Tieton River Canyon
Description:
This project will acquire 1,920 acres of land in the scenic Tieton River canyon and Upper Oak Creek in Yakima County for addition to the Oak Creek Wildlife Area (OCWA). The project includes a rich diversity of habitats: shrub-steppe, basalt cliffs, ponderosa pine forests, cottonwood riparian and oak woodland. Species present include golden eagle, white-headed and pileated woodpecker, prairie falcon, harlequin duck, bighorn sheep, bull trout, steelhead, and elk. The project is located in the northernmost portion of the oak woodland zone. The area has a high density of nesting raptors. It has important range for elk, bighorn sheep and mule deer. Streams have well-developed, complex channels and intact riparian habitats. Tieton and Oak Creek are popular recreation areas year-round for hiking, bird watching, hunting, fishing, shed antler hunting, camping, mushroom picking, rafting, and recreational driving. Highway 12 follows the Tieton River along one of the most spectacular highway corridors in Washington. A popular trail at Bear Creek Canyon is on this site. Lands are in checkerboard ownership within the Wenatchee National Forest boundary & adjacent to the OCWA. Lands for sale by Plum Creek Timber Company are vulnerable to intense logging and development. It is important to protect these lands for the integrity of wild lands in the long term.
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Tieton River Canyon
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This project will acquire 1,920 acres of land in the scenic Tieton River canyon and Upper Oak Creek in Yakima County for addition to the Oak Creek Wildlife Area (OCWA). The project includes a rich diversity of habitats: shrub-steppe, basalt cliffs, ponderosa pine forests, cottonwood riparian and oak woodland. Species present include golden eagle, white-headed and pileated woodpecker, prairie falcon, harlequin duck, bighorn sheep, bull trout, steelhead, and elk. The project is located in the northernmost portion of the oak woodland zone. The area has a high density of nesting raptors. It has important range for elk, bighorn sheep and mule deer. Streams have well-developed, complex channels and intact riparian habitats. Tieton and Oak Creek are popular recreation areas year-round for hiking, bird watching, hunting, fishing, shed antler hunting, camping, mushroom picking, rafting, and recreational driving. Highway 12 follows the Tieton River along one of the most spectacular highway corridors in Washington. A popular trail at Bear Creek Canyon is on this site. Lands are in checkerboard ownership within the Wenatchee National Forest boundary & adjacent to the OCWA. Lands for sale by Plum Creek Timber Company are vulnerable to intense logging and development. It is important to protect these lands for the integrity of wild lands in the long term.
- 46.7 -120.89
From Yakima: Highway 12, west through town of Naches. Left onto Highway 12 towards White Pass. When reach "Wenatchee National Forest" boundary sign, this is the beginning of the township where these sections occur. Travel 6 miles along Highway 12, when reach Trout Lodge, you have just left the township. Other lands accessed via main road up Oak Creek, turn approximately 1/2 mile west of Oak Creek headquarters on Highway 12. Lands begin approximately 4 miles up Oak Creek.
