Formula Grant F24AF02406

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WENAHA WILDLIFE AREA BEGAN IN 1953 WITH THE ACQUISITION OF FIVE PARCELS OF LAND CONSISTING OF 4400 ACRES. THE DEPARTMENT CONTINUED TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL LANDS ACQUIRING 1670 ACRES IN 1954 AND ANOTHER 760 ACRES IN 1955. FROM 1961 TO THE PRESENT THE DEPARTMENT HAS PURCHASED OR RECEIVED ANOTHER 4219 ACRES. THE WILDLIFE AREA CURRENTLY CONSISTS OF 12419 ACRES. IN ADDITION MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS WITH THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT BLM WERE WRITTEN FOR 1329 ACRES WITHIN OR ADJACENT TO THE WILDLIFE AREA.THE WENAHA WILDLIFE AREA ESTABLISHED IN RESPONSE TO CONTINUING COMPLAINTS FROM LANDOWNERS CONCERNED WITH ELKDAMAGE ON PRIVATE LANDS DURING WINTER MONTHS. OVER 18000 ACRES NEAR THE INITIAL WILDLIFE AREA PURCHASE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS CRITICAL BIG GAME WINTER RANGE. A SMALL RESIDENT POPULATION OF ELK AND DEER SUMMER IN THE WENAHA BASIN HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STEMMED PRIMARILY FROM ELK WHICH SUMMERED IN OREGON AND WASHINGTON AND THEN MIGRATED DOWN THE WENAHA RIVER DRAINAGE INTO THE TROY AREA IN EARLY WINTER MONTHS. ELK REMAINED ON PRIVATE LANDS UNTIL APRIL WHEN THEY RETURNEHE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WENAHA WILDLIFE AREA BEGAN IN 1953 WITH THE ACQUISITION OF FIVE PARCELS OF LAND CONSISTING OF 4400 ACRES. THE DEPARTMENT CONTINUED TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL LANDS ACQUIRING 1670 ACRES IN 1954 AND ANOTHER 760 ACRES IN 1955. FROM 1961 TO THE PRESENT THE DEPARTMENT HAS PURCHASED OR RECEIVED ANOTHER 4219 ACRES. THE WILDLIFE AREA CURRENTLY CONSISTS OF 12419 ACRES. IN ADDITION MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS WITH THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT BLM WERE WRITTEN FOR 1329 ACRES WITHIN OR ADJACENT TO THE WILDLIFE AREA. THE WENAHA WILDLIFE AREA ESTABLISHED IN RESPONSE TO CONTINUING COMPLAINTS FROM LANDOWNERS CONCERNED WITH ELK DAMAGE ON PRIVATE LANDS DURING WINTER MONTHS. OVER 18000 ACRES NEAR THE INITIAL WILDLIFE AREA PURCHASE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS CRITICAL BIG GAME WINTER RANGE. A SMALL RESIDENT POPULATION OF ELK AND DEER SUMMER IN THE WENAHA BASIN HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STEMMED PRIMARILY FROM ELK WHICH SUMMERED IN OREGON AND WASHINGTON AND THEN MIGRATED DOWN THE WENAHA RIVER DRAINAGE INTO THE TROY AREA IN EARLY WINTER MONTHS. ELK REMAINED ON PRIVATE LANDS UNTIL APRIL WHEN THEY RETURNED TO SUMMER RANGE IN THE WENAHA BASIN ON LANDS ADMINISTERED BY THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE IN BOTH OREGON AND WASHINGTON.THERE IS A NEED TO ALLEVIATE DAMAGE TO PRIVATE LANDS BY WINTERING ELK AND PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY WILDLIFE HABITATNEAR TROY IN NORTHEAST OREGON. THE WWA IS MANAGED PRIMARILY FOR PROVIDING NATURAL AND SUPPLEMENTAL FORAGE FORROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK MULE AND WHITETAILED DEER AND ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN SHEEP AS WELL AS MINIMIZE BIG GAME DAMAGE TO ADJACENT PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL CROPS. THE WILDLIFE AREA ALSO IS MANAGED TO ENHANCE HABITAT FORINDIGENOUS FISH AND WILDLIFE SPECIES IN ADDITION TO PROVIDE WILDLIFE ORIENTED RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEPUBLIC. THE NATURAL RESOURCES ON THE WWA NEED TO BE MANAGED IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO PROTECT MAINTAIN ENHANCE AND RESTORE FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT TO SUPPORT OPTIMUM POPULATION LEVELS OF ALL SPECIES FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF PRESENT AND FUTURE CITIZENS. TO PROTECT THESE NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES UTILIZED ON THE WWA WILL MEET OR EXCEED HABITAT PROTECTION POLICIES AND STANDARDS SET BY THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE.THE GOAL OF THE WENAHA WILDLIFE AREA IS TO MANAGE LANDS IN ORDER TO MEET ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING NEEDS1TO PROTECT OR ENHANCE WILDLIFE SPECIES 2 PROTECT OR ENHANCE EXISTING HABITAT CONDITIONS OR RESTORE LOSTHABITATS AND 3 PROVIDE QUALITY WILDLIFEORIENTED RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. PROPERLY MANAGE THE LAND ANDENSURING THEIR AVAILABILITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND PROVIDES BENEFITS FOR ALL CITIZENS.TO PROTECT THESE NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES UTILIZED ON THE WENAHA WILDLIFE AREA WILL MEET OR EXCEED HABITAT PROTECTION POLICIES AND STANDARDS SET BY THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE.