State to acquire another chunk of 4-O Ranch near Grande Ronde River

WILDLIFE HABITAT — Washington’s Fish and Wildlife Commission on Friday approved spending $3.7 million to purchase of 2,061 acres that nearly wraps up a multi-phased plan to transfer the 12,000-acre 4-0 Ranch to the state’s Chief Joseph Wildlife Area.

The state Fish and Wildlife Department’s plan to acquire this land in Asotin County completes about 90 percent of a six-phase project to acquire the ranch and expand the Chief Joseph Wildlife Area above the Grande Ronde River.

The land will be especially effective in preserving critical habitat for threatened salmon, steelhead and trout, as well as deer, bighorn sheep and elk, wildlife managers say.

The department has secured state and federal funds to purchase the property, currently owned by 4-O Land & Livestock, LLC.