Managing Wildlife Populations
Region 3 Pre-season Duck Banding: District 8 Assistant Wildlife Biologist Wilson (formerly Moore) and Statewide Waterfowl Specialist Wilson continue their duck banding efforts in Yakima County. Although repairs to pumps at the Sunnyside Wildlife Area have delayed work at this site, water has been restored to the rice paddies, allowing the team to transition their efforts from the northern Yakima County site in Moxee to Sunnyside. They will continue until the banding quota is met.
District 4 Monarch Caterpillar Surveys: District 4 Assistant Biologist Hoffman and District 4 Biologist Fidorra conducted caterpillar surveys on the Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area in Franklin County. By following up on sightings of monarch butterflies to look for caterpillars, the district team can identify breeding sites and more effectively manage wildlife area units to support declining pollinator populations.
Providing Recreation Opportunities
Region 3 Private Lands Access Agreements: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach has been working with contracts staff members on updating and renewing expired access agreement contracts. These access opportunities will be live on the Private Land’s website in the coming weeks. Hunt dates have been added for all Hunt by Reservation opportunities in the region and those slots are open to be reserved for the hunting seasons beginning September 1st.
Region 3 Private Lands Parking Areas and Sign Maintenance: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach and Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Pizzini have been mowing parking areas, updating maps and rules at registration boxes, refilling registration slips, and maintaining signs for private lands access. Hunters will be able to park safely at all parking areas and fresh maps and signs will help them with ease of access.
Providing Conflict Prevention and Education
District 4 Rattlesnake Hills Elk Hazing: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand continued to spend time hazing elk out of winter wheat crops near the top of Rattlesnake Mountain and recently near tree fruit and wine grape vineyards near Benton City.
District 4 Rattlesnake Mountain Wheat Harvest: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand continued to work with wheat harvest operations to document crop damage impacts from Hanford elk. This year’s harvest is now complete, and we are waiting for the crop adjuster and producer to compile all the necessary documents and field assessments to file the crop damage claim. Several fields received substantial elk damage, although not likely enough to file for federal crop insurance.
District 4 Benton City Elk Damage: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand received a new damage complaint from an orchardist in the Benton City area concerning elk damaging a new block of young cherry trees. A Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement was developed, and damage permits issued to help minimize the crop damage.
District 4 Horn Rapids Deer Damage: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand patrolled and completed hazing operations at a wine grape vineyard along the Yakima River.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Cole Creek Bridge: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Winegeart and Natural Resource Technician Blore hauled the wildlife area track loader to the Yakima River unit to block a new user-built road that took vehicles through Cole Creek. It was intended to block the bridge that’s unsafe to cross. They blocked the road but left the Forest Service bridge open because vehicles crossed the bridge while they were there and closing would risk trapping individuals, forcing them to take a greater risk by driving through the creek and around the new barrier.
L.T. Murray Grazing: Assistant Manager Winegeart and Natural Resource Technician Blore assisted the Wildhorse Windfarm install two virtual fence base stations that will cover a large portion of the grazing coordinated resource management project that includes Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Department of Natural Resources, and Puget Sound Energy properties.
Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area - Sunnyside Wetlands: The pump at the Sunnyside Headquarters unit of the Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area has been repaired and the rice paddies wetlands are in the process of being reflooded. The first cell has completely filled and WDFW staff members are trapping ducks.
Mesa Lake Pacman Wetland Project: The Mesa Lake Pacman Wetland Development project with Ducks Unlimited is nearing the construction phase. In preparation for contractor site visits, Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber began mowing the heavily overgrown Pacman Wetland.
Wenas Wildlife Area- Fire Restoration: Habitat Specialist Miller has been assisting Wenas Wildlife Area Manager Gray with the identification of restoration sites within the perimeter of the recent Black Canyon Fire. These sites are going to be the start of efforts to reestablish native habitat lost in the recent burn. Expedient action on these sites is essential to try and ensure that native plants and species gain a solid foothold, helping to prevent the further encroachment of noxious weeds. Gray met cultural resources staff members to conduct field surveys for immediate needs tied to the Black Canyon Fire Restoration. This includes propping up approximately 1.5 miles of elk fence until it can be fully replaced to metal, plug planting sites, aerial spraying sites and broadcast seeding sites. Gray has been working closely with cultural resources staff members and was able to get immediate work cleared. She has been coordinating with the Management Analyst Nelson to line out rehab fund needs tied to the fire.
Wenas Wildlife Area—Weed Control: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members have started to shift the focus of weed control from Russian thistle to knapweed. Wenas Natural Resource Technicians Janes and Stoltenow finished up spraying the Russian thistle surrounding the feed site and have begun spraying knapweed, mainly along the Bull Pasture Road.
Oak Creek Wildlife Area Fire Restoration: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Manager Mackey and Assistant Manager Charlet have been working to identify restoration needs across the 15,000-acre footprint of the recent Retreat Fire. The goal of these efforts is to reestablish native habitat that was lost in the recent burn and limit the spread of noxious weeds through these areas. Restoration efforts will include the planting of pine seedlings, seeding of native grasses, planting or seeding of sage brush, removal of destroyed elk fence exclosures, replacement of a half mile of elk fence, and noxious weed control. Mackey has been working with WDFW cultural resource staff members to organize cultural resource surveys before restoration work can begin. Mackey has also helped in the initiation of planning a field trip with the science community to assess impacts and forest treatment effectiveness post fire.
Other
L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Regional Awards: The L.T. Murray crew attended the annual Region 3 awards ceremony.
Oak Creek Wildlife Area Retreat Fire Continued Efforts: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Manager Mackey continues efforts to coordinate permitting and support to the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District to replace wildlife protection features on the canal that were damaged during the Retreat Fire.
PLHO Reservation System: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach attended three meetings with a handful of other private lands biologists and a contracting company to discuss the requirements of a new and improved reservation system. This first step towards a new system was very productive and presentations from different vendors will be following shortly. Hopefully this will lead to an updated and more conducive system by next fall.