The White River Unit is in a vegetative transition zone between wetter western Washington forests and the drier pine and fir habitat types of the eastern Cascades. About 40 inches of annual precipitation and an average of 3 to 6 feet of snow result in vegetative types more typical of what is found west of the Cascade Mountains. This results in very diverse and unique vegetation and a great variety of wildlife.
The White River Unit is made up of several small parcels along White River Road and Little Wenatchee Road west of Lake Wenatchee. The unit can be accessed from the junction of these roads off of Lake Wenatchee Highway.
This unit is located on a tributary to Lake Wenatchee in the east Cascades. Surrounding ownership is a mix of U.S. Forest Service, Chelan-Douglas County Land Trust conservation lands, and private rural and recreational properties.
This unit is part of the Chelan Wildlife Area.
Game Management Unit: 245
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:
- Informal parking at pullouts along White River Road and Little Wenatchee Road
- No restroom
Hunting
Hunters can find opportunities to harvest black bear and forest grouse on this unit.
Wildlife viewing
This unit includes a wetland, riparian and a mix of western/eastern Cascades forest habitats, offering opportunities to view a variety of wildlife, including black bear, mule deer, cougar, and blue and ruffed grouse.
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
The White River is the focus of recreation on this unit offering opportunities for canoeing and kayaking.
Conservation
This unit contains a rare ecological system known as North Pacific Montane Riparian Woodland and Shrubland.
Special habitats and species
This unit protects riparian, riverine, and wetland habitats critical to federally listed Upper Columbia steelhead and spring chinook salmon.
Conservation goals
- Maintain and restore floodplains for fish habitat
- Improve ecological integrity of forests while maintaining and/or improving habitat for wildlife
- Protect tiger salamander habitat by preventing the drying of wetlands, ponds, lakes, and streams
This unit protects riparian, riverine, and wetland habitats critical to federally listed Upper Columbia steelhead and spring chinook salmon.
- Maintain and restore floodplains for fish habitat
- Improve ecological integrity of forests while maintaining and/or improving habitat for wildlife
- Protect tiger salamander habitat by preventing the drying of wetlands, ponds, lakes, and streams
Land stewardship
The White River Unit was acquired to protect critical salmon habitat along the White River above Lake Wenatchee with Salmon Recovery Funding Board Grants.
Acquisition history
The parcels making up this area were purchased between 2002 and 2003.
| Funder | Fund |
|---|---|
| WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife | WDFW Game Fund (now Wildlife Fund) |
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program |
Management planning
2018 Chelan Wildlife Area Management Plan
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is developing a new management plan for the Chelan Wildlife Area. The wildlife area includes about 30,874 acres of land in Chelan and Okanogan counties. WDFW acquired most of the wildlife area property as a result of a 1963 agreement with the Chelan County PUD to lessen the impact of the Rocky Reach Dam project on wildlife. The department manages the area primarily for big game and upland game birds. Chelan Wildlife Area provides a great variety of recreational opportunities including hunting, photography, wildlife viewing, and camping. The wildlife area's numerous dirt roads, which are closed to motorized vehicles, offer good hiking, mountain biking, cross country skiing and snowshoeing opportunities. The new plan will address the status of wildlife species and their habitat, ongoing restoration efforts, management challenges such as invasive species and public recreation opportunities at the wildlife area.
Planning Advisory Committee
Chelan Wildlife Area Advisory Committee