The Washington State Board of Natural Resources has approved a land transfer agreement to significantly expand the Upper Dry Gulch Natural Area Preserve. The agreement transfers existing Department of Natural Resources (DNR) managed parcels to the Natural Areas program, adding 2680.39 acres to the existing preserve.

 

The DNR Natural Areas Program will manage the parcels as part of the preserve, with the express intent of protecting its ecological features. The preserve protects the largest known population of Whited's milkvetch, a state-listed endangered plant species found only within a 3-square-mile area. The Upper Dry Gulch area represents the entire global distribution of this species centered around the existing Natural Area Preserve.

 

Situated in the arid mountains southeast of Wenatchee, this site is dominated by a native shrub and bunchgrass (shrub-steppe) ecosystem recovering from past land uses. The drainage that flows through the site carries water seasonally and is subject to torrential flows during spring. The loggerhead shrike, a bird species highly dependent on shrub-steppe habitat, is also known to frequent this area.

 

Natural Area Preserves protect the best remaining examples of many ecological communities, including rare plant and animal habitats. The preserve system presently includes more than 41,344 acres in 58 sites throughout the state.

 

 

 

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Ryan Rodruck

Communications Manager

Cell: 360-584-3916