Baker Valley Wetlands – Oregon Conservation Strategy

The Baker Valley Wetlands COA in the Blue Mountains ecoregion. Photo Credit: Keith Kohl, ODFW

Located in the Powder River Basin immediately northwest of Baker City and including the town of Haines

COA ID: 165

Recommended Conservation Actions

Maintain or enhance in-channel watershed function, connection to riparian habitat, flow and hydrology
Maintain or restore riparian habitat and ecological function; ensure sufficient habitat complexity for wildlife
Protect, restore or enhance habitat for ESA-listed plants
Restore seasonal wetlands

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Eastern Oregon Bird Conservation Plan

Potential Partners

Baker Soil and Water Conservation District
Bureau of Land Management
NRCS Wetland Reserve Program
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
The Nature Conservancy
US Fish and Wildlife Service

Special Features

General

Area contains significant amount of the ecoregion's Wetlands and Wet Meadow habitat
Area provides high quality habitat for migrating birds and other wildlife species
High restoration potential for aquatic and riparian systems

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID BM-19 (Baker Valley)

Protected Areas

Elkhorn Wildlife Area
Farm Service Agency Interest Of Oregon

Ecoregions

Blue Mountains

Located in NE Oregon, the Blue Mountains ecoregion is the largest ecoregion in the state. It provides a diverse complex of mountain ranges, valleys, and plateaus that extend beyond Oregon into the states of Idaho and Washington.

Strategy Habitats

Aspen Woodlands

Aspen woodlands are woodland or forest communities, dominated by aspen trees with a forb, grass, or shrub understory. Aspen woodlands can also occur within conifer forests.

Grasslands

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

Natural Lakes

Natural lakes are relatively large bodies of freshwater surrounded by land. For the purposes of the Conservation Strategy, natural lakes are defined as standing water bodies larger than 20 acres, including some seasonal lakes.

Ponderosa Pine Woodlands

Ponderosa pine woodlands are dominated by ponderosa pine, but may also have lodgepole pine, western juniper, aspen, western larch, grand fir, Douglas-fir, mountain mahogany, incense cedar, sugar pine, or white fir, depending on ecoregion and site conditions. Their understories are variable combinations of shrubs, herbaceous plants, and grasses.