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Conservation Areas, Pueblo & Trout Creek Mountains

Trout Creek Mountains

Water in the desert

Set among a sea of sagebrush, the Trout Creek Mountains harbor a variety of  wet habitats and deep willow-lined canyons. Aspen woodlands bring striking colors to the landscape in fall and support the livelihoods of beavers. Known as nature’s engineers, beavers mitigate the impacts of a changing climate, help conserve water during periods of drought, and enhance wetland carbon storage. They are considered one of the most cost effective and sustainable solutions for ecological restoration and resilience.

A beaver dam slows the flow of Trout Creek within the mountains — Bruce Taylor
Aspen and mahogany woodlands are important breeding habitat for rare songbirds — Mark Greenfield

The project area contains numerous wet meadows and includes more than 75 miles of streams and springs. Groundwater supplies sustain these habitats and ensure that terrestrial and aquatic species can persist during the dry seasons. Many mountain creeks drain to Oregon’s driest spot—the Alvord Basin—providing critical water to a desert landscape that supports plants and animals unique to this portion of the Great Basin, several of which are threatened or endangered. 

Western tanagers breed in forests up to 10,000 feet high in western North America — Mark Greenfield
The desert horned lizard is found in flat or gently rolling deserts covered with sagebrush or salt-desert shrub and primarily feeds on ants and beetles.

 

A species of conservation concern, Lahontan cutthroat trout are the largest of the four cutthroat subspecies and are well-adapted to the alkaline conditions found in many desert environments. These fish were once widespread throughout the Lahontan Basin of California, Nevada and southeast Oregon, but their range has shrunk considerably. Today, native populations are still found in Oregon’s Whitehorse and Willow creek basins.

The Trout Creek Mountains are in the southeastern corner of the project area.
Steens Mountain can be viewed from the Mahogany Ridge WSA — Mark Greenfield

 

Some of the project’s conservation parcels are scattered among public lands and the designated Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs). These lands are places that have wilderness characteristics – size, naturalness, and outstanding opportunities for solitude or primitive recreation. They allow for non-motorized access/recreation and are open to public hunting and fishing per state regulations. Trout Creek Mountain WSAs within the project area include Mahogany Ridge, Red Mountain and Willow Creek. 

Feature image of Trout Creek Mountains — Jake Polvi

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Related Reads

Tribal Gatherings

Tribal leaders discussed the Native history and stewardship of their homelands at Trout Creek Ranch.

Research Fueled by Fire

Oregon State University finished 10 years of fieldwork on sage-grouse responses to wildfire.

Tribal Stewards

Tribal teens lead on conservation efforts through Northwest Youth Corps.