Gearhart Mountain-North Fork Sprague – Oregon Conservation Strategy

Gearhart Mountain and surrounding area in the East Cascades ecoregion. Photo Credit: Keith Kohl, ODFW

Includes the North Fork Sprague river and its surrounding habitat; includes the area surrounding Gearhart Wilderness Area

COA ID: 140

Recommended Conservation Actions

Maintain or restore existing stands of Aspen Woodland and Ponderosa Pine woodland to provide habitat for wildlife
Maintain or restore riparian habitat and ecological function, ensuring sufficient habitat complexity for wildlife

Potential Partners

U. S. Geological Survey
US Forest Service

Special Features

General

Adjacent to Gearhart Mountain Wilderness Area
Includes headwaters of North Fork Sprague River in the Gearhart Mountain area

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID EC-14 (Sycan River)
2006 COA ID EC-15 (Sprague River)
2006 COA ID EC-16 (Gearhart Mountain - North Fork Sprague)

Ecoregions

East Cascades

The East Cascade ecoregion extends from the Cascade Mountains’ summit east to the warmer, drier high desert and down the length of the state. This ecoregion varies dramatically from its cool, moist border with the West Cascades ecoregion to its dry eastern border, where it meets sagebrush desert landscapes.

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.

Late Successional Mixed Conifer Forests

Late successional mixed conifer forests provide a multi-layered tree canopy, including large-diameter trees, shade-tolerant tree species in the understory, and a high volume of dead wood, such as snags and logs.

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.

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.

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.