Thomas Creek-Goose Lake – State Wildlife Action Plan

Thomas Creek/Goose Lake area — Photo Credit: Martyne Reesman, 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.

Area includes Goose Lake Basin and surrounding habitat; and Thomas Creek and its surrounding riparian habitat. Thomas Creek is the largest tributary of Goose Lake. Forested habitats are predominantly ponderosa pine and mixed conifer. This area was impacted by the Cougar Peak wildfire in 2021.

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, ensuring sufficient habitat complexity for wildlife
Maintain riparian, wet meadow habitats and emergent wetlands
Enhance upland habitats, including through forest health treatments and aspen woodland restoration

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Important Bird Areas of Oregon

Special Features

General

Includes several unique endemic fish species
Provides breeding habitat for waterbirds and receives heavy use by migrating waterfowl
Provides winter range for mule deer

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID EC-17 (Chewaucan River)
2006 COA ID EC-20 (Thomas Creek)
2006 COA ID EC-21 (Goose Lake)
2006 COA ID EC-22 (Warner Mountains)

Protected Areas

Fremont-Winema National Forest
Lakeview Wildlife Administrative Site

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

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 …

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.