 Regular public access began on June 3 , 2006 , when roughly 450 acres ( 180 ha ) of more than 1 @,@ 300 acres ( 530 ha ) of the refuge was opened on a permanent basis ; Construction on the visitor ’ s center began later that month . In March 2007 , the Wapato Lake Unit was created to the west near Gaston . In the same month , the refuge received the 2007 Sunset Magazine Environmental Award , with the magazine honoring the refuge as a " preserved paradise " . The number of annual visitors to the refuge totaled 40 @,@ 000 in 2007 . 
