Permanent Rule WSR 23-02-069: It is unlawful for any person to cause or allow goats or sheep to be untethered or unattended on this wildlife area unit, unless otherwise permitted by the director to do so. Goats or sheep that have tested positive for Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae or that are displaying signs of pneumonia or other illness will not be permitted. Goats or sheep showing signs of pneumonia or other illness while on department lands must be removed within 48 hours. If a goat or sheep becomes lost, the owner must make every effort to locate and recover it. If the goat or sheep cannot be recovered, the owner shall contact the department by telephone as soon as possible.
The George Creek Unit is comprised of steep rocky canyons with riparian habitat in the canyon bottoms. George Creek forms the largest sub-basin within the Asotin Creek watershed, but this creek, along with its tributaries Pintler and Rockpile creeks, has no surface flow for the majority of the lower reaches.
The George Creek Unit is located about 6 miles southwest of Asotin in Asotin County. The unit can be accessed from both Cloverland Grade Road and Meyers Ridge Road off of Asotin Creek Road.
The George Creek Unit is located in the Snake River Watershed, within the Columbia River Basin. Surrounding land use consists of rural agriculture. The unit is mostly surrounded by private lands, and in the northeast corner of the unit Department of Natural Resources land.
This unit is part of the Asotin Creek Wildlife Area.
Game Management Unit: 181
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 off of Meyers Ridge Road and Cloverland Grade Road.
- No restroom
Recreation and access advisories
- No motorized travel is allowed off of county roads.
- This unit includes areas of very steep terrain.
- Visitors should avoid use of county roads during wet or wintery conditions. Roads include steep grades and can become slick.
Hunting
WDFW releases pheasants on this unit.
Hunting advisories
- On all WDFW designated pheasant release sites it is unlawful to possess shot (either in shotshells or as loose shot for muzzleloading), other than nontoxic shot, when hunting for upland game birds (pheasant, quail, chukar, and gray partridge), mourning dove, band-tailed pigeon (WAC 220-414-040). This restriction applies to the 1,000-acre Halsey CRP field only. The rest of the area has no restrictions.
Wildlife viewing
This unit has high-quality shrubsteppe and steep rocky canyons with riparian areas, offering opportunities to view a variety of wildlife, including deer, turkeys, and songbirds.
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
Trails offer opportunities for horseback riding and hiking.
Conservation
High-quality shrubsteppe occurs on this unit.
Conservation goals
- Improve habitat for mule deer populations
- Maintain healthy bighorn sheep population by communicating risks from domestic animals to the public
- Conduct an assessment of native prairie habitat by 2022, and by 2024 develop a strategy to protect and restore native prairie habitat
- Develop plan to survey entire wildlife area for rare plants by 2024
Land stewardship
This unit was acquired to protect high quality shrub-steppe habitats.
Acquisition history
The parcels making up this area were purchased between 1991 and 2012.
| Funder | Fund |
|---|---|
| Bonneville Power Administration | Mitigation Funds |
| US Army Corps of Engineers | Snake River Mitigation Account |
| US Fish and Wildlife Service | Endangered Species Act Section 6 Program |
| US Fish and Wildlife Service | Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Program |
| WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife | WDFW Game Fund (now Wildlife Fund) |
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program |
Management planning
2019 Blue Mountains Wildlife Areas 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
Chief Joseph/Asotin Creek Wildlife Area Advisory Committee