Basque Hills Area Plains – 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.

Barely crossing into Lake County on its western edge, this COA is predominantly located in southwestern Harney County and connects to the Sage Hen Creek COA (201) and the Hart Mountain Area COA (200) on its western and southeastern borders. It encompasses an area from Mahogany Mountain in the north to the southern edge of Catlow Rim, Lone Mountain, and Oregon End Reservoir in the east, and then south along the foothills of the Pueblo Mountains to the Oregon/Nevada border.

Recommended Conservation Actions

Initiate or continue wet meadow conservation and restoration efforts
Manage livestock grazing to promote health sagebrush and wetland habitats
Promote early detection and removal of invasive plants with an emphasis on unique high quality grasslands
Restore and/or maintain Aspen woodlands
Restore and/or maintain complex continuous sage habitat

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Potential Partners

Special Features

General

Area contains extensive high quality sagebrush habitats
Sage Grouse Low Density and Core Habitat Areas

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID NBR-06 (Basque Hills area plains)

Protected Areas

Basque Hills Wilderness Study Area
Hawk Mountain Wilderness Study Area
Hawksie-Walksie Research Natural Area
Long Draw
Rincon Wilderness Study Area
Spaulding Wilderness Study Area

Specialized Local Habitats

Cliff, Rock Rim, Rock Outcrops
Native Perennial Bunchgrasses
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.