U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service McGee Ranch/ Riverlands Unit
Fact Sheet August 2002
Location Wildlife Unit boundaries include the Colum- Umtanum ridge contains rock bia River to the north, State High- outcrops that attract rock and way 24 on the east and south to canyon wrens, cliff swallows and Cold Creek, where the western white-throated swifts. Shrub stands boundary stair-steps north back to support lark and sage sparrows. the Columbia River. Prominent Long-eared owls occasionally roost FWS photo: David Goeke features include the eastern end of in trees that remain from abandoned Umtanum Ridge, China Bar, and homesteads. An alkaline spring on Unit Size the Hanford Reach. Umtanum Ridge supports an en- 9,000 acres demic snail not known from any other location. Umtanum Ridge and History and Administration Habitats the shorelines of the Columbia River Since 1943 the U.S. Depart- This unit provides a corridor of appear to support a wide variety of ment of Energy (DOE) has held protected habitat for wildlife to butterflies, including several rare title to the lands that make up travel between the Arid Lands species. Fall Chinook salmon this and all other units that Ecology Reserve Unit and the spawn along the Vernita bar. became part of the Hanford Saddle Mountain and Wahluke Reach National Monument in Units of the Monument. It also Public Uses 2000. DOE currently retains provides a critical link of connec- Day use is permitted between primary land management tivity to the Yakima Training Center Midway Road and the Columbia responsibility of this unit. to the west. Deep soil areas on the River only. Primary activities include north slope of Umtanum Ridge bank fishing and boat launching at a have big sagebrush/bluebunch primitive cobblestone ramp area. wheatgrass community. Shallow The Washington Department of alkaline vernal pools occur on the Transportation maintains a rest stop east end of Umtanum Ridge on and picnic area off State Highway basalt shelves and dips that formed 24 just south of the River in this unit. internal drainages. The ridge also supports unique lithosol (rocky Cultural Resources shallow soil) plant communities that Camp sites and artifacts found in this include purple sage, prickly phlox, unit suggest early Native American rock and thyme buckwheat. occupation ranging from about 4000 to 2500 years ago. Many archeo- FWS photo: Kathy Criddle logical sites are associated with the same springs that attracted home- Rare Plants Address/Phone steaders to the area around 1900. This unit is home to rare plants The availability of artesian water led Hanford Reach NM including Hoovers desert parsley, 3250 Port of Benton Blvd. to the establishment of an extensive Kittitas larkspur, and Umtanum gravity flow irrigation system. By the Richland, WA 99352 Ridge desert buckwheat - a federal 509-371-1801 Depression, many of the ranches candidate species found nowhere were abandoned due to limited 509-375-0196 fax else in the world. irrigation capabilities.