About the project

The Shillapoo Wildlife Area was historically connected to the Columbia River and supported habitat for fish and wildlife. In the 1950s, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) began acquiring land in the area to restore and enhance wetland habitat for wintering waterfowl. Today, the wildlife area spans 2,240 acres.

The Shillapoo South Unit, located in Vancouver, Wash., covers about 1,000 acres, including more than 300 acres of wetlands. Since 2000, pumps and water control structures have helped improve habitat for the 200,000 to 300,000 waterfowl that winter in the area, along with sandhill cranes and other wildlife.

WDFW is considering a habitat restoration project on the South Unit and Buckmire Slough and will assess several potential restoration alternatives. These alternatives will be evaluated based on state requirements and policies, ecological benefit, best available science, and community values — including input from tribal governments, a formal working group, and the public.

The proposed project would reestablish a connection between historic floodplains and the Columbia River mainstem, restore juvenile fish access, and maintain and improve habitat for wildlife. The project will focus on three primary goals:

• Reestablish anadromous fish use.
• Reduce invasive vegetation and enhance native vegetation.
• Maintain and enhance waterfowl and sandhill crane use.

For more information, interested applicants should review the Shillapoo Habitat and Reconnection Project webpage. A recording of the public meeting held July 28 in Ridgefield is available on YouTube.

Working group purpose

The Shillapoo Habitat and Reconnection Project – South (SHARPS) working group will provide feedback to WDFW as it conducts a conceptual alternatives analysis — a planning tool used to evaluate a range of options against a common set of criteria. The group will help WDFW engage with user groups and stakeholders, and support efforts to share the Department’s plans, goals, and objectives with the broader community.

WDFW values diverse perspectives and is seeking a broad range of representatives to serve on the working group, including individuals with interests in waterfowl hunting, outdoor recreation, agriculture, conservation, and salmon recovery.

WDFW staff will serve as ex-officio members, providing technical support and other resources. The working group will participate in a series of facilitated, regularly scheduled meetings, as well as between-meeting work, such as reviewing group materials. Meetings will be held at the WDFW Southwest Regional Office in Ridgefield.

The goal of the working group is to provide consensus-based recommendations to WDFW. The process is intended to be collaborative, and members are expected to work in good faith with others who may hold differing views on management of the South Unit and Buckmire Slough at the Shillapoo Wildlife Area.

Selection process and criteria

WDFW staff will review completed applications, follow up with applicants as needed, and recommend members to serve on the working group. The working group will be comprised of 12 to 15 members, who will be approved by WDFW Southwest Region Director Rian Sallee.

Candidates will reviewed based on the following criteria:

• Experience working collaboratively with people who have different perspectives or values to build consensus.
• Availability to attend approximately six in-person meetings (two to three hours each) from January 2026 to March 2027, with potential for additional public meetings or open houses to hear public input.
• Strong connections to their respective interest group, a willingness to engage with that broader community, and a commitment to representing its perspective in group discussions.
• Openness to learning about issues relevant to the South Unit and Buckmire Slough and the Shillapoo Wildlife Area as a whole.
• Background in a subject area relevant to management of the wildlife area (such as waterfowl, salmon recovery, hunting, recreation, or agriculture).

Applications due: Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025 at 5 p.m.
Candidates notified by: Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025

Applicants may also download a PDF version of the application and submit by email or postal mail. Submission instructions are included on the form. If you have questions or need assistance with the application process, email SHARPS@publicinput.com.

Compensation and reimbursements available

Advisory groups are a unique opportunity for people to share their knowledge and expertise with the Department. To reduce barriers for people to engage, WDFW offers compensation for advisory group members’ time and reimbursements for childcare, adult care, lodging, meals, and mileage. WDFW is following guidelines from the Office of Equity for advisory group compensation and reimbursements.

Washington residents who serve on advisory groups in a professional role and are otherwise compensated for their involvement are not eligible for compensation. Reimbursement rates are available on the Office of Financial Management’s website. Compensation rates range from $45 for one hour to $200 maximum per day.

All members of the public are invited to apply regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, language proficiency, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, or basis of disability.

Those interested in joining are also encouraged to review the WDFW Advisory Member Handbook and the advisory groups and committees webpage for background information.