Campfires are restricted year-round on the Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area.
The Vance-Ferry Road Unit is made of two parcels on the Yakima River. The river flows along the northern boundary of this unit, offering about 0.75 mile of river frontage along the south shore of the river. This unit consists mostly of agricultural fields with habitat borders.
The Vance-Ferry Road Unit is located 1 mile northeast of Mabton in Yakima County. The unit can be accessed from Ferry Road off of Euclid Road.
The Vance-Ferry Road Unit is located within the Lower Yakima River watershed in the Columbia Plateau. Surrounding lands are predominantly privately-owned agriculture.
This unit is part of the Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area.
Game Management Units: 373, 372
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
- Daylight hours only.
Hunting
This unit offers opportunities to hunt deer, waterfowl, Eurasian collared dove, mourning dove, quail, and small game.
Hunting advisories
- A special migratory bird closure exists on part of this unit (WAC 220-416-070). It is unlawful to hunt migratory waterfowl, coot, and snipe within this area.
Wildlife viewing
This unit has mostly agricultural fields with some bordering riparian habitat along the Yakima River, offering opportunities to view waterfowl and other bird species.
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
This unit is predominantly agricultural fields that are farmed in a small grain/alfalfa hay rotation. A buffer was established along the river that exists as a mix of annual and perennial grasses and broadleaf weeds. A small island of natural shrubs, trees and herbaceous vegetation separates the Vance acquisition from the old Ferry Road habitat plot. A single row of mature elm trees lies along two segments of the boundary. Two shrub plots were planted on the Vance unit to break up the agricultural fields and provide more woody cover.
Special habitats and species
The unit has components of resident and anadromous fish in the Yakima River. Rainbow trout are resident while spring and fall chinook salmon and steelhead trout are migratory.
Conservation goals
- Protect and enhance habitat for state and federal listed species
- Maintain agriculture leases to benefit migrating waterfowl, upland birds, and Sandhill cranes
- Maintain and restore shrubsteppe, upland and floodplain habitat
The unit has components of resident and anadromous fish in the Yakima River. Rainbow trout are resident while spring and fall chinook salmon and steelhead trout are migratory.
- Protect and enhance habitat for state and federal listed species
- Maintain agriculture leases to benefit migrating waterfowl, upland birds, and Sandhill cranes
- Maintain and restore shrubsteppe, upland and floodplain habitat
Land stewardship
A portion of this unit was acquired in the 1940s to protect upland bird habitat. Additional property was later purchased as part of the Snake River mitigation program.
Acquisition history
The parcels making up this area were purchased between 1944 and 1994.
| Funder | Fund |
|---|---|
| US Army Corps of Engineers | Snake River Mitigation Account |
| US Fish and Wildlife Service | Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Program |
| 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