East Madras-Trout Creek Sagebrush and Grassland Area

Photo is needed for this COA. — Submit photos to: OCS.Revision@ODFW.Oregon.gov

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.

Adjacent to Lower John Day COA, just east of the town of Madras.

Recommended Conservation Actions

Maintain and/or initiate shrub-steppe restoration and management
Maintain or enhance in - channel watershed function, connection to riparian habitat, flow and hydrology
Maintain or restore riparian habitat and ecological function; ensure sufficient habitat complexity for wildlife
Restore and maintain complex, continuous sage habitat
Restore and maintain grassland habitat

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Trout Creek Watershed Assessment

Potential Partners

Bureau of Land Management
Ochoco National Grassland
Middle Deschutes Watershed Council
Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Private landowners

Special Features

General

Area contains significant stretches of Trout Creek, Hay Creek, Mud Creek, and Willow Creek
Spawning and rearing habitat for native Steelhead

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID BM-03 (Lower John Day River area)

Protected Areas

Ochoco National Forest
Prineville District

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.