The Desert Unit was wholly desert prior to the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project. It is the lowest part of the very large Quincy Basin that once was filled with glacial floodwater. The natural basin now serves as a collector for irrigation water from upslope farmlands. Most of this water is collected in the Winchester and Frenchman Hills wasteways, which meander southeasterly across several miles of the Desert Unit and eventually empty into the southwestern part of Potholes Reservoir.
The Desert Unit is located southwest of Moses Lake, west of Potholes Reservoir and south of Interstate 90, in Grant County. Desert Unit Access is from multiple roads, including Road M SW, Frenchman Hills Road, and Dodson Road.
The Desert Unit occurs in the Lower Crab Creek Watershed within the Columbia Plateau.
This unit is part of the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area.
Game Management Units: 278, 290
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 areas
- Restrooms
- Boat launches
Hunting
The Winchester and the Frenchman Hills game reserves both occur on the Desert Unit.
Hunting advisories
- A Game Reserve is established on this unit (WAC 220-411-100). Game Reserves are CLOSED AREAS where hunting and trapping for all wild animals and wild birds is prohibited (RCW 77.12.047).
Fishing
WDFW provides several water access sites on the Desert Unit to provide access to warm water fishing and boating opportunities.
Wildlife viewing
This unit includes shrubsteppe, wetlands, ponds, and desert upland habitat, offering opportunities to view a variety of wildlife, including mule deer and American white pelican.
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
This unit offers opportunities for hiking/walking.
This unit offers access to the Audubon's Great Washington State Birding Trail Coulee Corridor, which also provides hiking/walking opportunities.
Conservation
Conservation goals
- Maintain enhanced wildlife habitats and preserve native plant communities and important habitats
- Restore and preserve shallow water habitat and pools
- Manage migrant waterfowl, upland game birds, and priority species
Land stewardship
The Desert Unit is a combination of several land purchases made by WDFW and acres transferred to WDFW for management through a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
Acquisition history
The parcels making up this area were purchased between 1958 and 2020.
| Funder | Fund |
|---|---|
| Power, dike & irrigation districts | Mitigation Funds |
| State of Washington | Legislative Appropriation |
| US National Park Service | Land and Water Conservation Fund |
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | Boating Facilities Program |
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | State Bond Account |
Management planning
2022 Columbia Basin Wildlife Area Management Plan
Every eight to 10 years, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (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. In 2014, WDFW began the process of updating existing plans, many of which were written in 2006. The new plans are being developed with significant public participation and input.
Planning Advisory Committee
Columbia Basin Wildlife Area Advisory Committee