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| Washington
Wildlife Areas
Past and Present: Sinlahekin Wildlife Area |
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In 1939, the predecessor of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Washington Department of Game, used Pittman-Robertson funds to purchase land for the first wildlife area in the state of Washington—the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area—for the primary purpose of protecting and enhancing winter range for mule deer. Pittman-Robertson funds are generated from a federal excise tax on sporting firearms and ammunition. In 1957, 18 head of California bighorn sheep were brought to the Sinlahekin from Williams Lake, British Columbia, to reintroduce California Bighorn sheep to Washington State. Today the wildlife area, containing nearly 14,000 acres, is managed for a diversity of wildlife species. Of these acreages 460 acres are leased from the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and 2834 acres are Federally owned under United States Department of Interior - Bureau of Land Management (BLM) jurisdiction. The remaining acreage, about 11,000 acres, is owned by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Most of the private lands and Indian Allotments now comprising the SWA have been subjected to grazing, dryland and irrigated agriculture, and some logging. Most of the federal SWA lands had some limited mining, grazing, and logging. Fire exclusion was a primary focus on all lands within the SWA, which has resulted in degraded habitat conditions for many species of wildlife. However, several former wildlife area managers attempted prescribed burning to a small degree. In the 1950s, exotic shrubs were planted as an experiment to determine what species of shrubs could enhance browse for deer. A number of these plantings can still be seen, but many have died out as a result of weed control efforts, fire, or climatic conditions. Presently foodplots are maintained in the form of dryland spring grains (about 60 acres), dryland alfalfa (about 60 acres), and irrigated alfalfa (about 25 acres). Initiated in the 1940s, these foodplots are maintained by the wildlife area manager—with the exception of the alfalfa, which is maintained by two sharecroppers operating under an agreement. Managed cattle grazing, under four grazing permits, is used as a tool to manipulate vegetation for the benefit of wildlife. The object is to crop grasses and reduce competition with browse species, in order to benefit deer. In addition, studies have shown that grazing will increase the forbs composition of the plant community, which benefits deer as well. Big game hunting, upland game bird and forest grouse hunting, fishing, bird watching, wildlife watching, hiking, horseback riding, trapping, and camping are the majority of the wildlife oriented recreational pursuits enjoyed by many people since the SWA came into existence. See Recreational Activities Historically, the SWA has been a destination for excellent mule deer hunting; however, in the last 30-40 years, white-tailed deer have become the dominant deer species. Additional big game hunting opportunities include black bear and cougar. In the past, bighorn sheep hunting was allowed by permit, but it has been nearly ten years since these permits were available. In the 1930s and 1940s, there was a small population of mountain goats on the SWA in the rugged terrain near Blue Lake, but none have been seen there since 1982. There is an occasional moose that wanders through the SWA and there may well be several that are residents. Upland game bird hunting and forest grouse has been a historically popular activity, particularly when pen-raised Ring-necked pheasants were released in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. The SWA still supports a fair number of Ring-necked pheasants, many California quail, and a few Hungarian partridges. Forest grouse are a native upland game bird and they include Blue and Ruffed grouse, both of which have been and still are abundant. Once present in greater numbers the occasional Sharp-tailed grouse may also be found. Fishing has been a huge attraction to the SWA. In 1950, the former Game Department constructed four dams creating impoundments: Schallow Pond, Forde Lake, Reflection Pond and Conners Lake. All of these lakes have been and still are stocked, in addition to the wild production of Brook, Rainbow, and Cutthroat trout. Blue Lake, maintained by a diversion of water out of Sinlahekin Creek for irrigation storage, was historically in the 1950’s and 60’s a Cutthroat brood rearing lake, then changed to a put-and-take fishery until the 1990s, when it was converted to a Selective Fishery that has turned into one of the Blue Ribbon Selective fisheries in Washington. Many people who live near the SWA drive through and/or camp on a regular basis to enjoy the wildlife and outdoor experience. In addition to protecting the lands of the Sinlahekin Valley for mule deer winter range and providing public hunting and fishing, another reason given for purchasing Sinlahekin lands was to buy lands where deer damage was becoming a big problem. In 1957, eighteen California Bighorn Sheep were captured near Williams Lake, British Columbia, and transplanted to the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area in an effort to reintroduce bighorn sheep to Washington. The effort was successful, resulting in reestablishment of California bighorn sheep populations in the Sinlahekin. From this successful reintroduction bighorn sheep were transplanted to the Wooten wildlife area in 1960, the Colockum Wildlife Area in 1962, the Oak Creek Wildlife Area in 1967, and the Swakane Wildlife Area in 1969. From these transplants California Bighorn Sheep became well established in Washington, where they had been extirpated since the 1940s. Weeds, in particular Dalmatian Toadflax, Baby’s breath, and Russian and Diffuse knapweed, have been and will continue to be a challenge that requires persistence and dedication to keep them under control. However, biocontrol of Diffuse knapweed seems to be relatively successful, with hopes of more biocontrol agents becoming available for the other weeds. Historically and presently the SWA has been funded by Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act dollars. Other funds have been made available to the SWA for weed control, equipment acquisition, and grant match funds. Recently, grants have been obtained through the National Fire Plan. These grants have been used to
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