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| Name | County | Water/Land own/mgt | Location | Boat Launch | Toilet | Camp | Special Information |
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| Bridgeport Bar #1 | DG | Wells WA | |||||
| Indian Dan Canyon | OK | Wells WA | 5 mi NW of Brewster | ||||
| Neff Bridge Site | OK | 4 mi NW of Pateros on Hwy 153 | |||||
| Poirier | OK | 2 mi W of Pateros on the north side of the Methow River | |||||
| Rawley | OK | 1 mile W. of Pateros on the N side of the Methow River |
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The Wells Wildlife Area is located on the northwest edge of the Columbia Plateau, a vast area underlain by a series of basaltic lava flows. The area contains hummocky rock knolls with numerous kettle ponds and lakes. Grass and shrub steppe habitats are dissected by riparian and occasional wetland habitats.
More than 120,000 shrubs and trees have been planted, 25 small ponds and five spring developments have been constructed, and 11 guzzlers installed. Seventeen small, dryland grain fields are farmed in upland plots for upland birds, 150 acres of waterfowl pasture have been produced with an average of 84 acres planted to grain crops for wildlife each year.
The Wells Wildlife Area is comprised of six management units including Bridgeport Bar, Central Ferry Canyon, Indian Dan Canyon, Okanogan, Washburn Island, and West Foster Creek. The headquarters is on Bridgeport Bar.
The Bridgeport Bar Unit includes 502 acres. It is located adjacent to Wells Pool (Lake Pateros) and three road miles east of Brewster. The Bridgeport Bar Unit is flat to gently rolling, varying in elevation from 780 to 810 feet. Many waterfowl frequent the Wells Pool, area ponds, and cultivated fields. This area is noted for wintering bald eagles between November and April, and nesting ospreys during spring and summer.
The Central Ferry Canyon Unit includes 1,538 acres in Central Ferry Canyon, four road miles southwest of Brewster. Central Ferry Canyon is gently rolling to steeply benched, ranging from 1,350 to 2,800 feet in elevation, and has a north aspect. Minor seeps and springs feed a central drainage, which flows intermittently. Extensive fingers of riparian vegetation dissect the shrub steppe-dominated canyon. Upland birds including valley quail and chukar are found on the area along with several non-game species.
The Indian Dan Canyon Unit consists of 5,036 acres in Indian Dan Canyon, and lies three road miles west of Brewster. Deep canyons, steep hillsides, and glacial terraces reach from 1,140 to 3,050 feet in elevation. The sagebrush/bitterbrush-dominated habitat found throughout most of the unit is dissected by ribbons of riparian cover lining the canyon bottoms. Two range fires have ravaged the west portion of the unit since 1952, destroying large areas of dense bitterbrush. A creek, beginning in the northeast portion of the unit, is augmented by springs and seeps. An earthen dam in this corner has provided for the shallow flooding of a three-acre area. A ten-acre lake lies in the center of the unit.
Between 25 and 30 pheasants winter in the canyon. Chukars were first noted in the area in the early fifties. Deer were scarce until the mid-twenties and steadily increased to a population peak in the forties.
The Okanogan Unit includes 60 acres on the Okanogan River, seven road miles east of Brewster. The unit is bordered on the east by the Okanogan River and on the west by a county road. The Okanogan Unit is gently rolling, varying from 780 to 830 feet in elevation. The marshy area extending from the river into the southeast portion of the unit contrasts sharply with the dry, sparsely vegetated uplands. A variety of waterfowl occupy the river and use department lands.
The Washburn Island Unit contains 261 acres and lies six road miles east of Brewster on the Colville Confederated Tribe's reservation. The unit is bordered on the north and east by a pond and on the west by the Columbia River. The topography is flat, varying only from 780 to 790 feet in elevation. The periphery is laced with marsh vegetation and sloughs. Both dabbling ducks and geese use the unit extensively. Goose hunting is quite popular.
The West Foster Creek Unit includes 1,050 acres of land and lies five road miles southeast of Bridgeport. The north-facing unit is gently rolling to steeply-benched, varying from 1,660
to 2,360 feet in elevation. Sagebrush steppe is the dominant vegetation, though the north portion has greater diversity including extensive meadows and riparian areas. Eight artificial ponds are fed by a developed spring and a creek diversion.
A small population of sharp-tailed grouse remains on the area despite the abundant numbers that occurred in the 1960s. Valley quail, pheasant, and chukars occur in low numbers. Many non-game species can also be observed on the area.
