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Columbia Basin
Wildlife Area Location
CONTACT INFORMATION
Greg Fitzgerald
Manager
6653 Road K NE
Moses Lake, WA 98837
(509) 765-6641
colbaswa@dfw.wa.gov
 
For more information on
Wildlife Areas, please contact
the WDFW Wildlife Program.

Phone: 360-902-2515
E-mail: wildthing@dfw.wa.gov

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Wildlife Area Search Tools   
     
 Index of Wildlife Areas and Units 
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

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    How to Get Here
    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.
     
       OTHER INFORMATION
    • Columbia Basin Wildlife Area Management Plan & Updates
    • Wildlife Area Habitat Conservation Plans
    • Weekender Report
    • Wildlife Area Viewing Guide
    • Accessing Washington's Outdoors
    Find a Water Access Site
       MAPPING
    • Billy Clapp Lake Unit - Detailed Land Ownership & Resource Map
    • GoHunt - Interactive Mapping
    Vehicle Use Permit
    Vehicle Use Permit
    Permit required for use of all WDFW lands.
       OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
    No activities currently listed for this Unit.
     

    If you are Hunting or Fishing, remember to check all current regulations.

    Activities may include restrictions or require permits. Please see Public Conduct Rules for more information.

    Find a bug or error in the system? Let us know about it!
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