Hart Mountain Area – State Wildlife Action Plan

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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.

Mainly located in south eastern Lake County, this COA encompasses an area from the Oregon/Nevada border in the south; Coleman Valley and Warner Valley in the west; Guano Valley and Mahogany Butte in the east, and across to the southeastern corner of Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in the north. The COA includes several protected areas, including the Spanish Lake Research Natural Area and portions of the Spaulding Wilderness Study Area.

Recommended Conservation Actions

Initiate or continue wet meadow conservation and restoration efforts
Maintain alkaline wetland habitats
Maintain and restore aspen habitats
Manage livestock grazing to promote recovery and maintenance of wetland and riparian habitats
Manage sagebrush habitats to achieve and maintain habitat goals of the Oregon Sage Grouse Strategy
Promote early detection and removal of invasive plants

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Potential Partners

Special Features

General

Area contains extensive high quality sagebrush habitats
Sage Grouse Low Density and Core Habitat Areas
This area provides critical connectivity for Pronghorn Antelope that summer on Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge and winter in Nevada's adjacent Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge.

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID NBR-05 (Hart Mountain area)

Protected Areas

Guano Creek-Sink Lakes Research Natural Area
Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge
High Lakes Area Of Critical Environmental Concern
Spanish Lake Research Natural Area
Spaulding Wilderness Study Area

Specialized Local Habitats

Cliff, Rim Rock, Rock Outcrops
Mountain Mahogany Woodland and Shrubland
Western Juniper Woodland and 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

Aspen Woodlands

Aspen (Populus tremuloides) woodlands are woodland and/or forest communities dominated by aspen trees with a forb, grass, and/or shrub understory. Aspen woodlands also occur within conifer forests.

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.