plans for bull trout, Snake River steelhead trout, and Snake
River fall Chinook salmon are provided below. Following that is a list of management objectives
beneficial to all species.
Bull Trout Objectives
This area is in the Mid-Columbia Recovery Unit, Lower Snake Geographic Region (USFWS 2015). The
4-0 Ranch Unit is not in a specific core area, the closest being the Wallowa/Minam Core Area. Primary
threats to habitat include livestock grazing and forest management practices, including forest roads,
which have resulted in a lack of large wood recruitment, loss of pools, sedimentation, warm water
temperatures and low flows. Legacy forest management practices, including splash damming, and
agricultural practices, have channelized the river channel, reduced instream complexity, and
increased water temperature and sedimentation in FMO habitats. Temperature barriers and low
flows impede movement of bull trout between populations and in FMO habitats.
The USFWS’s Mid-Columbia Recovery Unit Implementation Plan for Bull Trout (USFWS 2015) provides
action to address threats to bull trout. Department actions are listed below. WDFW actions will take
into account the needs of bull trout and protection of habitat during planning and implement of all
management activities, including road management, recreation, fishing, grazing, agriculture, forestry,
and weed control.
- Restore and protect riparian zones associated with bull trout habitat.
o Protect riparian zones from development
o Protect riparian zones from recreational users
o Protect riparian zones from livestock
- Implement stream restoration projects in degraded stream reaches.
o Assess condition of stream reaches, and develop restoration projects were warranted
- Reduce grazing impacts
o Ensure that ecological integrity is maintained through protective conditions (following
WDFW Commission Policy on livestock grazing
o Monitor grazed lands to ensure ecological integrity is not compromised.
o Through permit conditions, ensure that livestock are not impacting the riparian zone
- Evaluate incidental catch and illegal harvest from recreational angling.
15- Promote interagency collaboration and coordination on bull trout recovery actions by
supporting existing bull trout working groups or the formation of new bull trout working
groups where they do not exist
Snake River Steelhead Trout Objectives
NOAA Fisheries’ ESA Recovery Plan for Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus
tshawytscha) & Snake River Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) (NOAA 2017) includes the following
recovery strategies for Grande Ronde River steelhead:
- Improve winter rearing habitats in the lower Grande Ronde River and tributary production
areas.
- Improve summer rearing habitats in the mainstem Grand Ronde River and tributary
production areas.
- Enhance spawning and egg and alevin survival by reducing sediment in spawning gravels in
tributaries.
The Snake River Salmon Recovery Plan for SE Washington (2011) prepared by the Snake River Salmon
Recovery Board, lists recovery strategies for tributary habitat, harvest, and hatcheries. Bull trout,
spring Chinook, and Lower Grande Ronde River summer steelhead are covered. For tributary habitat,
these are the main recovery strategies:
- Protect and conserve natural ecological processes that support the viability of populations
and their primary life history strategies throughout their life cycle.
- Restore floodplain connectivity and function.
- Restore channel structure and complexity.
- Restore riparian condition and LWD recruitment.
- Restore altered hydrograph to provide appropriate flows.
- Improve degraded water quality.
Snake River Fall Chinook Objectives
NOAA Fisheries’ ESA Recovery Plan for Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
(NOAA 2017) includes the Lower Grande Ronde River Major Spawning Areas (MaSa). Impacts to
habitat from within and upstream of this area include past and present land use actions, such as
livestock grazing, road development, recreation, water diversion, and agricultural uses. The plan also
includes recovery strategies for the Lower Snake River population.
- Maintain and improve spawning, incubation, rearing, and migration conditions.
o Actions to maintain and improve habitat are implemented under the 2008 Federal
Columbia River Power System Biological Opinion (and future Biological Opinions, as
they are developed) through the Hells Canyon Project Federal Power Act relicensing
process (NOAA 2017).
Management of the 4-0 Ranch Unit does not specifically implement these recovery strategies, but
any action on the unit that may affect tributary habitat will take these strategies into consideration.
