History of McKay Creek

McKay Creek Dam & Refuge History

Really like history? This is the page for you. Learn about the making of the McKay Creek NWR and Dam.

About the Complex

Mid-Columbia River Refuges

The Mid-Columbia River Refuges are eight refuges within the Columbia Basin.

McKay Creek is managed as part of the Mid-Columbia River Refuges.

About the NWRS

National Wildlife Refuge System

The National Wildlife Refuge System, within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, manages a national network of lands and waters set aside to conserve America’s fish, wildlife, and plants.

Of Interest

• Upland Game Bird Hunting Lottery

  September 09, 2016

  The lottery for opening weekend of game bird hunting is open. The lottery closes at 3:30 p.m. on September 9, so you've got plenty of time to register. Good luck.

  McKay Creek Upland Gamebird Lottery

• Ospreys & Baling Twine

  

  Osprey are common along our rivers and lakes—anywhere there is water and fish. Unlike most other birds, they make little attempt to hide their nests, making it easy to follow a nest from egg laying right through the young leaving the nest to fend for themselves. Unfortunately, the manner in which ospreys build their nests clashes with our propensity to litter. In the wild, ospreys often line their nests with lichens, mosses and grasses. However, they will readily use substitute materials, which, sadly, often means baling twine and fishing line. The problem is it can kill them. All too often, they become entangled in the line, suffering gruesome deaths by strangulation or starvation. Researchers at the University of Montana estimate that as much as 10 to 30 percent of osprey chicks and adults in some areas are killed by this baling twine, fish nets, or fishing line. Every year, we’re called to rescue an entangled osprey, but we often arrive too late, or don’t have the resources to pull off a rescue. Many utility companies, such as the Benton REA, have been wonderful partners in helping us rescue ospreys, but we really need your help. When you’re outside, pick up any twine, rope, fishing line, etc.—you may just be saving one of these magnificent birds from a cruel death.

  University of Montana Osprey Project