Change

The Mid-Columbia River Wildlife Refuge Complex now includes eight refuges and the Reach National Monument.

Added to the complex of McKay, Cold Springs, Umatilla, McNary, and Toppenish in 2007, which had been administrated as the Mid-Columbia River Complex for the past ten years, are: Columbia, Saddle Mountain, and Conboy Lake NWRs. The administrative offices are located at McNary NWR, Burbank, Washington.  

From the old parking lot entrance on Maple Street, this is sunny view of the
south side of the building. The siding has its primer coat of paint. Stone wil
cover the area below the windows. Notice the former shop is missing.
Photo taken on the bright sunny day of March 28, 2007.

There are many good reasons to celebrate National Wildlife Refuges. The second week in October is designated nation wide to draw attention to the Refuge System. The Mid-Columbia River Wildlife Refuges are the heart of central Washington's area of protected habitat for wildlife. Much of the area is truly for wildlife – not open to human intrusion at any time.

Parts of some are open to fishing and hunting, during legal seasons, although boats are not allowed on the ponds within the hunting area. Our hunters have well trained dogs to retrieve the birds. Injured birds that escape the dogs are picked up by eagles. The islands in the Columbia river are closed to the public. There are breeding animals that live on the islands.

All the Refuges have areas for wildlife viewing all year around. Umatilla has a special auto trail for wildlife viewing from the comfort of your car.

McNary NWR has an area open to the public for environmental education. Volunteers guide learning experiences in natural science when requested by teachers who reserve the program for their classes. Over half an acre has been planted into native plants allowing visitors to view those plants without wading through cheatgrass and other noxious weeds in our shrinking sagebrush-grassland habitat.

Naomi Sherer