Alvord Lake Basin – State Wildlife Action Plan

Geographic boundaries of the COAs were updated for the 2026 State Wildlife Action Plan and the associated COA profiles are intended to provide additional information. Content of each COA profile is being refined and will be updated to reflect current conditions when feasible. Please help us by submitting information on Local Conservation Actions, Plans, or Potential Partners to: OCS.revision@odfw.oregon.gov.

The northern extent of this long narrow COA includes Tudor Lake at the eastern base of Steens Mountain. It also encompasses a large swath of the Alvord Desert, including the seasonal and alkali Alvord Lake. The Alvord Lake Basin COA ends just south of the community of Fields in the Pueblo Valley.

Recommended Conservation Actions

Maintain alkaline wetland habitats.
Maintain, restore, or improve riparian/wetland vegetation communities.
Promote early detection and suppression of invasive plants.
Control invasive Western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) on the west side of the COA.

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Coordinated Implementation Plan for Bird Conservation in Eastern Oregon (Taylor et.al. 2005)
Focused Investment Priority for Closed Lake Basin Wetland Habitats
Greater Sage-grouse Conservation Assessment and Strategy
Important Bird Areas of Oregon
Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project
Water Quality Management Plan
USDA NRCS Alvord Lake Hydrologic Unit Profile
BLM Andrews Management Unit Record of Decision and Resource Management Plan

Potential Partners

Special Features

General

Contains the only known location of Borax Lake Chub
Low Density Sage Grouse Core Habitat Areas
Much of this area receives some degree of protection under the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID NBR-09 (Alvord Lake Basin)
2006 COA ID NBR-09 (Pueblo Mountains)
2006 COA ID NBR-09 (Steens Mountain Uplands)

Protected Areas

Alvord Desert
Stonehouse Wilderness Study Area
Borax Lake Area Of Critical Environmental Concern
Borax Lake Preserve
East Alvord Wilderness Study Area
Heath Lake Wilderness Study Area
High Steens Wilderness Study Area
Lower Stonehouse Wilderness Study Area
Steens Mountain Wilderness

Specialized Local Habitats

Ash Beds
Salt Desert Scrub
Springs

Ecoregions

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.

Key Habitats

Natural Lakes

Natural lakes are relatively large bodies of freshwater surrounded by land that were formed through geological processes, such as glacial scouring, tectonic movements, volcanic activity and river meander cutoffs. In Oregon, natural lakes are defined as standing water bodies larger than 20 acres, including some seasonal lakes. Depth is not a reference for characterization of …

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.