Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Management Plan

Sherman Creek Wildlife Area is located in Ferry County in northeast Washington. It lies along the west side of Lake Roosevelt in the eastern foothills of the Kettle River Range. The land was purchased in 1948 with Pittman-Robertson and State Wildlife funds to protect deer on the winter range and provide for wildlife related recreation. The Sherman Creek Wildlife Area is managed as a significant winter range for deer to date. There are five parcels totaling 8,782 managed acres.

The primary management concerns and public issues identified in the Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Plan are:

• Maintain big game populations
• Improve and maintain fish populations
• Manage for upland birds
• Manage for species diversity
• Protect and restore riparian habitat
• Protect and manage other species
• Provide sustainable fish and wildlife related recreation
• Manage weeds consistent with state and county rules

In 2006, WDFW staff completed the draft Wildlife Area Management Plan and prepared for timber harvest activities related to the Bisbee Mountain Fire Salvage Sale and the Sherman Creek/Oak Creek PTR Exchange Timber Sale. The salvage operation includes about 500 acres of fire-damaged lands on which standard timber salvage will take place. The PTR Exchange Sale identifies 3,955 acres of wildlife area lands available for harvest over a 5-year period, scheduled to begin in 2008. Goals of this activity include wildlife habitat improvement, protection of stream corridors, reducing impacts of forest fires through appropriate fuels management and improving overall forest health.