Are you and your family looking for a great outdoor adventure? The Cove Recreation area, formerly "Getty's Cove," is expected to open by Memorial Day. Hours are 8 a.m. to dusk Thursday through Monday and holidays, May through September. Amenities include picnic tables, BBQs, shady grass areas and a hand-carried craft boat launch. Travel along the bay to view a Bald Eagle nesting site.
The Cove is located along a protected bay on the Columbia River near Wanapum Dam and managed by Washington State Parks and Grant PUD. Visitors are required to display the Discover Passon their vehicles.
Wanapum Overlook is located off state Route 243
at mile marker 24.6
Ice age flood displays at Wanapum Dam Overlook
This spring, make plans to picnic at the new Wanapum Dam Overlook. While you take in the spectacular views of Wanapum Dam and surrounding area, you will also learn about the area's unique geology and the formation of the Columbia River Basin.
Central Washington University and Washington State Parks both played a role in the development of the Overlook's interpretive and educational panels. Stay tuned, Grant PUD is continuing to enhance recreation sites and develop more education and interpretive opportunities along the Columbia River. For more information, visit www.gcpud.org.
Keep the Columbia River clean and healthy
Protect the water. Minimize use of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides on your lawn and in your yard.
Reduce water usage. Convert portions of your lawn to gardens, shrubs, trees or meadows. Consider a xeriscape garden.
Keep it natural. Plant native species and hardy grasses requiring little or no specialized care. Visit the Washington Native Plant Society for more information.
Call before building, landscaping or removing vegetation on Grant PUD property or in the water, give us a call (509) 754-6754 or email lands@gcpud.org.
Habitat enhancement improves recreation
Grant PUD employees recently completed a large-scale Russian Olive tree removal project along the shorelines of Burkett Lake.
Burkett Lake is located southwest of Beverly off state Route 243 on Lower Crab Creek Road SE
These trees are not native to Grant County. They originated in Europe and Asia and were introduced to the western United States primarily for ornamental purposes and windbreaks. Russian Olive trees are a thorny and aggressively growing species that tend to choke out native vegetation.
In the coming years, Grant PUD will work to improve habitat at Burkett Lake by reintroducing native grasses, shrubs and trees.
Recreators using the Burkett Lake area for fishing, hunting or hiking may notice native vegetation growing along the shoreline. Eventually, these native plants will inhibit noxious weed growth.
Crescent Bar Recreation Area
We are in the final stages of design for the recreation projects planned for the off-island areas at Crescent Bar. This milestone follows three years of public outreach, planning, engineering and design.
Home and vacation property owners adjacent to PUD property met with our staff to share concerns and suggestions regarding public recreation development plans. The modified plans will be filed in a report to FERC in May. After review, FERC will issue a final approval. Recreation improvements will occur once legal proceedings for on-island development are resolved.
