Al About the Sand Creek WMA & Chester Wetlands

A Sand Creek pond by JOSH RYDALCH

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FREMONT COUNTY — One of eastern Idaho’s most valuable sagebrush - grassland ranges, the Sand Creek Wildlife Management Area, is just north of St. Anthony.

In the mid-1920’s, a small group of Rocky Mountain elk first spent the winter on an isolated piece of high upland desert, near the west end of Big Bend Ridge.

Recognizing the importance of this elk wintering area, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) purchased a 4,700 acre parcel in 1947 and designated it the Sand Creek Elk Refuge. In years since, the wintering elk herd has grown, and with it, the Sand Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA).

Additional land purchased with Pittman- Robertson funds, cooperative land-use agreements with other agencies, and use-trade agreements with private owners have expanded Sand Creek WMA to more than 32,000 acres. This includes the Chester Wetlands Segment of 1506 acres that IDFG acquired in 2001.

One of eastern Idaho’s most valuable sagebrush/ grassland ranges, Sand Creek WMA is known worldwide for its wintering big game herds. The WMA and surrounding lands provide winter forage and shelter for one of the largest migratory, high-desert elk herds in North America and the only desert wintering moose herd in the world. Elk, moose, and deer leave the Island Park area to winter in the WMA, making it absolutely critical that the WMA is preserved.

More than 3,000 elk, 1,500 mule deer and 400 moose winter in the area. Smaller mammal species are yearlong residents, including kangaroo rats, badgers, skunks, red fox, yellowbellied marmots, and coyotes.

The ponds and waterways of the WMA are home to beaver, muskrat and mink. Red squirrels and pine marten inhabit the forests of the northeast. Sharptailed and sage grouse reside on the WMA. Spring finds these birds congregating on traditional breeding areas (leks), with males engaging in animated displays to intimidate rivals and woo hens. In the north, blue and ruffed grouse find breeding and nesting sites among the cover and shadows of forested habitats.

The ponds at Sand Creek attract a variety of waterfowl and shorebirds, including common loons, western grebes, trumpeter swans, snowy egrets, sandhill cranes, willets and longbilled curlews. Osprey and bald eagles are drawn to the ponds in search of fish. The dry upland areas attract red-tailed hawks, Swainson’s hawks, and golden eagles.

The Chester Wetlands Segment of Sand Creek WMA, located along the northwest bank of the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River about 3 miles from the main portion of the WMA, provides another set of unique habitats. Most of the Chester Wetlands part is irrigated grassland pasture interspersed with wetlands.

There are more than 30 ponds, two irrigation canals and about 1.75 miles of frontage on the Henry’s Fork, creating large wetlands and riparian habitat.

Chester Wetlands supports yearlong populations of bald eagles, Canada geese, mallard ducks, and trumpeter swans. Trumpeter swans are listed as a Species of Special Concern by both state and federal agencies and Singleton Pond is historically an important nesting area. Seasonally present are American widgeon, bufflehead, cinnamon teal, green-winged teal, redheads and ring-necked ducks. Rails, coots, sandhill cranes, great blue herons, black-crowned night herons, sandpipers, gulls, and cormorants are frequent seasonal and yearlong residents.

Ute Ladies’ Tresses, listed as a Threatened Species, were found on the property in the fall of 2002. A separate management plan is in effect for this plant species. This plan affects overall management to some degree in so far as weed control, water management and farming are concerned.

The combination of unique habitats to be found on Sand Creek WMA and the Chester Wetlands Segment provide a wildlife diversity and abundance that cannot easily be equaled.

Wildlife viewing, hunting, and fishing, are the primary recreational pursuits available to visitors of Sand Creek WMA. For the wildlife watcher, a drive along Sand Creek, Red, and Crooked Roads may provide glimpses or possible upclose encounters with big game species. Sage and sharp-tailed grouse, raptors, and song birds may also be seen during the drive.

To truly experience Sand Creek WMA and Chester Wetlands, guests need to explore the area on foot. In upland areas, look for unique habitat features – a flowing spring, a boulder pile or a shrub clump. Forest communities offer glimpses of wildlife not found in upland areas. Wetland exploring can be a truly unique experience and opportunity to view waterfowl and shorebirds in their primary habitat. Habitat diversity and wildlife richness make Sand Creek Ponds and Singleton Pond excellent for wildlife viewing.

Big game, upland game bird, and small game hunting are available in season on Sand creek WMA. Trout fishing is popular at the Sand Creek Ponds. Trapping is also allowed by registered trappers on Sand Creek WMA and Chester Wetlands.

Everyone in Fremont County should visit the Sand Creek WMA to see firsthand what is there and what should be protected. A section of the WMA is closed in winter to protect wintering species. In the last few years, some people have begun to whisper about allowing development on private lands within the area that would require those lands to be open year round. If this were to happen, wintering wildlife could be displaced. This would affect wildlife viewing and hunting in the WMA as well as in Island Park, where most of the large species summer.

Visiting Hours. Sand Creek WMA and Chester Wetlands are open yearround and have no established visiting hours. School and other groups are encouraged to visit Sand Creek WMA in the spring when big game animals are still present and waterfowl numbers peak. Guided tours are available with advance planning and IDFG personnel will make every effort to accommodate group trips. Both Sand Creek WMA and Chester Wetlands have workshops throughout the summer. Check with WMA personnel for details by calling 624.7065.

Directions: WMA HQ and CHESTER WETLANDS SEGMENT: from St. Anthony, take Hwy. 20 E from the north edge of town 1.5 miles; go left on Sand Creek Road, just before crossing the Del Rio Bridge; go 1.5 miles and then veer right onto North River Road to reach WMA HQ and wetlands; park in parking area; motorized vehicle use is not allowed beyond the parking areas.

Sand Creek Ponds: backtrack to Sand Creek Road; go right (N) on Sand Creek Road; enter public land at mi 9.4; miles.

Directions from Ashton and Island park are tricky because they involve dirt roads and mistakes can be made. If you can read a Fremont County map, go for it.

 

This is part of the July 9, 2009 online edition of The Island Park News.

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