16Blue Mountains Wildlife Areas Management Objectives Beneficial to All Species
The following management objectives are a subset of the objectives from the Blue Mountains Wildlife
Areas Management Plan (2019) that are applicable wildlife area-wide, those that are 4-0 Ranch
specific. For the 4-0 Ranch specific objectives, this task is included: “Consult the ESA Section 6 Plan
(this plan) to assure management actions are consistent with species protections”.
1. Establish a baseline and associated goals to maintain or improve the ecological integrity of
priority systems. The primary ecological systems of concern on the 4-0 Ranch Unit are
Columbia Basin Foothill and Canyon Dry Grassland and Northern Rocky Mountain Lower
Montane, Foothill, and Valley Grassland.
2. Conduct an assessment of native prairie habitat and develop a restoration and protection
strategy. Ensure that staff are trained and aware of rare and listed plants and locations.
Ensure that management actions take these plants into account.
3. Develop plan to survey the entire wildlife area for rare plants including Spalding’s catchfly (S.
spaldingii) by 2024. Develop management plan for all areas where rare plants are found,
including adaptive measures. In areas where rare plants, adjust activities to minimize impact.
4. Develop a plan to monitor and conserve federally threatened S. spaldingii on Asotin Creek
WLA and anywhere it is found on the Blue Mountains Wildlife Areas. Monitor S. spaldingii in
areas where grazing occurs and in future locations where it is found. If found, implement
measures to minimize impacts to the plant from grazing, including grazing exclusions.
5. Inspect and repair fences to help manage wildlife and cattle, which will minimize impacts to
streambanks, reduce sedimentation, and protect riparian vegetation. Maintain integrity of
boundary stock fences to reduce presence of trespass cattle. Reduce injuries to wildlife by
continuing to remove unnecessary or problematic fencing where and when possible, replacing
and installing wildlife-friendly fences of no more than 42 inches high, 3-strand when possible.
Where appropriate, mark fences with flags to make them more visible to wildlife to reduce
injuries. Maintain boundary stock fences to reduce trespass cattle on the wildlife area.
6. Implement the Weed Management Plan, Appendix B of the Blue Mountains Wildlife Areas
Management Plan. On the 4-0 Ranch, focus on:
o Sulfur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta)
o Annual invasive grasses such as: ventenata (Ventenata dubia); jointed goatgrass
(Aegilops cylindrical); and medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae).
o Small amounts of rush skeletonweed (Condrilla juncea), Scotch thistle (Onopordum
acanthium)
o Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula), which is actively being treated with bio-controls
This includes monitoring for weeds that may potentially increase due to climate change.
Where weeds are managed in or near S. spaldingii or other rare plant habitat, implement
control measures to avoid or minimize effects on the plants, such as spot spraying of weeds.
17In riparian areas, implement measures to avoid or minimize impacts to listed fish species,
including bull trout.
7. Implement forest management practices that improve the health of the forest, reduce
severity and intensity of fire, and protect streams by implementing the Forest Management
Plan, Appendix E of the Blue Mountains Wildlife Areas Management Plan.
All forest actions will follow the Forest Practices riparian management zone requirements for
upland perennial and seasonal streams that may flow into the fish-bearing streams
(Wenatchee and Brushy on the 4-0 Ranch). Perennial streams will maintain 50 foot no-
cut/no-equipment buffers to maintain shade and help cool water for fish and other aquatic
species. Sedimentation in streams will be minimized by following the Road Maintenance and
Abandonment Plan in place on the unit. Between 800-1000 acres will be commercially and
non-commercially thinned to improve forest health, habitat, and reduce risk of catastrophic
fire. Thinning also improves the habitat for mule deer.
8. Maintain healthy bighorn sheep population by not allowing domestic sheep or goats on the
wildlife area and by communicating to the public the risk of diseases from domestic animals.
9. Protect golden eagles and other species by reducing the threat of lead poisoning by
investigating best management practices for lead ammunition.
10. Protect aquatic and other species by continuing to limit off-road vehicle travel and close any
temporary roads constructed for forest health projects to vehicles. This includes reducing the
number of ADA licensees taking motorized vehicles beyond where it is allowed.
