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(Information for the chosen access site will be at the top of the retrieved
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Access
Areas Ponds 3 and 4 Closed. Read
News Release
See
important notices regarding access to Sunnyside's Rattlesnake
Slope and Thorton units.
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The Sunnyside Wildlife Area, at 2,786 acres, lies in south-central Washington between two major population bases, Yakima and the Tri-Cities (Pasco, Richland, and Kennewick). The headquarters is located at 2030 Holiday Road, about five miles south of the town of Sunnyside. The southern boundary is the Yakima River from the Mabton Bridge to a point approximately 13 miles up-river.
The area is a mosaic of upland and wetland habitats including shrublands, grasslands, emergent wetlands, and several riparian plant communities. There are six ponds or lakes on the unit, varying in size from 100 surface acres to 15 surface acres. These provide excellent nesting habitat in the spring and resting areas for migratory waterfowl that are wintering or passing through in the fall and winter months. Two of the lakes are located on the Snipes Segment, which is designated as a waterfowl reserve, the Snipes Reserve, and has the potential of holding 20,000 to 30,000 additional waterfowl in the Yakima Valley. The alfalfa in this area is heavily grazed by 10,000 to 15,000 lesser Canada geese. Bald eagles and many other species of game and nongame species use the area.
Access
Areas Ponds 3 and 4 Closed. Read
News Release
See
important notices regarding access to Sunnyside's Rattlesnake
Slope and Thorton units.
The Byron Wildlife Area is located along SR 22 approximately five miles east of Mabton and five miles south of Grandview. The area headquarters is on the Sunnyside Wildlife Area at 2030 Holiday Road, five miles south of the town of Sunnyside.
The terrain is a series of depressions and rolling hills defining a mosaic of grass and shrub steppe intermingled with wetland and riparian habitats. A major drain carrying ground water and irrigation water, runs through the area creating a series of ponds extending about two miles and including approximately 400 surface acres of water. The Byron Ponds produce excellent waterfowl nesting and brooding areas. The area is closed to entry from February 1 to August 1 each year to lessen disturbance to the nesting waterfowl. The uplands are used extensively by Canada geese that graze on green cheatgrass in late winter and early spring. Many species of birds and mammals use the area.
