Sycan River – State Wildlife Action Plan

The Sycan River runs into the Sycan Marsh in Lake County, Oregon. Photo Credit: Keith Kohl, 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 covers the Sycan River and surrounding area just east of Sycan Marsh. This includes high elevations on top of Winter Rim, where forested habitat include lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, and mixed conifer. This area was impacted by the Watson Creek fire in 2018.

Recommended Conservation Actions

Maintain and restore connectivity of aquatic habitats
Maintain or enhance in - channel watershed function, connection to riparian habitat, flow and hydrology
Maintain or restore riparian habitat and ecological function, ensuring sufficient habitat complexity for wildlife
Restore and enhance upland habitats, including conducting aspen woodland restoration and forest health treatments

Potential Partners

Klamath Tribes
The Nature Conservancy
US Forest Service

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID EC-14 (Sycan River)
2006 COA ID EC-16 (Gearhart Mountain - North Fork Sprague)

Protected Areas

Fremont-Winema National Forest
Sycan River

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.