The Asotin Creek Wildlife Area is divided into two units that are located in Asotin and Garfield Counties.  The lower unit is centered around George Creek and is approximately 12,000 acres in size.  The lower Schlee and Bickford units which are BPA funded comprise 5,600 acres of the lower portion of the wildlife area.  The upper unit is centered around the North and South Forks of Asotin Creek and is approximately 20,000 acres is size.  The upper Schlee purchase is approximately 5,500 acres is size and is centered in the Smoothing Iron Ridge Area.

The lower BPA funded units are comprised of steep canyons and is predominately a shrub/steppe habitat type.  The area was traditionally used for livestock production and dry land farming.  The land has several problems associated with that type of long-term management - mainly noxious weeds and degraded riparian management zones.  Noxious weeds are mainly controlled by chemical measures and application is difficult in the steep terrain.

The upper BPA funded unit is again comprised of steep canyons with farm fields on top of the ridges.  Steep canyons with timbered North facing slopes are common while South facing slopes are usually a shrub/steppe habitat type.  Noxious weed problems, boundary fence issues, and facility maintenance are the main issues associated with the upper unit.

Overall management objectives are to reduce noxious weed populations on the upper and lower units and rehabilitate riparian zones.  WDFW also  would like to maintain existing facilities such as the main buildings on Smoothing Iron Ridge and associated water systems for fire protection, wildlife water, and a source of water for weed control efforts.  

In the fall of 2008, WDFW seeded approximately 475 acres of former agricultural land to a four-species mix of native grass.  The grass has become well established and in the fall of 2009, a mix of native forbs was inter-seeded in the grass.  The forbs will compliment the native grass to produce a grassland environment consistent with surrounding native habitats.   Some weed control activities such as spot spraying and mechanical mowing may be necessary to maintain health of the grass stand in 2017.

As in the past two years, we intend to seed approximately 50 acres winter wheat to be used as a food source and attraction for big game species - mainly elk.  The other portions of the 100 acres of forage plots will be cultivated and either seeded in spring 2017 or summer fallowed for a fall 2017 seeding to winter wheat.

431 acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) was seeded to a blend of native grass in spring 2014.  Additionally, 14,000 young pine trees were planted at the west end of the fields as specified in the USDA CRP contract.  We anticipate working with the CRP operator in 2015 to control noxious weeds while the grass reaches maturity.  Our main method of weed control will be mechanical mowing with a tractor pulled 15' flex-wing mower.  On the lower acquisition near George Creek, 171 acres enrolled in CRP on Boozier Ridge is being converted to native grass.  The contract expired September 30, 2011 and in order to re-enroll the entire field back into CRP, 171 acres had to be converted to native grass.  Grass was seeded in spring 2014 and may need maintenance such as mechanical weed control and spot spraying for noxious weeds.  This is the primary responsibility of the CRP operator though WDFW will assist him.  

Monitoring for Spalding's Catchfly, which is a federally listed plant began in 2009 and took place in 2010 by graduate students from Washington State University (WSU).  Funding for the 2009 and 2010 effort was paid for by the State.  2016 efforts will be funded by BPA and will continue each year after.  It is WDFW's intent to continue using WSU students/staff for the monitoring effort.

The staff on the Asotin Creek Wildlife Area consists of a Wildlife Area Manager, a Fish and Wildlife Biologist 2, two Natural Resource Tech 2's, and a career seasonal Natural Resource Worker.  Additionally, the Department benefits from having two summer interns working partially on the BPA funded portion of the wildlife area.  The interns are from the University of Idaho.   The manager, bio-2, Natural Resource Tech 2 positions, and Natural Resource Worker position are only partially funded under BPA since the BPA lands are merged with State funded lands associated with the Asotin Creek Wildlife Area.