Crowley – 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.

This rugged COA begins in Harney County near the confluence of Crane Creek and the South Fork Malheur River. Moving north east, the COA crosses into Malheur County and wraps around Swamp Creek Buttes. Continuing north towards Juntura, it then follows an eastward line (south of US Highway 20) towards Namorf. Finally, the COA heads south and east ending in the area between Freezeout Mountain and Sourdough Mountain.

Recommended Conservation Actions

Control spread of western juniper to maintain habitat values in sagebrush habitats
Maintain and/or restore contiguous riparian corridors
Promote early detection and suppression of invasive weeds
Restore and maintain complex, continuous sage habitat
Restore native grass, forb, and shrub components within sagebrush cover types

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Potential Partners

Special Features

General

Columbia Spotted Frog breeding sites
Contains large areas of intact Sagebrush Steppe Shrublands
Sage Grouse Core Habitat Areas

Specialized Local Habitats

Canyon Shrublands
Springs
Western Juniper Savanna with mature trees

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.