11. Implement the Grazing Management Plan for the 4-0 Ranch Unit, which specifies that
ecological integrity is maintained with protective conditions, wolf-related responsibilities, and
monitoring is conducted. Grazing is not permitted in the drainage of Wenatchee Creek, the
largest stream in the covered area. This includes the stream, riparian area, and all portions of
the drainage except for the rims 1,000+ feet above. Existing improved livestock watering
facilities will help minimize streambank degradation.
12. Provide information to the public about the management of ESA-listed species. Develop
talking points on fish protection and management activities. The outreach will include
information about climate change vulnerability of listed fish.
13. Develop an interpretive site/information on the 4-0 Ranch. Determine messaging, location,
and include climate change impacts, especially for fish and aquatic resources.
14. Protect wintering wildlife by implementing emergency closures to human entry in sensitive
areas like the 4-0 Ranch Unit, when determined necessary by the wildlife area manager and
district biologist.
15. Use best management practices to reduce impacts to habitat, rare plants, fish, and wildlife
when developing recreational facilities, such as the planning for a proposed trail connection
from the 4-0 Ranch to Forest Service trails on Wenatchee Creek.
1816. Identify high use areas on the units where toilets could be located.
17. Manage and develop recreational activities that promote non-consumptive recreational uses
compatible with fish and wildlife, such as wildlife viewing, hiking, and interpretational of the
cultural and ecological significance of the unit
See Table 4 for the Management Action Timeline.
Required Species Conservation Measures
To ensure protection of those species intended to benefit from acquisition and conservation of the
property, measures will be applied to any activities currently allowed under this plan and to any
activities which may be approved for implementation for the future.
Habitat Management and Uses
This section briefly describes habitat management activities on the Blue Mountains Wildlife Areas,
with information specifically on the 4-0 Ranch Unit. This includes ecological integrity, forest
management, road management, restoration, weed management, grazing, agriculture, recreation,
and cultural resources. The unit has significant acreage of native grasslands, riparian habitat,
ponderosa pine woodlands, wildflower meadows, and curl-leaf mountain mahogany stands. The
Grande Ronde Subbasin Plan (Northwest Power and Conservation Council) identified these habitats
to be protected and managed to improve ecological functions.
Riparian Conditions and Management
The project area includes sections of Wenatchee, Grouse, and Brushy creeks. The riparian areas are
all in relatively natural states, and do not show signs of recent disturbance. Riparian restoration has
not been identified at this time.
Livestock are not permitted in or near Wenatchee Creek. The riparian zone along Wenatchee Creek is
brushy, grown over, difficult to access, and not used by the public. Along Grouse Creek, only a very
short, steep-sided stream reach is included in the permitted grazing area. Such terrain tends to
discourage livestock use, but WDFW will respond to any observed livestock use of this area with
measures that will protect fish habitat, typically with fencing or timing restrictions. Similar measures
will be implemented as necessary in other riparian areas, including an unnamed tributary to Grouse
Creek and Brushy Creek (a Wenatchee Creek tributary), which support typical assemblages of native
species. Presently, livestock are utilizing three wells, rather than riparian areas, for much of their
stock water on this side of the 4-0 Ranch Unit. Ongoing monitoring—in particular, Multiple Indicator
Monitoring (US DOI 2011), which is designed to provide detailed data describing livestock usage and
riparian condition—is expected to inform WDFW if this situation changes and riparian areas become
affected by livestock grazing.
19Figure 4: Ecological Systems of the 4-0 Ranch Unit
20The 4-0 Ranch Unit is covered by many ecological systems, and is dominated by eight systems. They are listed
by relative size (with the top two predominating). The systems in bold face have been identified as systems
of concern in the state:
Columbia Basin Foothill and Canyon Dry Grassland
Northern Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine Woodland and Savanna
Northern Rocky Mountain Dry-Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest
Northern Rocky Mountain Lower Montane, Foothill, and Valley Grassland
Columbia Plateau Steppe and Grassland
Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Mesic Meadow
Northern Rocky Mountain Western Larch Savanna
Northern Rocky Mountain Lower Montane Riparian Woodland and Shrubland
Forest Management
Forest management activities will restore or maintain fire-resilient forests on the 4-0 Ranch. Timber harvest
and prescribed fire will remove excess fuels within treatment areas and presumably allow wildfires to burn
through areas at a lower fire severity and intensity. This could feasibly benefit fish by minimizing soil
sterilization and erosion that can be associated with catastrophic high severity-high intensity forest fires.
