Oak Creek Wildlife Area Unit
The Oak Creek Wildlife Area is located in Yakima County and Kittitas County, and covers 67,100 acres. The topography is dominated by steep, rocky slopes, and a series of ridges and canyons. Open ridges and southern slopes at the lower elevations support sagebrush, bitterbrush and rabbitbrush. Bluebunch wheatgrass is the most prevalent native grass. In the early spring the area is full of color with wildflowers scattered across the rangeland. At higher elevations, the vegetation transitions to conifer forests. Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, subalpine fir, Engelmann spruce and western white pine can all be found as elevations increase in the Rock Creek Unit.
Visit WDFW's Forest Health story map to find out about forest health work happening on the wildlife area.
Oregon white oak grows in the riparian zones and adjacent lower canyons of the Tieton River, Oak Creek and Cowiche Creek. The Naches and Tieton rivers run through portions of the wildlife area, and support native and endangered salmon species, including bull trout. A wide variety of other wildlife species are also visible throughout the wildlife area, including elk, mule deer, California bighorn sheep, mountain goats, forest grouse, turkey, quail, chukar, and a myriad of small mammals. The area also provides habitat for a variety of neo-tropical and upland birds, raptors, reptiles and amphibians.
Management is shared with some areas in a checker-board pattern of ownerships between WDFW, the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the U.S. Forest Service, with scattered private in-holdings. By actively managing lands, restoring habitats, and preserving wild places, the department serves as stewards for Washington's natural places, protecting the state's land and water for its human and wildlife populations. WDFW works with partner organizations to enhance and restore habitat by restoring forests and treating invasive weeds. Watch the video below to learn more.
Wildlife area units
Management planning
2018 Oak Creek Wildlife Area Management Plan
In 2018, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) updated the management plan for the Oak Creek Wildlife Area, which consists of three units. The management plan addresses the status of wildlife species in the area and their habitat, the progress of restoration efforts, and public recreation opportunities. The plan covers activities for three landscapes in the Cowiche, Oak Creek, and Rock Creek units. 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
Oak Creek Wildlife Area Advisory Committee