The Black River Unit offers opportunities for hunting, fishing, and viewing wildlife along a rough trail leading from the parking area to the river. The property provides habitat for upland birds, including pheasant, grouse, and occasionally wild turkey, as well as waterfowl and migratory birds. This unit also features a unique sedge meadow.
The Black River parcel is located 1.5 miles north of Rochester in Thurston County. The unit can be accessed from Gate Road off of Mima Road SW.
The Black River Unit is in the Upper Chehalis River watershed. The unit is surrounded predominantly by private land.
This unit is part of the Scatter Creek Wildlife Area.
Game Management Unit: 663
Getting there
Maps and directions to WDFW-managed access points for this unit. Opens Google Maps in a new tab.
Recreation and public access
A Discover Pass is required on WDFW lands -- including water access areas, wildlife areas, and campgrounds -- unless you already have a Vehicle Access Pass issued with the purchase of an eligible hunting or fishing license. Recreate responsibly on public lands: please know the Public Conduct Rules.
Public facility information:
- Parking area for approximately eight vehicles
- No restroom
- Trail
Wildlife viewing
This unit includes upland, riparian areas, and sedge meadow, offering opportunities to view a variety of wildlife, including grouse, ring-necked pheasant, wild turkey, migratory birds, and waterfowl.
Search for potential birding opportunities on or near a wildlife area unit by using eBird Northwest, a citizen science database portal that provides freely-shared bird lists at 'hotspots' and interactive maps plus other birding information updated daily.
Other recreational opportunities
From the parking lot, a rough cut trail leads to Black River.
Conservation
This unit features a unique sedge meadow.
Special habitats and species
The property provides habitat for upland birds, including pheasant, grouse, and occasionally wild turkey, and for waterfowl and migratory birds.
Conservation goals
- Maintain healthy populations of game and non-game species
- Manage upland game birds
- Protect and restore native plant communities
- Preserve habitat and species diversity for fish and wildlife resource
The property provides habitat for upland birds, including pheasant, grouse, and occasionally wild turkey, and for waterfowl and migratory birds.
- Maintain healthy populations of game and non-game species
- Manage upland game birds
- Protect and restore native plant communities
- Preserve habitat and species diversity for fish and wildlife resource
Land stewardship
The Black River Unit was purchased for upland bird habitat, waterfowl, wildlife, and fishing access.
Acquisition history
The parcels making up this area were purchased in 1982.
| Funder | Fund |
|---|---|
| US Fish and Wildlife Service | Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Program |
| WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife | WDFW Game Fund (now Wildlife Fund) |
Management planning
2020 Scatter Creek Wildlife Area Management Plan
In 2020, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) updated the management plan for the Scatter Creek Wildlife Area. The management plan addresses the status of wildlife species in the area and their habitat, the progress of restoration efforts, and public recreation opportunities. Every eight to 10 years, WDFW revises management plans for each of its 33 wildlife areas to document current conditions, address new agency initiatives, and identify new management priorities and actions. In between those major revisions, WDFW updates plans every two years to outline short-term objectives and accomplishments.
Planning Advisory Committee
Scatter Creek Wildlife Area Advisory Committee