Minam River Wildlife Area adds more acreage, a big win for elk, deer and at-risk species
By Garrett Christensen on Wednesday, October 16th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
WALLOWA COUNTY – (Release from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife) ODFW and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation added an additional 1,073 acres to the Minam River Wildlife Area in northeast Oregon, expanding the protected acreage to 16,646. This collaborative effort, finalized last month, builds upon significant land acquisitions from 2021 and 2023.
Visit MyODFW.com for more information about the Minam River Wildlife Area: https://myodfw.com/articles/minam-river-wildlife-area-visitor-guide
“The Minam is one of the most ecologically important rivers in the state, and ODFW has wanted to protect this special area since the 1960s,” said ODFW Director Debbie Colbert. “We thank RMEF, the USDA Forest Legacy Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Manulife, other partners and the hard work of our northeast Oregon staff for bringing this project to completion.”
In 2023, ODFW shared a report by Conservation Science Partners that named the Minam River as the second-most ecologically important river in the state because of its water quality, recreational value and ability to support rare or at-risk species.
The Minam River Wildlife Area improves habitat connectivity and supplies critical winter range for up to 1,200 elk, serves as transitional and migration range for elk, mule deer and other species, and includes 114 miles of riparian habitat that benefits Snake River spring/summer run Chinook salmon (federal and state threatened), Snake River Basin Steelhead (federal threatened), Grande Ronde bull trout (federal threatened) and Pacific lamprey (state sensitive).
In addition, ODFW and tribal co-managers documented coho salmon redds in the Minam River in 2021, after a 40-year absence.
