Sycan Marsh – State Wildlife Action Plan

Aerial view of Sycan Marsh. Photo Credit: Sam Beebe

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.

Includes the Sycan River, a tributary of the Sprague River with headwaters in the Fremont-Winema National Forest south of Summer Lake. Area includes surrounding areas east of Sycan Marsh. Upland habitats include lodgepole pine, mixed conifer, and ponderosa/western juniper with sagebrush inclusions. This area was impacted by the Bootleg fire in 2021.

Recommended Conservation Actions

Continue to restore natural hydrology within marsh
Maintain corridors for wildlife movements and habitat connectivity
Maintain or enhance in-channel watershed function, flow and hydrology
Maintain or restore Ponderosa Pine habitat
Maintain or restore riparian habitat; provide complex habitat for wildlife
Maintain or restore aspen woodland habitats

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Potential Partners

Bird Alliance of Oregon
Natural Resources Conservation Service
The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
Fremont-Winema National Forest

Special Features

General

Important nesting habitat for Yellow Rail, Greater Sandhill Crane
One of the largest montane wetlands in Oregon
Used by hundreds of thousands of migrating and breeding birds and waterfowl

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID EC-11 (Williamson River area)
2006 COA ID EC-13 (Sycan Marsh)
2006 COA ID EC-14 (Sycan River)

Protected Areas

Fremont-Winema National Forest
OC&E Woods Line State Trail
Sycan River
Wetlands Reserve Program
Sycan Marsh

Ecoregions

East Cascades

The East Cascade ecoregion extends from the Cascade Mountains' summit east to the warmer, drier high desert and down the length of the state. This ecoregion varies dramatically from its cool, moist border with the West Cascades ecoregion to its dry eastern border, where it meets sagebrush desert landscapes.

Key Habitats

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.