Washington Wildlife Areas Sinlahekin Wildlife Area

Contact Information: Dale Swedberg, Manager P.O. Box C Loomis, WA  98827 509-223-3358 Home Directions and Map Rules and Regulations Access Sites Physical Geography Sinlahekin Past and Present Photo Gallery Sinlahekin Wildlife Sinlahekin Landscape Historical Photographs Bird Checklist Mammal Checklist Reptile & Amphibian Checklist Fish Checklist Butterfly Checklist Current Sinlahekin Wildlife Links Vegetation Inventory of The Sinlahekin Wildlife Area Comprehensive Vascular Plant List & Rare Plant Species Weed Inventory [PDF Format - 4 MB] A Vehicle Use Permit is REQUIRED on ALL WDFW Lands Purchase Vehicle Use Permit About Vehicle Use Permit

These historic and contemporary photos provide a "snapshot" of visual information about what has happened on the landscape in the Sinlahekin Valley over the last 90 plus years. As one reviewer stated, "The first thing one notices is how much more colorful it is in the SWA now than in 1910. The second thing is the increase in trees; and the third is how dry it was in that long-ago 1910 spring." - D. Visalli The noted increase in trees or increased tree density and increase in brush is primarily due to the policy of fire suppression over the last 90 plus years. Present conditions very likely never existed historically because the frequent fires that occurred did not allow these ponderosa pine forests to become crowded. If a wildfire were to occur today most of the trees, including the 200-300 year old trees would be lost since the fire would be extremely severe. This type of fire is called a stand replacing fire, which historically is characteristic of higher elevation lodgepole pine forests. To try to avoid loosing the old large trees, fuels treatment, e.g, logging and thinning will be done to remove smaller trees in addition to prescribed burning. Hopefully this "intervention" management will create conditions where prescribed fire can be used to perform its historic role in maintaining a healthy ponderosa pine forest ecosystem. For more information and historical photos: Okanogan County Historical Society WSU Holland Library-MASC - Frank Matsura Image Collection Large Rock on Eastside of Sinlahekin Road (approximately .5 mile North of Sinlahekin Wildlife Area boundary) South of Loomis, WA - Looking North Circa 1910 Frank Matsura photo - Original at Okanogan Co. Hist. Soc. 19 April 2006 D. Swedberg photo Sinlahekin Valley - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area Approximately 1 mile South of North boundary on East side of Sinlahekin Valley Road looking Southeast Early 1900’s before 1920. Unknown Photographer - Original at Okanogan Co. Hist. Soc. 28 April 2006 D. Swedberg photo Sinlahekin Valley - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area North of Headquarters looking South Early 1900's before 1920 Unknown photographer - Original at Okanogan Co. Hist. Soc. 28 April 2006 D. Swedberg photo Sinlahekin Valley - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area Photo Point SW of, present day, Conners Lake looking North by Northeast Circa ~1910 Frank Matsura photo - Original at Okanogan Co. Hist. Soc. 19 April 2006 D. Swedberg photo Sinlahekin Creek Canyon – Sinlahekin Wildlife Area East side of valley looking west toward the mouth of the Sinlahekin Creek Canyon. The riparian area of Blue Lake shore visible in the old photo is indistinguishable in the recent photo due to the growth of cottonwoods. Circa ~1903 - Property of Okanogan Irrigation District 7 June 2006 – D. Swedberg photo Blue Lake - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area NE side of Lake looking south by southwest Circa 1910 – Frank Matsura photo 1 June 2006 – D. Swedberg photo Blue Lake - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area NW side of Lake looking east by southeast Unknown Date – Unknown Photographer 1 June 2006 – D. Swedberg photo Blue Lake - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area Mid-lake on east side looking northwest Circa ~1910 Frank Matsura photo - Original at Okanogan Co. Hist. Soc. 19 April 2006 D. Swedberg photo Blue Lake - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area Mid-lake on east side looking west Circa ~1910 Frank Matsura photo - Original at Okanogan Co. Hist. Soc. 19 April 2006 D. Swedberg photo Blue Lake - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area Mid-lake on eastside looking southwest Circa ~1910 Frank Matsura photo - Original at Okanogan Co. Hist. Soc. 19 April 2006 D. Swedberg photo Fish Lake - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area Mid-lake on the north side of lake looking east Circa ~1903 7 June 2006 – D. Swedberg photo Fish Lake - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area Northwest side of lake looking east Circa 1910 Frank Matsura photo - Original at Okanogan Co. Hist. Soc. 16 April 2005 D. Swedberg photo Fish Lake - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area West end looking North by Northeast Circa 1910 Frank Matsura photo - Original at Okanogan Co. Hist. Soc. 17 June 2006 D. Swedberg photo Fish Lake - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area West end looking East by Northeast Circa 1910 Frank Matsura photo - Original at Okanogan Co. Hist. Soc. 17 June 2006 D. Swedberg photo Fish Lake - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area Southwest side looking North Circa 1910 Frank Matsura photo - Original at Okanogan Co. Hist. Soc. 17 June 2006 D. Swedberg photo Spikeman Ranger Station - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area On Conconully to Loomis Road between Sugarloaf Pass and Fish Lake looking Northwest Early 1900’s Unknown Photographer - Original at Okanogan Co. Hist. Soc. 19 April 2006 Dale Swedberg photo