Bailie Wildlife Area Unit
The Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area covers approximately 21,500 acres located in Franklin, Benton, and Yakima counties. Acquisitions began in the late 1940s to protect and enhance habitat and provide public recreation. Some of the lands also help meet mitigation goals for Bonneville Power Administration and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers construction projects to address habitat losses for a variety of wildlife species. Some of the management units are owned by the Bureau of Reclamation, but are managed as part of the wildlife area.
Close to one half of the acreage is shrubsteppe and grassland, while open water, cultivated cropland, and woodland are the other main land cover. There are many water access sites scattered across the wildlife area, with most along the Yakima River. The wildlife area is popular for wildlife recreation, especially fishing, hunting, and bird watching. By actively managing lands, restoring habitats, and preserving wild places, the department serves as stewards for Washington's natural places, protecting the state's land and water for its human and wildlife populations.
Check out the Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area story map to learn more about the opportunities and benefits WDFW land management facilitates for the public, wildlife, and habitats.
Wildlife area units
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