The two fish-bearing streams on the 4-0 Ranch, Wenatchee Creek and Brushy Creek, are at the bottom of
steep canyons that would very likely not be treated due to inaccessibility and expense. Forest management
activities follow all Forest Practices riparian management zone requirements for upland perennial and
seasonal streams that may flow into the fish-bearing streams. Seasonal streams may be thinned, but will have
equipment-limitation-zones to reduce potential for sedimentation of entering streams. Perennial streams will
maintain 50 foot no-cut/no-equipment buffers to maintain shade and help cool water for fish and other
aquatic species.
Table 3 describes the planned or potential forest management projects on the 4-0 Ranch Unit in the next 10
years. Two commercial thins are planned in the area covered by this plan.
Table 3. Forest Treatment on the 4-0 Ranch Unit
Estimated Anticipated
Objective Treatment Unit Acres Task Completion
300 acres
complete 2018;
Reduce tree density to improve Mountain View, 4-0 Ranch More thinning
forest health and fire resiliency Wildlife Area 300 to 500 Commercial Thin planned 2020
Accelerate reforestation and
reduce risk of catastrophic Mountain View, 4-0 Ranch Non-commercial
wildfire Wildlife Area up to 500 Thin 2019
Reduce tree density to improve Sawmill, 4-0 Ranch Wildlife
forest health and fire resiliency Area 500 Commercial Thin 2022
Reduce tree density to improve Cougar Creek Rd, 4-0 Ranch 200 Commercial Thin To Be
forest health and fire resiliency Wildlife Area Determined
Reduce tree density to improve Mace, 4-0 Ranch Wildlife To Be
forest health and fire resiliency Area 400 Commercial Thin Determined
Stimulate understory vegetation 4-0 Ranch, Asotin Creek, To Be Prescribed Fire To Be Determined
and reduce risk of catastrophic fire Weatherly Wildlife Areas Determined
21Figure 5: Forest Treatment on the 4-0 Ranch Unit
New road construction for timber harvest and prescribed fire will be minimized to the extent possible, and
roads constructed will be placed on existing road ‘footprints’ when feasible. The entire area has been logged
previously and roads are established. A Road Maintenance and Abandonment Plan (RMAP) has been
developed, and forest management activities will continue to follow the RMAP for the 4-0 Ranch. The RMAP
minimizes sedimentation in streams. Since the acquisition, two areas of concern on the Mountain View side
identified in the RMAP have been addressed to comply with Washington Forest Practice Rules. First, a non-
functional culvert on a seasonal stream was replaced with a rocked ford. Second, an area that was washing
sediment into Medicine Creek after a winter snowmelt event was fixed with two wide rocked fords, rock
placement on both sides of the fords for few hundred feet, and ditching above the lower ford. The RMAP
minimizes the possibility of sedimentation into the streams through these and other crossings.
Weed Management
The goal of weed control on WDFW managed lands is to maintain and improve the habitat for fish and wildlife,
meet legal obligations, provide good stewardship, and protect adjacent private lands. Control for certain
listed species, regardless of extent, is mandated by state law (RCW 17.10 and 17.26) and enforced by the
County Noxious Weed Board. WDFW will strive to meet its legal obligation to control noxious weeds listed
according to state law (Class A, B-Designate, and county listed weeds).
State law (RCW 17.15) requires that WDFW use integrated pest management (IPM), defined as a coordinated
decision-making and action process that uses the most appropriate pest control methods and strategy in an
22environmentally and economically sound manner to meet agency programmatic pest management objectives,
to accomplish weed control. The elements of IPM include: prevention, monitoring, and prioritizing.
Managing weeds is a significant part of staff workload to establish and maintain diverse native plant
communities that support fish and wildlife populations. Invasive plants and noxious weeds can infest high
quality native plant communities and convert them to low quality monocultures that reduce wildlife value.
