Grande Ronde 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.

This COA encompasses the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area and a buffered area adjacent to the Grande Ronde River from La Grande to several miles below Elgin. Both the Grande Ronde River and Catherine Creek flow through this COA.

Recommended Conservation Actions

Maintain or enhance in-channel watershed function, connection to riparian habitat, flow and hydrology
Maintain or restore riparian habitat and ecological function; provide habitat complexity for fish and wildlife
Manage Ladd Marsh Wildlife wetlands to optimize habitat values for breeding and migrating birds
Promote early detection and removal of invasive plants
Restore seasonal wetlands and semi-permanent marshes

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Potential Partners

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID BM-18 (Grande Ronde Valley)
2006 COA ID BM-23 (Eagle Cap - Wallowa Mountains)

Protected Areas

Catherine Creek State Park
Catherine Creek, North Fork
Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area
Wallowa Whitman
Wetlands Reserve Program

Specialized Local Habitats

Off Channel Habitat

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.

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 …

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.