ELLENSBURG, Wash.—Last week, Western Rivers Conservancy
and the Bureau of Land Management permanently conserved the 647-acre Yakima
Canyon Ranch, which lies along an exquisite stretch of the Yakima River at the
epicenter of some of the state’s best fly fishing.
The March 20 conveyance will allow the BLM to manage this
area as part of the Yakima River Corridor for both public recreation and to preserve
the property’s excellent fish and wildlife habitat. The transfer will provide
permanent access to the popular Big Horn boating access site and 3.5 miles of
the Yakima River, roughly between Big Horn and Umtanum Creek, downstream.
“Yakima Canyon Ranch is the kind of place that captures your
heart,” said Sue Doroff, Western Rivers Conservancy’s president and co-founder.
“Not only is it critical from a fish and wildlife perspective, but it boasts some
of the finest scenery and recreation opportunities in the Yakima River Canyon. We
are thrilled about our partnership with the BLM to ensure that this outstanding
stretch of river will soon open to the public and be managed for conservation
forever.”
The ranch lies within the 27-mile Yakima River Canyon,
between the towns of Ellensburg and Yakima. This stretch of the canyon includes
critical habitat for Middle Columbia River steelhead and bull trout, and
excellent habitat for California bighorn sheep, Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer
and myriad small mammals and birds. The canyon's sheer basalt walls are home to
the densest concentration of nesting hawks, eagles, and falcons in the state.
The entire Yakima River is also a haven for recreationists,
who float, fish, hike, hunt and watch wildlife year-round. BLM management of Yakima
Canyon Ranch creates significant new opportunities for the public. The property
is comprised of three blocks of land—Big Horn, Beavertail and Umtanum—and spans
both sides of the Yakima River. It controls critical access and launch points
along the river.
At the upstream end of the ranch, the popular Big Horn
recreation site includes a boat launch, campground and prime river frontage. The
downstream end includes roughly 15 acres adjacent to the Umtanum recreation
site; with the BLM’s acquisition of the ranch, the amount of river frontage in
this popular recreation area will triple.
BLM will provide recreational public access to newly
acquired lands at Big Horn and Umtanum later this spring, after staff prepare
them for public use according to its interim management strategy.
BLM management of these sites will provide for visitor
access, while they work with local partners and the public to evaluate long
term management options. The BLM’s Yakima Canyon
website will provide updates as they become available.
“We are ecstatic with the opportunity to acquire this land
for use by all members of the public,” said Curtis Bryan, Wenatchee Field
Office manager for the Spokane District. "Incorporating this property into
BLM's existing landscape in the Yakima River Canyon allows us to properly
manage the land for multiple uses including recreation and conservation; this
also allows us to maintain the health and diversity of the landscapes along
with the wildlife that call it home.”
This project was made possible through funding and support
from Tide SW Foundation, Giles W. and Elise G. Mead Foundation, James M. Lea
Foundation, Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation, Washington Fly Fishing Club and additional
foundation, organization and individual donors.
