Hunters, hikers, anglers and birdwatchers planning to visit the Lower Snake River should consider avoiding areas that burned in recent wildfires, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District.
The fires scarred at least six of the Walla Walla District’s habitat management units (HMUs), public lands where the district is charged with conserving wildlife and natural resources and offering access to recreation, such as camping and boat launching. People mainly use the units for seasonal hunting, an activity regulated by the state of Washington.
From west to east, the damaged HMUs are Hollebeke, 55 Mile, Skookum, Lyons Ferry, Texas Rapids and Little Goose Landing, a district release said.
Wildland fires can eliminate vegetation, leading to a destabilization of the soil, said Dylan Peters, a district spokesperson, in an interview. Anyone near the river could be injured by erosion and the ground giving way.
“Burned soil tends to not absorb water as well, so you could be subjected to landslides, things of that nature,” Peters said.
Then there are burn snags — burned trees that are effectively dead but still standing. These can be knocked over by wind or other disturbance and pose a falling hazard.
The district is not closing the units, just asking visitors to adjust their plans, keep their safety in mind and remain alert to dangerous ground, Peters said. It might take a while for the areas to recover, he said.
“There are other habitat management units in the area that they can access, and we would encourage them to maybe explore those,” he said.
The Lower Snake River region supports game animals such as deer, waterfowl and upland birds like pheasant and quail. Nongame birds include eagles, hawks and owls. People can also find reptiles, amphibians and smaller mammals. The river, meanwhile, is home to Chinook and sockeye salmon; steelhead, rainbow and brown trout; smallmouth bass; and Pacific lamprey.
