Bear Valley – 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 south of John Day, along the Silvies River and including the town of Seneca. Area encompasses important wetland and riparian habitats in the valley.

Recommended Conservation Actions

Maintain and/or restore wetland and wet meadow habitat
Maintain or restore riparian habitat and ecological function; ensure sufficient habitat complexity for wildlife

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Eastern Oregon Bird Conservation Plan

Potential Partners

Bureau of Land Management
US Forest Service

Special Features

General

Area is of documented importance for Sandhill Cranes
Includes large wetland complex that is keystone of Silvies River headwaters system, with major influence on downstream flows and water quality
Includes significant stretches of Bear Creek and of the Silvies River.
Provides significant habitat for Upland Sandpiper and Bobolink

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID BM-09 (Bear Valley)

Protected Areas

Bear Valley Station Bark Beetle Hazard Plots
Herberger Corral Bark Beetle Hazard Plots
Hog Creek Bark Beetle Hazard Plots
Lemon Creek Bark Beetle Hazard Plots
Malheur National Forest
Masonic Camp Bark Beetle Hazard Plots
Prineville District
Starr Camp Bark Beetle Hazard Plots
Strawberry Mountain Wilderness

Ecoregions

Blue Mountains

Located in NE Oregon, the Blue Mountains ecoregion is the largest ecoregion in the state. It provides a diverse complex of mountain ranges, valleys, and plateaus that extend beyond Oregon into the states of Idaho and Washington.

Key Habitats

Grasslands

Grasslands include a variety of upland grass-dominated habitats, such as upland prairies, coastal bluffs, and montane grasslands.

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 …

Ponderosa Pine Woodlands

Ponderosa pine woodlands are common in Oregon’s eastside ecoregions. While dominated by ponderosa pine, these woodlands 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. Known for their open forest structure, these woodlands generally have fewer …

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.