Harney-Malheur Area – State Wildlife Action Plan

Harney Lake/Malheur Lake area — Photo Credit: Martyne Reesman, ODFW

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 both Harney and Malheur Lakes at the north end and then heads south along the Donner and Blitzen River and Blitzen Valley. An eastern finger continues out of the valley as far as the town of Diamond and the southern finger ends near French Glen. Wetland habitats make up almost the entirety of this COA.

Recommended Conservation Actions

Control invasive carp and restore natural flows and channels in the Blitzen River
Maintain alkaline wetland habitats
Promote early detection and removal of invasive weeds
Work with private landowners to conserve wetlands and waterbirds habitats.

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Coordinated Implementation Plan for Bird Conservation in Eastern Oregon (Taylor et.al. 2005)
Greater Sage-grouse Conservation Assessment and Strategy
Important Bird Areas of Oregon
Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project
Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Harney Wetland Focused Investment Partnership (FIP)

Potential Partners

Special Features

General

Area encompasses the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Includes some of the most important wetland habitats in the western states
The COA has a high diversity of breeding waterbirds, including the largest population of nesting sandhill cranes in Oregon

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID NBR-08 (Harney-Malheur area)
2006 COA ID NBR-09 (Steens Mountain High Lava Plains)

Protected Areas

Diamond Craters Outstanding Natural Area
Frenchglen Corral
Harney Lake
Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Steens Mountain Cooperative Management And Protection Area
Wetlands Reserve Program

Specialized Local Habitats

Alkali Grasslands
Aquatic Vegetation Beds
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.