The Wenas Wildlife Area was approved as a wildlife mitigation project in 1996. The BPA-funded portion of the Wenas Wildlife Area encompasses 70,487 acres of state land, including 54,259 acres of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife land, 16,228 acres of Department of Natural Resources holdings and 3,485 acres managed on behalf of the Bureau of Land Management. This project partially meets BPA's mitigation obligation to compensate for wildlife and habitat losses resulting from the construction of Grand Coulee, McNary and John Day hydroelectric dams. BPA approved the Wenas Wildlife Area Work Plan effective October 2, 2001.

Past accomplishments include seeding and monitoring of ~600 acres of abandoned cropland to native and native-like shrub-steppe, with weed treatment and fertilization occurring as needed.  Weed treatment on the project area, with particular emphasis on Scotch thistle, Russian knapweed, whitetop, perennial pepperweed and hounds tongue.  Removal of ~50 miles of old stock fence.  Installation of 7 miles of 3-strand smooth wire fence to protect shrub-steppe from illegal off-road use.  Maintenance of 26 miles of boundary fence and installation and maintenance of an 8.6 mile fire break.  Abandonment of seven miles of stream adjacent parallel road and maintenance of 7 miles of project area roads.

Biological objectives include protection and enhancement of shrub-steppe, riparian and wetland habitat, including protection of the microbiotic crust and restoration of the natural fire regime in shrub-steppe habitat.  WE's B, C, D, E, F, G and H are specifically tied to shrub-steppe protection and restoration efforts.  WE's M and N are related to road and parking lot maintenance and public road management, all of which protects shrub-steppe, riparian and wetland habitat from misuse by the public, including illegal off-road use.  WE O is for the leasing of grazing rights from WDNR, which is checker boarded with WDFW ownership for protection of shrub-steppe, riparian and wetland habitat.  WE's I, J, and K are for monitoring and assessment of vegetation and recreation.  WE's A, P, Q, and R are administrative in nature.

The project is in O&M mode.  The decision has been made to separate (un-complex) the Wenas W.A. from the L.T. Murray W.A.  Once a manager for the L.T. Murray W.A. has been hired, the current manager will be assigned 100% to Wenas W.A.