Warner West – State Wildlife Action Plan

Sagebrush steppe with a backdrop of the Warner Mountains. 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 includes portion of Abert Rim Wilderness Study Area, Fish Creek Rim Wilderness Study Area, Lake Abert Area of Critical Environmental Concern, and the Fish Creek Rim Research Natural Area. It encompasses an area between Abert Rim and the Warner Mountains on the western edge to South Warner Rim and Fish Creek Rim to the east. It extends north to the Coyote Hills and Rabbit Creek, and south to Deep Creek and Big Lake.

Recommended Conservation Actions

Maintain or restore Aspen forests/woodlands and Aspen/mixed conifer woodlands
Maintain or restore Ponderosa Pine woodland and savanna
Maintain or restore the ecological functions of riparian and wetland habitats
Manage sagebrush habitats to achieve and maintain habitat goals of the Oregon Sage Grouse Strategy
Promote early detection and removal of invasive plant species. Continue treatment of annual invasive grasses. Address western juniper encroachment in sagebrush habitats.

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Potential Partners

Oregon Department of State Lands
USDI Bureau of Land Management
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Lake County Umbrella Watershed Council
Lake County SWCD
Lake County Cooperative Weed Management Area
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

Special Features

General

Contains complex mix of open water, flowing water, playas, wet meadows, and springs
Sage Grouse Core Habitat Areas

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID EC-22 (Warner Mountains)
2006 COA ID NBR-03 (Lake Abert-Honey Creek area)

Protected Areas

Abert Rim
Abert Rim Wilderness Study Area
Fish Creek Rim Research Natural Area
Fish Creek Rim Wilderness Study Area
Fremont-Winema National Forest
Lake Abert Area Of Critical Environmental Concern

Specialized Local Habitats

Cliff and Rim Rock
Native Perennial Bunchgrasses
Springs
Western Juniper Woodlands and Savanna with mature trees

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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.

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 …

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.