The Sagebrush Flat Wildlife Area (SFWA) was approved as a wildlife mitigation project in 1992 and was re-approved for operations and maintenance (O&M) funding in 2002 as part of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council's (NPCC) Provincial /Sub-basin Planning Process.  This project is located within the Columbia Plateau Province (Crab Creek Sub-basin) and partially addresses adverse impacts caused by the construction of Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee hydroelectric dams.  Wildlife habitat protection and enhancement efforts to meet mitigation objectives have been underway since 1995 on the Sagebrush Flat Wildlife Area.  Continued operation and maintenance activities funded by BPA are necessary to maintain and enhance wildlife habitat benefits and to ensure BPA's mitigation obligation is met.  These activities are essential to further the goal of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to protect and enhance shrub-steppe and other habitats necessary to recover and sustain populations of pygmy rabbits, sage grouse and sharp-tailed grouse.  

Management actions planned for FY09 include continued weed control on all units plus shrubsteppe restoration and maintenance activities on up to 205 acres of former agricultural fields including mowing, summer fallowing and seeding and interseeding as needed.  Approximately 50 acres of a wheat field will be seeded in the fall of 2009 with a mixture of native grasses.  On the Bridgeport Unit, 15 - 25 sites will be prepared for shrub and tree planting.  Ranging in size from 0.5 - 4 acres, this will include mowing, rotovating, herbicide application and use of plastic mulch fabric.  Deer fencing will have to be constructed to protect trees and shrubs from deer browsing.    Five acres of Russian olive trees will be removed on the Bridgeport Unit.  With the Russian olive trees removed, this site will replanted in the next 2-3 years with native trees and shrubs.   Roads, fences, parking areas and signs will be maintained, repaired and replaced as needed.  Debris and garbage will be removed and disposed of.
Other quotidian tasks will be performed as needed or required.