Middle Owyhee River Area – 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 is located in the northeast quarter of Malheur County and abuts the Crowley COA to the west. It encompasses Owyhee Lake and River from just east of Mitchell Butte (near the city of Adrian) south to Greeley Bar. Continuing south and east, the COA includes the rugged landscape of Mahogany Mountain, Jordan Craters, Spring Mountain, and Table Mountain as well as the Cow Lakes before ending at the Lava Bends and Jorden Creek at its southern terminus.

Recommended Conservation Actions

Manage water flows to maintain or enhance wetland habitats
Restore and maintain complex, continuous sage habitat
Restore and maintain riparian habitat and ecological function

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Potential Partners

Special Features

General

Columbia Spotted Frog breeding sites
High quality Mountain Mahogany and Sagebrush communities in the Mahogany Ridge Area of Critical Environmental Concern, which provides important habitat for many landbird species
Owyhee Lake and River
Unique volcanic ashbeds provide habitat for rare endemic plant species

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID NBR-13 (Middle Owyhee River area)

Protected Areas

Blue Canyon Wilderness Study Area
Clarks Butte Wilderness Study Area
Coal Mine Basin Research Natural Area
Dry Creek Buttes Wilderness Study Area
Dry Creek Gorge Area Of Critical Environmental Concern
Dry Creek Wilderness Study Area
Hammond Hill Sand Hills
Honeycombs Research Natural Area
Honeycombs Wilderness Study Area
Jordan Craters Area Of Critical Environmental Concern
Jordan Craters Wilderness Study Area
Lake Owyhee State Park
Leslie Gulch
Lower Owyhee Canyon Wilderness Study Area
Mahogany Ridge Research Natural Area
Main Owyhee River
Owyhee Below Dam
Owyhee Breaks Wilderness Study Area
Owyhee Reservoir
Owyhee Views
Owyhee Views Area Of Critical Environmental Concern
Slocum Creek Wilderness Study Area

Specialized Local Habitats

Canyon Shrublands
Caves and Mines
Volcanic Ashbeds

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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.