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Sunnyside-Snake River
Wildlife Area Location
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| CONTACT INFORMATION
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Mike Keller
Manager |
2030 Holaday Road
Mabton, WA 98935 |
(509) 837-7644
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For more information on
Wildlife Areas, please contact
the WDFW Wildlife Program.
Phone: 360-902-2515
E-mail: wildthing@dfw.wa.gov
| Parking Information |
A Discover Pass or
Vehicle Access Pass
is REQUIRED
on ALL WDFW Lands
Learn more |
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Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area
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 The Windmill Ranch unit consists of four separate parcels totaling 2,000 acres located about three miles northwest of Mesa in Franklin County. Parcels are owned by WDFW, DNR, and BOR, but all are managed by WDFW. Field corn is grown for the benefit of wintering waterfowl and migrating sandhill cranes. The rest of the area is a mosaic of several habitat types, including shrub-steppe, grasslands, ponds, wetlands and riparian shrub, and forest. A history of grazing and fire has removed much of the shrub component from the shrub-steppe areas but replanting efforts have restored at least part of it. Wetlands, primarily formed by irrigation seepage and wastewater and return flows, are also scattered throughout the property. Some are intensively managed for moist soil conditions and waterfowl production and winter food. Others are left to function naturally. The Columbia Basin Irrigation Project, which is the source of all water on this site, has created numerous sub-irrigated areas that are rife with noxious weeds such as Canada thistle, phragmites, purple loosestrife and salt cedar. A relatively new weed, hairy willow herb, was just discovered on this site in 2005.
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Birds
Birds of Prey Shorebirds Songbirds Upland Birds Wading Birds Waterfowl
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Mammals
Deer Elk
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Other
Reptiles/Amphibians
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Click Here
for Printable
Map and Driving Directions |
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| Access Site #1 |
Driving Directions
In Franklin Co., and from Highway 17 near Mesa, take state route 170 west, toward Basin City. Drive 4 miles to Colonial Road. Drive north on Colonial Road for approx. .75 mile. The road makes a 90 degree turn to the east and ends in the south parking lot. |
Parking/Restroom Information
Gravel parking lot. No facilities |
Other Information
Register to Hunt; 5 car limit during hunting seasons only. No overnight camping or open fires. See kiosk for further information/restrictions |
| Access Site #2 |
Driving Directions
From Highway 17, north of Mesa, take Merion Road and drive 2 miles west. Cross the Potholes Canal and turn right into the parking lot, which is hidden from view by a willow thicket. (do not take the canal access road). |
Parking/Restroom Information
Gravel parking lot. No facilities |
Other Information
same as the south parking lot. 5 car limit in each of the parking lots during the hunting seasons. Register to Hunt. |
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| This 2,000 acre site provides very diverse habitat. It is a working ranch, with 9 center pivots providing irrigation to mostly small grains. Several shrub plantings and pond developments are scattered throughout the site. A large lake runs across the northern boundary. Sandhill cranes are a common site in the ag fields in the spring. Heavy concentrations of waterfowl are common in these fields after the hunting season. Foot traffic only |
| This area can provide excellent upland and waterfowl hunting. The restricted access can result in high competition for parking slots at the beginning of the hunting season and again in late winter when waterfowl numbers are high. |
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OTHER INFORMATION
