Umpqua Headwaters – 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.

Located within the Umpqua National Forest and includes the headwaters of the Umpqua River.

Recommended Conservation Actions

Maintain or enhance in-channel watershed function, connection to riparian habitat, flow and hydrology
Plan and manage for recreational impacts in sensitive areas
Conduct mountain meadow enhancement and protection
Enhance or restore wetland habitats where feasible

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds

Potential Partners

US Forest Service
Bureau of Land Management
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Special Features

General

Area encompasses some of the ecoregion's most important salmon habitat
Area includes the headwaters of the North and South Umpqua Rivers and significant strech of Jackson Creek
Provides important nesting habitat for Northwestern Pond Turtle

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID WC-09 (Umpqua Headwaters)

Protected Areas

Abbott Creek Research Natural Area
Bohemia
Boulder Creek Wilderness
Cougar Butte Research Natural Area
Fish Lake
Geary Cemetery
Laying Creek Fossil Bed
Limpy Rock
North Umpqua
Rogue - Umpqua Divide
South Umpqua Experimental Forest

Specialized Local Habitats

Off channel habitat
Spring-fed streams

Ecoregions

West Cascades

The West Cascades ecoregion extends from east of the Cascade Mountains summit to the foothills of the Willamette, Umpqua, and Rogue Valleys, and spans the entire length of the state of Oregon. It is largely dominated by conifer forests, moving into alpine parklands and dwarf shrubs at higher elevations.

Key Habitats

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 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 …

Example of Oak Woodlands, which is a Strategy Habitat within the State Wildlife Action Plan

Oak Habitats

There are several oak habitat types in Oregon, where oaks comprise most of the canopy. These can include oak woodlands, oak forest, oak chaparral, and riparian oak. Oak savanna is covered in the Grasslands Key Habitat. Oaks may also co-dominate a canopy in oak/fir, oak pine, and oak hardwood habitats.

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.