The weed management plan (see Appendix B of the Blue Mountains Management Plan) identifies species, and
management practices to control weeds. The goal of weed control plan is to maintain or improve the habitat
for fish and wildlife, meet legal obligations, and reduce spread to adjacent private lands.
The botanical survey conducted for rare plants also surveyed for noxious weeds (Beck 2015). No Class A
noxious weeds were observed. Class B weeds observed include:
• Diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa) – Scattered plants observed in low elevation areas
• Rush skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea) – Roadsides. Controlled by Wildlife Area personnel.
• Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) – Common in riparian areas of large creeks
• Common hound’s-tongue (Cynoglossum officinale) – Uncommon
• Hairy willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum) – Uncommon, small
• Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) – Patches
• Dalmatian toad-flax (Linaria dalmatica) - Uncommon and scattered
• Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium) - Widespread and common
• Sulfur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta) – Observed several times in disturbed areas
• Puncture vine (Tribulus terrestris) – Populations of this noxious weed are controlled by Wildlife Area personnel.
Wildlife area staff identified these weeds of primary concern on the 4-0 Ranch Unit to focus on:
- Sulfur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta)
- Annual invasive grasses such as: ventenata (Ventenata dubia); jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrical);
and medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae).
- Small amounts of rush skeletonweed (Condrilla juncea), Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium).
Restoration
The 4-0 Ranch property was desirable for protection by WDFW since it was in generally in good condition and
agricultural and forestry had been well managed. In the Blue Mountains Wildlife Area Management Plan
(2019), no specific restoration needs have been identified, however weed management is a high priority.
Without scrupulous management, weeds are a natural consequence of agriculture. The former owner of the
4-O Ranch managed its agriculture both with relatively intense management and with relatively high amounts
of physical inputs like fertilizer, seed, and infrastructure. Neither are within WDFW’s long-term capacity. To
ensure that weeds do not invade agricultural fields, WDFW will seek to retire some of those fields by restoring
them to diverse stands of native, perennial vegetation. Once established, native plant communities resist
weeds by competing with them for resources and provide self-sustaining habitat value for wildlife. WDFW will
focus on keeping weeds in check while seeking restoration funding needed to retire those fields.
Road Management
The primary access roads to the 4-0 Ranch Unit are county roads. The Grande Ronde Road that follows the
river is also a county road, maintained by Asotin County. The only roads on the unit are for administrative-use
only. These roads are closed to the public for motorized access for the protection of wildlife and habitat, but
23non-motorized use is allowed. There is no regular maintenance schedule for the roads. Repairs or upgrades
such as unclogging culverts, adding gravel, grading, and repairing washouts occurs on an as-needed basis.
There are no roads in the riparian area of Wenatchee Creek. If roads are created for forest management, the
Forest Practices rules are followed to reduce the impacts of sedimentation to aquatic species.
Grazing Management
Livestock grazing has been occurring on the lands that are part of the 4-0 Ranch Unit for many years, and
under WDFW ownership, is now managed according to the grazing plan developed by the interdisciplinary
WDFW District 3 team (see Figure 8) and in cooperation with the operator. This plan is consistent with WDFW
Commission Policy on livestock grazing, which specifies that ecological integrity will be maintained where
grazing is permitted. Maintenance of ecological integrity is achieved with protective conditions, and is
demonstrated with long-term range monitoring. Additionally, the permit includes wolf-related
responsibilities. Additional guidance for WDFW lands as it pertains to grazing where wolves are present is
under development in collaboration with a diverse set of interested parties.
The grazing plan contains the following protections that are or may be relevant for the protected species:
1. Stocking rate of up to 659 animal-unit months on over 2,650 acres, including productive current and
former hay fields.
2. Permitted timing is restricted to a window between May 15 and July 31. These dates can be amended
depending on the conditions at the time. This relatively early off-date minimizes the likelihood that
livestock will over-utilize streams and riparian areas, a risk that is highest in late summer and early fall.
3. The largest stream in the area, Wenatchee Creek, is excluded entirely from any permitted grazing. This
includes the stream, riparian area, and all portions of the drainage except for the rims 1,000+ feet
above.
