Skookumchuck Watershed
Description:
The Skookumchuck Watershed proposal is a partnership between WDFW and the Trust for Public Land (TPL) that seeks to acquire and protect approximately 12,360 acres. It consists primarily of shrub steppe habitat which contains stream, riparian, cliff, talus and cave habitats as well. This acquisition will complete our efforts to acquire 17,500 acres, establish a landscape scale linkage between the Whiskey Dick and Quilomene Wildlife Areas and protect virtually an entire watershed in a key location. Skookumchuck is an inholding between wildlife areas and a gap between protected areas within the largest swath of shrub steppe remaining in the state. Numerous plans and studies point to the significance of the Skookumchuck as fish and wildlife habitat. The WDFW Greater Sage-Grouse Recovery Plan, the Upper Middle Mainstem Subbasin Plan, the Nature Conservancy's Columbia Plateau Ecoregional Assessment all identify this area as a conservation target. The Skookumchuck is listed as an Audubon Important Bird Area (IBA). A long list of shrub steppe obligate and associated species will benefit from this acquisition including sage grouse, sage thrasher, sage sparrow, loggerhead shrike and sagebrush lizard. NOAA Fisheries has designated Skookumchuck Creek as critical habitat for steelhead, threatened in the Upper Columbia ESU. If we are able to obtain this ground, we can avoid adjacent landowner conflicts and harmonize management across the landscape. The project has broad support.
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Skookumchuck Watershed
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The Skookumchuck Watershed proposal is a partnership between WDFW and the Trust for Public Land (TPL) that seeks to acquire and protect approximately 12,360 acres. It consists primarily of shrub steppe habitat which contains stream, riparian, cliff, talus and cave habitats as well. This acquisition will complete our efforts to acquire 17,500 acres, establish a landscape scale linkage between the Whiskey Dick and Quilomene Wildlife Areas and protect virtually an entire watershed in a key location. Skookumchuck is an inholding between wildlife areas and a gap between protected areas within the largest swath of shrub steppe remaining in the state. Numerous plans and studies point to the significance of the Skookumchuck as fish and wildlife habitat. The WDFW Greater Sage-Grouse Recovery Plan, the Upper Middle Mainstem Subbasin Plan, the Nature Conservancy's Columbia Plateau Ecoregional Assessment all identify this area as a conservation target. The Skookumchuck is listed as an Audubon Important Bird Area (IBA). A long list of shrub steppe obligate and associated species will benefit from this acquisition including sage grouse, sage thrasher, sage sparrow, loggerhead shrike and sagebrush lizard. NOAA Fisheries has designated Skookumchuck Creek as critical habitat for steelhead, threatened in the Upper Columbia ESU. If we are able to obtain this ground, we can avoid adjacent landowner conflicts and harmonize management across the landscape. The project has broad support.
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A 4-wheel drive vehicle is strongly recommended for this route: Head east on Interstate 90 and go past Ellensburg. Take exit 115 for the town of Kittitas. Wind you way into town and proceed down the main street until the road comes to a T. Go right at the T and then take a left (north) on Number 81 Road. Go north on that for 1 mile to the stop sign and take a right. This is now the Old Vantage Highway. Continue east on the Old Vantage Highway for 4 miles and take a left on the Parke Creek Road. Go a mile north and go right when the road comes to a T. In about half a mile, the road turns to dirt and gets rough. In approximately 1.5 miles you begin to enter the western portion of the property. East from Elllensburg on Old Vantage Highway. Parke Creek Road North along creek onto project. Also, two roads near Ryegrass summit, both headed north, accessing lands. A 4-wheel drive vehicle is mandatory for this route: Head east on Interstate 90 and take exit 136 for the town of Vantage. Go north through town. The road curves to the left and heads west. This is the Old Vantage Highway (OVH). Ginko Ave is on your right and the next road off the OVH is Recreation Avenue. Take Recreation Ave. and look to the left for an old guard rail that serves as a gate with a combination lock. This gate leads to Ginkgo State Park. The road through the park accesses the portion of the Skookumchuck Watershed closest to the Columbia River. The combination changes and can be acquired by calling Wanapum State Park at (509) 856-2700. From the gate it is approximately 8 miles up river to Skookumchuck Creek and the easternmost properties of the proposal. This is a very rough road.
