The 2,817 acre Wanaket Wildlife Area was established in 1992 to mitigate for habitat losses due to construction and operation of the McNary Hydroelectric facility.  The wildlife area is located in Umatilla County and lies adjacent to the south shore of the Columbia River between River Mile 295 and 299.  It is bordered by the  Port of Umatilla on the west and Hat Rock State Park on the east.  State Highway 730 bisects the area.  The legal description includes T5N, R28E, portions of sections 12, 23, 34 and T5N, R29E, portions of sections 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21.  

Wanaket is managed by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), through contract with BPA, to provide protection and enhancement credits for wildlife mitigation.  Wanaket provides an estimated 2,334 habitat units of protection credit for 7 wildlife mitigation species.  HEP species include mallard, California quail, western meadowlark, spotted sandpiper, mink, yellow warbler, and downy woodpecker.  Primary habitat types include shrub-steppe/grassland (2477 acres) and riparian wetland (159 acres) and other habitat types include riparian herb, riparian shrub, riparian tree, and sand/cobble/gravel/mud.  

This one-year contract, which includes the period between January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016, reflects a continuation of management activities on Wanaket Wildlife Area, and provides direction and support for planned implementation actions during the contract period.  Many of the major tasks are annual in nature and contribute to the on-going protection and enhancing of the wildlife area.  Management focuses on providing wetland habitat by applying irrigation water to the "McNary Potholes;" exclusion and removal of trespass livestock grazing; enhancing native vegetation through removing undesirable vegetation, noxious weed control, planting native vegetation; and providing regulated public access.  

Project activities include: 1) planning and design, 2) construction and implementation, 3) operations and maintenance, and 4) monitoring.  Management efforts undertaken as part of this contract are designed to protect, enhance, and mitigate target wildlife mitigation species.  Specific actions planned for 2016 focus on the following purposes:

  - Administration and operations of Wanaket Wildlife Area
  - Maintain wetlands by applying irrigation water
  - Maintain the irrigation infrastructure
  - Continue noxious weed surveillance and  treatment program
  - Maintain Russian olive removal sites by treating re-sprouting Russian olive trees
  - Treat managed wetlands to reduce cover of cattail and bulrush
  - Develop (re-establish) additional wetland habitat area
  - Maintain boundary fence to prevent trespass livestock
  - Provide regulated public access
  - Monitor results of weed control and revegetation efforts
  - Monitor waterfowl production by conducting waterfowl pair and brood counts