4. Salt supplements are to be placed as far from water as practical.
5. Riparian/wetland vegetation in unfenced spring and riparian areas must exhibit 6 inch minimum
stubble height (verified during the grazing season) or livestock must be moved.
6. Adaptive management may occur in response to periodic range condition monitoring, and the
department reserves the right to restrict acreage or allotted forage if needed for fish and wildlife.
These measures, combined with existing improved livestock watering facilities, are expected to minimize
streambank degradation and sediment delivery to streams, and to encourage robust riparian vegetation and
improved stream structure, consistent with recommendations in the 2015 USFWS Bull Trout Recovery Plan,
and consistent with the regional approach to address tributary habitat-related factors limiting recovery of
Snake River spring/summer Chinook salmon and steelhead populations (NOAA 2017).
Grazing is permitted on the entire permit acreage including fields (areas shown as “Ag field), as shown on the
map below, and subject to conditions in the permit. Where grazing actually occurs in the permit area may
change from year to year. In 2018 there was no grazing on the Grouse Creek east pasture.
24Figure 6: Grazing Areas on the 4-0 Ranch
25Agriculture
Agriculture has been an integral part of management practices on the wildlife area and can provide multiple
benefits for wildlife, habitat, and the local economy. It is an effective way to enhance forage and cover for
wildlife, and it provides weed and erosion control. Until 2017, agricultural and ranch activities on the 4-0
Ranch Unit were coordinated under the management of a single owner/operator who also lived on the ranch.
WDFW now allows agriculture (no cultivation, hay only) and grazing on the 4-0 Ranch Unit in subsections, and
agricultural opportunity in each elicits far less interest from potential lessees than the corresponding grazing
permit. The agricultural fields require regular management and are too remote for WDFW staff to manage in
a cost-effective manner. Consequently, an agriculture lease accompanies the grazing permits on the unit.
Agricultural leases, like grazing, are negotiated with the lessees and are designed to meet needs of the agency,
wildlife, the farmer, and the community. In the near term, agriculture fields are in use; in the future, with
sufficient resources, WDFW ideally would restore these fields back to native grassland habitat, which would
provide native cover to wildlife while suppressing weeds.
Education and Outreach
The Draft Blue Mountains Wildlife Areas Management Plan identifies an objective to provide information to
the public about ESA-listed species management, and to develop an interpretive site/information for the 4-0
Ranch Unit.
Recreation
Recreation on the 4-0 Ranch Unit includes hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, camping, horseback riding, and
shed antler collecting. All hunting and fishing is managed annually under statewide regulations and seasons.
The 4-0 Ranch is managed as a quality hunt for deer and elk, meaning that a limited number of permits are
issued. Statewide rules governing pets allow hunters to use hunting dogs under their control, but not to let
them or other pets roam unattended. From April through July, all dogs and other pets must be leashed on
WDFW lands to protect nesting wildlife. Dog presence on the 4-0 Ranch and in general on the wildlife areas is
not a concern at this time, and WDFW officers can enforce violations. The growing popularity of collecting
shed antlers has led to some emergency closures to protect wintering wildlife from disturbance.
In 2018, a campground with an outhouse was constructed on the 4-0 Ranch Unit, outside of the covered area
of this plan, in cooperation with the Backcountry Horsemen. WDFW allows commercial and group activities
on wildlife areas with a permit from the regional office. Non-commercial group activities of 30 participants or
more must have a permit. For commercial operators such as rafting companies or hunting and fishing guides,
a fee-based permit is required to operate on the wildlife area. In the Blue Mountains, rafting is a popular
activity on the Snake and Grande Ronde rivers, and about 6-10 commercial use permits are issued each year.
An action in the Blue Mountains Wildlife Areas Plan is to improve permit compliance by the outfitters and to
improve the facilities at Heller Bar on the Snake River.
The 4-0 Ranch Unit has fishing access along the lower Grande Ronde River. Fishing regulations in the Grande
Ronde provide opportunities to harvest gamefish including rainbow trout and hatchery origin steelhead.
Season structure, gear restrictions, and tributary closures provide protection of spring and fall Chinook, bull
trout, and natural origin steelhead. More information is found at WDFW’s Fishing Regulations webpage:
https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations
26You can also read
