Columbia Basin Wildlife Area Billy Clapp Lake Unit
The Billy Clapp Lake unit is 4,000 acres along what was originally called Long Lake Reservoir, but re-named in honor of one of the originators of the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project. The natural coulee was dammed on the lower south end (Pinto Dam) to create the reservoir. Water cascades into the upper end of the reservoir from the Main Canal creating Summer Falls. Basalt cliffs of varying heights encompass the reservoir. Most of the shoreline is too steep and rocky to support wetland or riparian vegetation, and the uplands are a mix of poor quality gravelly soils and basalt outcroppings. Vegetation varies from the fire-caused cheatgrass or bunchgrass communities to native woody shrubs on talus slopes. BOR maintains public parking, and boat launching is available on the north end of the lake. The Stratford Game Reserve encompasses nearly all the public land in this unit. Originally designated to provide a resting area for migrating waterfowl each fall, public use and changing migration patterns have made the Game Reserve less effective.
Viewing Opportunities
Birds
Birds of Prey
Eagles
Shorebirds
Songbirds
Upland Birds
Wading Birds
Waterfowl
Mammals
Elk
Small Mammals
Other
Butterflies
Reptiles/Amphibians
Wildflowers
How to Get Here
Click Here
for Printable
Map and Driving Directions
Access Site #1
Driving Directions From Moses Lake and the intersection of Hwy. 17 and Stratford Road; Go north on Stratford Road about 20 miles and then through the small town of Stratford. Go across Hwy. 28 to county Road J NE and proceed north on Road J NE to the end of the road, about 2.5 miles, where WDFW maintains a paved parking area with an outhouse, a courtesy dock and two concrete boat ramps on Billy Clapp Reservoir.
Parking/Restroom Information In addition to the paved parking area described above, there is a primitive parking area on the east side of the Billy Clapp Reservoir that is about two miles from the west end of county Road 26 NE off of county Road Q NE.
Other Information Nearly all of the Billy Clapp Unit is within the Billy Clapp Game Reserve.
Unique Features
Billy Clapp Reservoir is a natural coulee with high basalt walls. The dam at the south end impounds water for the federal Columbia Basin Irrigation Project. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation maintains a day use park at the north end of the reservoir which is accessed from Pinto Ridge Road.
A Discover Pass or WDFW Vehicle Access Pass
is required on all WDFW lands. Learn more at DiscoverPass.wa.gov
OTHER INFORMATION
