Bakeoven Creek-Buckhollow Creek – Oregon Conservation Strategy

Photo Credit: Shilah Olson, Wasco County SWCD

The northern boundary of this COA follows Buck Hollow Creek, with the remaining boundaries connecting to the Lower Deschutes River (COA ID 148) and Lawrence Grasslands (COA ID 152) COAs.

COA ID: 151

Recommended Conservation Actions

Maintain or enhance in-channel watershed function, connection to riparian habitat, flow and hydrology
Promote early detection and suppression of weeds
Restore and maintain complex, continuous sagebrush and grassland habitats
Restore and maintain riparian habitats
Utilize grazing prescriptions to increase vegetative vigour

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

ODFW Fish research projects in Buckhollow and Bakeoven tributaries and to explore the relationship with the Lower Deschutes in providing fish habitat.

Potential Partners

Sherman County SWCD
Department of State Lands

Special Features

General

Buckhollow Creek provides important habitat for Summer Steelhead, supporting conservation efforts in the lower Deschutes River
Canyons of Buckhollow Creek (north of Buckhollow) provide high quality wildlife habitat
Provides important winter range for big game species, and habitat many sensitive wildlife species including Peregrine Falcon and Golden Eagle.
This area provides a well documented wildlife habitat connectivity corridor between the Deschutes and John Day Rivers.

Ecoregions

Columbia Plateau

The Columbia Plateau ecoregion was shaped by cataclysmic floods and large deposits of wind-borne silt and sand earlier in its geological history. It is dominated by a rolling landscape of arid lowlands dissected by several important rivers, and extends from the eastern slopes of the Cascades Mountains, south and east from the Columbia River to the Blue Mountains.

Strategy Habitats

Grasslands

Grasslands include a variety of upland grass-dominated habitats, such as upland prairies, coastal bluffs, and montane grasslands.

Flowing Water and Riparian Habitats

Flowing Water and Riparian Habitats include all naturally occurring flowing freshwater streams and rivers throughout Oregon as well as the adjacent riparian habitat.

Sagebrush Habitats

Sagebrush habitats include all sagebrush steppe- and shrubland-dominated communities found east of the Cascade Mountains.

Ducks on a wetland in Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area, Oregon

Wetlands

Wetlands are covered with water during all or part of the year. Permanently wet habitats include backwater sloughs, oxbow lakes, and marshes, while seasonally wet habitats include seasonal ponds, vernal pools, and wet prairies.