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| Washington
Wildlife Areas
Sinlahekin Wildlife Area |
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The Sinlahekin Wildlife Area, established in 1939 to protect winter range for mule deer, is the oldest wildlife area in the state of Washington, and consists of nearly 14,000 acres. The Driscoll Island Wildlife Area, established in 1974 to provide foraging and nesting habitat for Canada geese, consists of 260 acres. These wildlife areas are open to the public for wildlife viewing, fishing, hunting, hiking, boating, and other wildlife-oriented recreational activities. Sinlahekin Wildlife Area Fishing has been a huge attraction to the SWA. In 1950, the former Game Department constructed four dams creating impoundments: Schallow Pond, Forde Lake, Reflection Pond and Conners Lake. All of these lakes have been and still are stocked, in addition to the wild production of Brook, Rainbow, and Cutthroat trout. Blue Lake, maintained by a diversion of water out of Sinlahekin Creek for irrigation storage, was historically a Cutthroat Trout broodstock lake in the 1950’s and 60’s, then was managed as a put-and-take fishery until the 1990s, when it was converted to a Selective Fishery that has turned into one of the Blue Ribbon Selective fisheries in Washington. Many people who live near the SWA drive through and/or camp on a regular basis to enjoy the wildlife and outdoor experience. In addition to protecting the lands of the Sinlahekin Valley for mule deer winter range and providing public hunting and fishing, another reason given for purchasing Sinlahekin lands was to buy lands where deer damage was becoming a big problem. In 1957, eighteen California Bighorn Sheep were captured near Williams Lake, British Columbia, and transplanted to the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area in an effort to reintroduce bighorn sheep to Washington. The effort was successful, resulting in reestablishment of bighorn sheep populations to the Sinlahekin. Subsequently groups of California Bighorn sheep from the SWA were translocated to the Wooten Wildlife Area in 1960, the Colockum Wildlife Area in 1962, the Oak Creek Wildlife Area in 1967, and the Swakane Wildlife Area in 1969. From these transplants California Bighorn Sheep became well established in Washington, where they had been extirpated since the 1940s. Weeds, in particular Dalmatian Toadflax, Baby’s breath, and Russian and Diffuse knapweed, have been and will continue to be a challenge that requires persistence and dedication to keep them under control. However, biocontrol of Diffuse knapweed seems to be relatively successful, with hopes of more biocontrol agents becoming available for the other weeds. Historically and presently the SWA has been funded by Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act dollars. Other funds have been made available to the SWA for weed control, equipment acquisition, and grant match funds. Recently, grants have been obtained through the National Fire Plan. These grants have been used to
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