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 fall of 2009, WDFW seeded approximately 475 acres of former agricultural land to a four-species mix of native grass.  The grass has become well established and the next step is to inter-seed the young grass plants with a blend of native forbs.  The forbs will compliment the native grass to produce a grassland environment consistent with surrounding relatively undisturbed habitats.

Our objective this fall is to inters-seed forbs in the established grass.  We also intend to seed approximately 25 acres to winter wheat to be used as a food source and attractant for big game species - mainly elk.  The other portions of the 100 acres of forage plots will be cultivated and either seeded in spring 2010 or summer fallowed for a fall 2010 seeding to winter wheat.

The new grass and forb seeding will require ongoing 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 2010

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.