Scatter Creek Wildlife Area

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Creek pond at the Scatter Creek Unit
Photo by Alan Bauer

Scatter Creek Wildlife Area Unit

The Scatter Creek Wildlife Area is located in Thurston and Grays Harbor counties and is comprised of approximately 5,020 acres. Most of the units are located on tributaries that flow into the Chehalis River and contain portions of unique South Sound prairies. The wildlife area is located in the Puget Sound Trough lowlands with the Cascade Mountain Range to the east, the Willapa Hills to the southwest, and the Black Hills to the northwest. It lies on a glacial outwash plain, rimmed by low-lying hills formed by the last continental ice sheet 12,000 years ago. The units support many aquatic, forested, prairie, and wetland dependent wildlife species, some of which are federally threatened or endangered. Each unit provides vital habitat for many common species found throughout western Washington. In addition, units are managed either for recreation associated with fish and wildlife or for the protection of specific species and their habitats. 

The department acquired the wildlife area properties through support of state and federal funding sources, as well as by donation. 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.

Visit WDFW's Forest Health story map to find out about forest health work happening on the wildlife area.

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

Plan Updates