The Shillapoo Wildlife Area (SWA) is a BPA-funded mitigation project aimed at offsetting wildlife losses caused by the construction of the Bonneville, Dalles, and John Day dams. Initially approved in 1996, the SWA has undergone multiple re-approvals through the Northwest Power Planning Council's (NWPPC) planning process (2002, 2009, 2017). Located in the Lower Columbia Province's Lake River Sub-basin, the SWA has been under development and management since 1996 to achieve its wildlife mitigation goals.

Ongoing BPA funding is crucial for maintaining and enhancing the SWA's habitat benefits. Key activities include:

Wetland Restoration: Recovering approximately 650 acres of wetland within the drained Shillapoo Lakebed and improving other wetland areas to support wintering waterfowl, including Canada geese, sandhill cranes, and other species. A feasibility study is underway to potentially restore hydrologic connections with the Columbia River, benefiting juvenile salmon.

Riparian Habitat Restoration: Planting trees and shrubs along Lake River and in other areas to enhance habitat for various wildlife species, including Great Blue Heron, Yellow Warbler, and mink. Invasive species removal is often a necessary precursor to planting.

General Maintenance: Ongoing efforts to maintain fences, control weeds and brush, and improve waterfowl forage through partnerships with local farmers. Wetland water levels are managed to promote native plant growth and reduce invasive species.

These activities collectively contribute to increasing wildlife diversity and habitat quality within the SWA, fulfilling BPA's mitigation obligations.

Information will be forthcoming to improve collective understanding of SWA source hydrology. Datasets will be collated from continuous monitoring probes for both surface and subsurface water levels. SWA managers are engaging with staff from Estuary contract to develop an array of alternatives that examine restoration potential of reconnecting sub-areas of the SWA to Columbia rivers. Information will be useful for revising goals from previous feasibility efforts.