Washington’s desert is an unexpected treat for those of us dwelling on the dark and rainy side of the Cascade mountain range. The desert is not the windblown, austere Sahara, but a rich range of habitats where an amazing abundance of wildlife roams.  The most diverse areas are riparian canyons, which may provide the only water for miles around. The Columbia Basin Reclamation Project flooded vast areas of desert to provide water for agriculture, making these flooded oases a magnet for resident and migratory birds, bats, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.  Year-round streams like Douglas Creek have supported animals and people for thousands of years.