Malheur River Headwaters – Oregon Conservation Strategy

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The Malheur River Headwaters COA spans two ecoregions. Within the BM ecoregion, the COA includes Logan Valley and part of the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness and continues south to Battle Mountain (just north of Highway 306). Within the NBR, the COA is comprised of land associated with the Malheur River south of Battle Mountain to approximately one mile above the Warm Springs Reservoir. From west to east the COA includes the northern half of the Stinkingwater Mountains to Carey Tables east of the Malheur River.

COA ID: 180

Recommended Conservation Actions

Initiate or continue wet meadow conservation and restoration efforts
Maintain or restore riparian habitat and ecological function; ensure sufficient habitat complexity for wildlife
Manage sagebrush habitats to achieve and maintain habitat goals of the Oregon Sage Grouse Strategy
Restore ponderosa pine and aspen in riparian zone and surrounding uplands

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Special Features

General

One of four known Upland Sandpiper Nesting sites in Oregon
Sage Grouse Core Habitat Areas
Wetland and Wet Meadow complexes critical for migrating waterbirds

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID BM-14 (Logan Valley)
2006 COA ID NBR-10 (Malheur River area)

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.

Northern Basin and Range

The Northern Basin and Range ecoregion covers the very large southeastern portion of the state, from Burns south to the Nevada border and from the Christmas Valley east to Idaho. It is largely a high elevation desert-like area dominated by sagebrush communities and habitats.

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.

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.