The Asotin Creek Wildlife Area is divided into two units that are located in Asotin and Garfield Counties.  The lower unit is centered around George Creek and is approximately 12,000 acres in size.  The lower Schlee and Bickford units which are BPA funded comprise 5,600 acres of the lower portion of the wildlife area.  The upper unit is centered around the North and South Forks of Asotin Creek and is approximately 20,000 acres is size.  The upper Schlee purchase is approximately 9,000 acres is size and is centered in the Smoothing Iron Ridge Area.

The lower BPA funded units are comprised of steep canyons and is predominately a shrub/steppe habitat type.  The area was traditionally used for livestock production and dryland farming.  The land has several problems associated with that type of long-term management - mainly noxious weeds and degraded riparian management zones.  Noxious weeds are mainly controlled by chemical measures and application is difficult in the steep terrain.

The upper BPA funded unit is again comprised of steep canyons with farm fields on top of the ridges.  Steep canyons with timbered North facing slopes are common while South facing slopes are usually a shrub/steppe habitat type.  Noxious weed problems, boundary fence issues, and facility maintenance are the main issues associated with the upper unit.

Overall management objectives are to reduce noxious weed populations on the upper and lower units and rehabilitate riparian zones.  WDFW also  would like to maintain existing facilities such as the main buildings on Smoothing Iron Ridge and associated water systems for fire protection and a source of water for weed control efforts.  In 2007, a major fire in the Rockpile canyon and George creek area destroyed many of the boundary stock fences.  WDFW is in the process of rebuilding the fences using state dollars.  Regardless, fences not damaged still require maintenance to reduce problems from trespass livestock.    

In the spring of 2008, WDFW was informed by sharecropper Randy Schlee that he did not intend to farm nearly 600 acres of agricultural fields any longer.  After attempting to solicit another farmer to take over the farming operation, WDFW made the decision to plant the majority fields to native grass cover.  High fuel prices, escalating input costs, and difficulty accessing smoothing iron ridge have made the prospect of farming this area unattractive for local producers.  WDFW initiated the process to convert the fields from wheat stubble to a seed bed in the spring and summer of 2008.  Roundup herbicide was applied to prevent cheatgrass and other weeds from germinating and setting seed.  WDFW staff began disking and cultivating the fields soon after herbicide was applied.  

Our objective this fall is to establish a blend of native grasses on 500 acres of the agricultural fields.  The remaining 100 acres will be seeded to a forage crop that will be highly attractive to deer and elk with the objective of retaining big game on smoothing iron ridge.  Seed for the forage crop will be paid for using grant funding from RMEF or other sources besides BPA.

The new grass seeding will require maintenance to insure establishment.  We anticipate having to mechanically mow or apply herbicide to control emerging broadleaf weeds.  These activities will take place in the spring/summer of 2009.

The staff on the Asotin Creek Wildlife Area consists of a Wildlife Area Manager, as Fish and Wildlife Biologist 2, two Natural Resource Tech 1's and two 3-month laborers hired in the spring to conduct weed control activities.  The manager, bio-2, and Natural Resource Tech 1 positions are only partially funded under BPA since the BPA lands are merged with State funded lands associated with the Asotin Creek Wildlife Area.