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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Attention waterfowlers: Low water prevents Winchester Wasteway access

Winchester Wasteway flows irrigation runoff into Potholes Reservoir southwest of Moses Lake, Washington. (Washington Fish and Wildlife Department)
Winchester Wasteway flows irrigation runoff into Potholes Reservoir southwest of Moses Lake, Washington. (Washington Fish and Wildlife Department)

HUNTING -- Little or no water will greet waterfowlers who might show up near the Winchester Wasteway southwest of Moses Lake on Saturday, the opening day of Washington's duck and goose hunting season.

The wetland cells in the Winchester Ponds Regulated Access Area in the Desert Unit of the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area (west of Dodson Road and south of I-90 in Grant County), have little to no water, according to the state Fish and Wildlife Department.

"Even with rain, this elevated area will not fill and draw ducks and geese as it usually does by the mid-October season opener," the agency said in a release.

"Stay tuned for updates, and meanwhile find other places to hunt waterfowl on the agency's web page



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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