James T. Slavin Conservation Area
Description
The property consists of 628 acres located in the Rosa Butte area of the West Plains. The topography is a combination of low, rolling pastures surrounded by high, forested buttes. The property contains a variety of habitat types including ponds, upland pine and fir forests, wetlands, and grassy meadows.
It has been identified by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife as an elk calving area and along the waterfowl migratory routes. The property contains a five-acre permanent lake, many seasonal ponds, and has a wetland-stream corridor running north-south through its center.
There are close to 200 acres of permanent and seasonal wetlands on the property. Spokane County Parks, Recreation and Golf undertook a Wetland Restoration Program through the Natural Resource Conservation Service to restore those wetlands from farmland. A large variety of wildlife use the wetlands and surrounding area for habitat.
Permitted Uses
- Wildlife habitat
- Wildlife observation
- Nature trails
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Bird-watching
- Equestrian trails
- Bird-watching
- Cross-country skiing
Rules
- Dogs can be disruptive to wildlife and must be kept on a leash at all times while in the conservation area.
- Motorized vehicles are not permitted in the conservation area.
- Hunting and/or shooting are not permitted at any time in the conservation area.
- No campfires are permitted in the conservation area.
Location
From I-90:
- Take US 195 South at the Colfax/Pullman exit, #279
- Drive south on 195 for approximately 8.4 miles
- Turn right (west) on Washington Road, drive to the 'T' intersection with Keeney Road
- Turn right (north) on Keeney Road; parking is immediately on the left
- The James T. Slavin Conservation Area borders Keeney Road for 1/2 mile
Click here for a locator and site map of the James T. Slavin Conservation Area (829 KB pdf) Full size print-out is 11 x 17, but can be scaled to 8.5 x 11.
Features
Special attractions at the James T. Slavin Conservation Area include:
- Easy to medium hiking trails over 628 acres in the Rosa Butte area
- Off-road parking with picnic tables
- Wildlife observation, including large mammals and various species of upland and migratory birds
Wildlife
Wildlife content will be updated as information is made available.