Waikiki Springs Wildlife Area Unit
The Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area covers approximately 20,900 acres, of which around 1,280 acres are leased from the Washington Department of Natural Resources. Elevation ranges from about 1,640 feet in the southwest to about 2,490 feet in the northeast. Managed as one unit, Swanson Lakes is located in Lincoln County, about 10 miles south of the town of Creston in the upper portion of the Crab Creek Watershed. The Audubon Lake Unit, a 277-acre property at the town of Reardan further east in Lincoln County, is managed separately.
The wildlife area has numerous pothole lakes, a handful of rim rock lakes, and one intermittent stream, Lake Creek, a tributary of Rock Creek. Within the channeled scablands of the Columbia Plateau, it also includes plateaus, buttes, and channels. Shrubsteppe and riparian/wetlands are the main habitats, and much of the area is rangeland, with some old Conservation Reserve Program fields and several hundred acres of restored grassland habitat. A small amount of leased cropland produces cereal grains and hay.
Swanson Lakes was acquired mainly between 1993 and 1997 as a Bonneville Power Administration wildlife mitigation project, primarily for Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, a state threatened species. It also supports a mix of species, including mule deer, upland game birds, raptors, songbirds, and several reptiles and amphibians. 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.
Wildlife area units
Management planning
2015 Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area Management Plan
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) revised the management plan for Swanson Lakes and Revere wildlife areas in 2015. The new plan, which was developed through a public process, addresses the status of wildlife species and their habitat, the progress of restoration efforts, and public recreation opportunities. The plan covers management activities for three distinctly different landscapes in the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area, the Reardan Audubon Lake Unit, and the Revere Wildlife Area. Every eight to 10 years, 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.
Planning Advisory Committee
Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area Advisory Committee