Campfires are restricted year-round on the Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area.
The Byron Unit is open ONLY during the general hunting season, and closed the rest of the year via an agreement with the City of Grandview. The west end of the unit is popular for hunting, with some fishing occurring in the ponds with perennial water. The east end of the unit is made up of the Byron Game Reserve where hunting, trapping, and dogs are excluded year-round, but birdwatching is an attraction. This unit is within the Yakima River Corridor and includes shrubsteppe habitat plus a wetland system that runs the entire length of the property.
The Byron Unit is located 5 miles east of Mabton and 5 miles south of Grandview in Yakima County. The unit can be accessed from State Route 22, and Bus Road off of State Route 22.
The Byron Unit is located within the Lower Yakima River watershed in the Columbia Plateau.
This unit is part of the Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area.
Game Management Unit: 373
Getting there
Maps and directions to WDFW-managed access points for this unit. Opens Google Maps in a new tab.
Recreation and public access
A Discover Pass is required on WDFW lands -- including water access areas, wildlife areas, and campgrounds -- unless you already have a Vehicle Access Pass issued with the purchase of an eligible hunting or fishing license. Recreate responsibly on public lands: please know the Public Conduct Rules.
Public facility information:
- Gravel parking area
- No restroom
Recreation and access advisories
- A wetland system runs the entire length of this property (approximately 2 miles) with only one crossing at the halfway point.
- Area is open only during the general hunting season, and closed the rest of the year via an agreement with the City of Grandview.
- That portion of the property lying east of the Mabton Siphon (large concrete pipe) is the Byron Reserve (no guns, traps, or dogs are allowed).
- This unit has very harsh, rocky terrain. Watch for rattlesnakes and observe appropriate precautions (PDF).
Hunting
The Byron Ponds have historically produced excellent waterfowl nesting and brooding areas, and the west end of this unit is heavily hunted.
Hunting advisories
- A Game Reserve is established on this unit (WAC 220-411-050). Game Reserves are CLOSED AREAS where hunting and trapping for all wild animals and wild birds is prohibited (RCW 77.12.047).
- Area is open only during the general hunting season, and closed the rest of the year via an agreement with the City of Grandview.
- It is unlawful to possess shot (either in shotshells or as loose shot for muzzleloading) other than nontoxic shot for any purpose on this unit (WAC 220-414-040).
Wildlife viewing
The Byron Game Reserve at the east end of this unit is popular for birdwatching. The Byron Ponds offer opportunities to view wildlife, including waterfowl and shorebirds; surrounding uplands are used extensively by Canada geese.
Search for potential birding opportunities on or near a wildlife area unit by using eBird Northwest, a citizen science database portal that provides freely-shared bird lists at 'hotspots' and interactive maps plus other birding information updated daily.
Conservation
The Byron Unit is within the Yakima River Corridor. The unit includes a wetland system that runs the entire length of the property (about 2 miles). The terrain is a series of depressions and rolling hills. A major drain, carrying ground water and irrigation water, runs through the area creating a series of ponds over 2 miles that total about 400 surface acres.
Special habitats and species
The Byron Ponds, have historically produced excellent waterfowl nesting and brooding areas. They are also important during the shorebird migration. However, a severe carp infestation has lowered the productivity as a brood rearing area. The surrounding uplands are used extensively by Canada geese, which graze on green cheat grass in late winter and early spring. A series of wetlands comprises at least 40 percent of the area. The major upland habitat type is shrubsteppe, but a long history of fire and grazing has resulted in severely degraded condition. Cheatgrass and Russian knapweed are the most prevalent weedy species on this site, but shallow, rocky soils make it difficult to restore native vegetation. The native vegetation is mainly grasses, forbs and shrubs. Native grass is mainly bluebunch wheatgrass and Sandberg bluegrass. The main shrub component is big sage and predominately rabbitbrush.
Conservation goals
- Maintain agriculture leases to benefit migrating waterfowl, upland birds, and Sandhill cranes
- Maintain and increase moist soil management
- Maintain and restore shrubsteppe, upland and floodplain habitat
- Protect and enhance habitat for state and federal listed species
- Maintain and restore wetland habitat
The Byron Ponds, have historically produced excellent waterfowl nesting and brooding areas. They are also important during the shorebird migration. However, a severe carp infestation has lowered the productivity as a brood rearing area. The surrounding uplands are used extensively by Canada geese, which graze on green cheat grass in late winter and early spring. A series of wetlands comprises at least 40 percent of the area. The major upland habitat type is shrubsteppe, but a long history of fire and grazing has resulted in severely degraded condition. Cheatgrass and Russian knapweed are the most prevalent weedy species on this site, but shallow, rocky soils make it difficult to restore native vegetation. The native vegetation is mainly grasses, forbs and shrubs. Native grass is mainly bluebunch wheatgrass and Sandberg bluegrass. The main shrub component is big sage and predominately rabbitbrush.
- Maintain agriculture leases to benefit migrating waterfowl, upland birds, and Sandhill cranes
- Maintain and increase moist soil management
- Maintain and restore shrubsteppe, upland and floodplain habitat
- Protect and enhance habitat for state and federal listed species
- Maintain and restore wetland habitat
Land stewardship
This unit was purchased with an emphasis on waterfowl management.
Acquisition history
The parcels making up this area were purchased between 1947 and 1994.
| Funder | Fund |
|---|---|
| WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife | WDFW Game Fund (now Wildlife Fund) |
Management planning
2020 Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Management Plan
Every eight to 10 years, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) revises management plans for each of its 33 wildlife areas to document current conditions, address new agency initiatives, and identify new management priorities and actions. In between those major revisions, WDFW updates plans every two years to outline short-term objectives and accomplishments. In 2014, WDFW began the process of updating existing plans, many of which were written in 2006. The new plans are being developed with significant public participation and input.
Planning Advisory Committee
Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Advisory Committee