The 2,817 acre Wanaket Wildlife Area was established in 1992 to mitigate for habitat losses due to construction and operation of the McNary Hydroelectric facility.  The wildlife area is located in Umatilla County and lies adjacent to the south shore of the Columbia River between River Mile 295 and 299.  It is bordered by the  Port of Umatilla on the west and Hat Rock State Park on the east.  State Highway 730 bisects the area.  The legal description includes T5N, R28E, portions of sections 12, 23, 34 and T5N, R29E, portions of sections 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21.  

Wanaket is managed by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), through contract with BPA, to provide protection and enhancement credits for wildlife mitigation.  Wanaket provides an estimated 2,334 habitat units of protection credit for 7 wildlife mitigation species.  HEP species include mallard, California quail, western meadowlark, spotted sandpiper, mink, yellow warbler, and downy woodpecker.  Primary habitat types include shrub-steppe/grassland (2477 acres) and riparian wetland (159 acres) and other habitat types include riparian herb, riparian shrub, riparian tree, and sand/cobble/gravel/mud.  

Project purposes typically encompass the following activities: 1) planning and design, 2) construction and implementation, 3) operations and maintenance, and 4) monitoring.  Management efforts undertaken as part of yearly contracting are designed to protect, enhance, and mitigate for these target wildlife mitigation species.  

This one-year contract reflects a continuation of management activities on Wanaket Wildlife Area, and provides direction and support for planned implementation actions during the contract period.  Many of the major tasks are annual in nature and contribute to the on-going protection and enhancement of the wildlife area.  Management focuses on providing wetland habitat by applying irrigation water to the "McNary Potholes;" exclusion and removal of trespass livestock grazing; enhancing native vegetation through removing undesirable vegetation, noxious weed control, planting native vegetation; and providing regulated public access.  

Recurrent O&M actions encompassed in yearly contracting reflect ongoing management priorities:
  --  Administration and operations of Wanaket Wildlife Area
  --  Maintain wetlands by applying irrigation water
  --  Maintain the irrigation infrastructure
  --  Continue noxious weed surveillance and treatment program
  --  Maintain boundary fence to prevent trespass livestock
  --  Maintain Russian olive removal sites by treating re-sprouting Russian olive trees
  --  Treat managed wetlands to reduce cover of cattail and bulrush
  --  Provide regulated public access
  --  Monitor results of weed control and revegetation efforts
  --  Monitor waterfowl production by conducting waterfowl pair and brood counts

Newly initiated work, or activities expected to be expanded during the contract period, focus on the following purposes:
  --  Develop water source (replacement of fire-loss, wildlife benefit)
  --  Systematic removal of Russian olive across entire wildlife area. Past treatment has focused on problem areas around canal system, however this species is widespread and continues to spread and compromise valuable habitats.