Siskiyou Crest Area – Oregon Conservation Strategy

Siskiyou Crest Photo Credit: Tiffany Stoddart

This area is a long east-west running ridgline typical of the unique geology and ecology of the Klamath Mountains. It contains the head-waters for a number of stream, large mature conifers, and open alpine meadows.

COA ID: 104

Recommended Conservation Actions

Acquire instream water rights to augment streamflows downstream of areas with high coho rearing densities to improve habitat and produce more fish.
Focus on restoring fish passage and streamflowsin Ashland Creek, which provides cold clear water from Mount Ashland but is heavily impacted by diversions. Granite Stree Dam, for example, is a complete block to fish migration.
Maintain and enhance riparian vegetation.
Restore ambient streamflow, riparian vegetation, fish passage, flood-plain connectivity, and in-stream structure.
Restore connectivity across I5 for Pacific Fisher and other mobile species.
Thin overstocked conifer plantations to promote hardwood understory.

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Cascade Siskiyou National Monument Management Plans
Important Bird Areas of Oregon
Klamath Mountain Province Steelhead project summary
ODFW Coho Expert Panel Summary
Oregon Native Fish Status Report

Potential Partners

Oregon Department of Forestry
Southern Oregon Land Conservancy
US Forest Service

Special Features

General

Ashland Watershed
Pacific Crest Trail

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID KM-13 (Siskiyou Crest-Soda Mountain)

Protected Areas

Ashland
Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument
Hald Strawberry Park
Klamath National Forest
Lithia Park
Mount Ashland Winter Sports Recreation Area
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Siskiyou Mountain Park
Soda Mountain Wilderness

Ecoregions

Klamath Mountains

The Klamath Mountains ecoregion covers much of southwestern Oregon, including the Umpqua Mountains, Siskiyou Mountains, and interior valleys and foothills between these and the Cascade Range. The Rogue watershed has the largest population of any coastal watershed in Oregon (Jackson County, Josephine County, and a portion of Curry County). Several popular and scenic rivers run …

Strategy Habitats

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.

Oak Woodlands

Oak woodlands are characterized by an open canopy dominated by Oregon white oak.

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.