Wildlife and Botanical Management Plan

The Wildlife and Botanical Management Plan (WBMP) is an important component in the Wells Hydroelectric Project (Wells Project) license. The WBMP is intended to guide wildlife management activities and to protect rare, threatened and endangered (RTE) wildlife and plant species on Project lands during the term of the new license for the Wells Project. Public Utility District No 1 of Douglas County (Douglas PUD) developed this plan in consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The WBMP will protect and enhance the habitat of rare, threatened and endangered wildlife and botanical species on Project lands. Bald eagle perching opportunities will be protected and increased. Food plots will be planted annually to provide food for wintering waterfowl. Douglas PUD will patrol the Wells reservoir to prevent unauthorized encroachment on Project land and replace damaged habitat. Noxious weeds will be controlled on Project lands while protecting sensitive plants and habitats.

There are approximately 108 miles of reservoir shoreline in the Wells Project. Also within the Project Boundary are approximately 15 miles of shoreline around isolated ponds, the largest being Washburn Pond. Douglas PUD owns over 99 percent of the shoreline within the Project. Douglas PUD owns approximately 2,649 acres of the 2,664 acres of land adjacent to the Wells Reservoir within the Project Boundary. There are also 1,117 acres within the 235 feet wide, 41 mile transmission line ROW, the majority of which are privately owned. Lands within the Wells Project Boundary include shrub steppe; irrigated agriculture; wildlife habitat, and recreation lands, including parks in Pateros, Brewster, and Bridgeport.