Rock Creek – 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.

Relatively small COA encompassing an important stretch of Rock Creek. Area connects Umpqua Headwaters COA and North Umpqua COA, providing important fish and wildlife habitat connectivity. In 2020, over 95% of vegetation was burned associated with the Archie Creek Fire, leading to massive land slides and large log jams in Rock Creek. Restoration is ongoing.

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; ensure sufficient habitat complexity for wildlife
Provide outreach and information about the need for connecting high quality fish and wildlife habitat
Assess opportunities for riparian plantings and in-stream restoration projects
Introduce controlled fire to native meadow and oak woodland habitats, and address conifer encroachment into meadow and oak woodland habitats

Potential Partners

Bureau of Land Management
Oregon Department of Transportation
Lone Rock Timber Company
Seneca Jones Timber Company
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Pacific Power
Bureau of Indian Affairs

Special Features

General

Provides habitat for many Strategy Species

Protected Areas

North Umpqua River
North Umpqua River Area Of Critical Environmental Concern
Umpqua National Forest

Specialized Local Habitats

Off channel habitats

Ecoregions

West Cascades

The West Cascades ecoregion extends from east of the Cascade Mountains summit to the foothills of the Willamette, Umpqua, and Rogue Valleys, and spans the entire length of the state of Oregon. It is largely dominated by conifer forests, moving into alpine parklands and dwarf shrubs at higher elevations.

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 …

Example of Oak Woodlands, which is a Strategy Habitat within the State Wildlife Action Plan

Oak Habitats

There are several oak habitat types in Oregon, where oaks comprise most of the canopy. These can include oak woodlands, oak forest, oak chaparral, and riparian oak. Oak savanna is covered in the Grasslands Key Habitat. Oaks may also co-dominate a canopy in oak/fir, oak pine, and oak hardwood habitats.

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.