Warner Basin Wetlands – 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.

Encompassing Warner Valley and associated wetlands, this COA stretches from just above Blue Joint Lake in the north to the Oregon/Nevada border in the south, and includes the Rahilly-Gravelly Research Natural Area, the Fish Creek Rim Research Natural Area, parts of the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, and the Warner Wetlands Area Of Critical Environmental Concern.

Recommended Conservation Actions

Improve water management systems to enhance wetlands at Warner Wetlands
Initiate or continue wet meadow conservation and restoration efforts
Maintain or restore riparian habitat and ecological function.
Manage livestock grazing to promote recovery and maintenance of wetland and riparian habitats
Promote early detection and removal of invasive plants
Protect springs as breeding sites for Warner Sucker

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID NBR-03 (Lake Abert-Honey Creek area)
2006 COA ID NBR-04 (Warner Basin)
2006 COA ID NBR-05 (Hart Mountain area)

Protected Areas

Fish Creek Rim Research Natural Area
Fish Creek Rim Wilderness Study Area
Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge
Poker Jim Ridge
Poker Jim Ridge Research Natural Area
Rahilly-Gravelly Research Natural Area
South Warner Basin
Warner Wetlands Area Of Critical Environmental Concern

Specialized Local Habitats

Active and Stabilized Dunes
Alpine-Montane Wet Meadow
Cliff and Rock Habitat
Native Perennial Bunchgrasses
Springs

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

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 …

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.