Bear Valley – Oregon Conservation Strategy

Located south of John Day, along the Silvies River and including the town of Seneca. Area encompasses important wetland and riparian habitats in the valley.

COA ID: 177

Recommended Conservation Actions

Maintain and/or restore wetland and wet meadow habitat
Maintain or restore riparian habitat and ecological function; ensure sufficient habitat complexity for wildlife

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Eastern Oregon Bird Conservation Plan

Potential Partners

Bureau of Land Management
US Forest Service

Special Features

General

Area is of documented importance for Sandhill Cranes
Includes large wetland complex that is keystone of Silvies River headwaters system, with major influence on downstream flows and water quality
Includes significant stretches of Bear Creek and of the Silvies River.
Provides significant habitat for Upland Sandpiper and Bobolink

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID BM-09 (Bear Valley)

Protected Areas

Bear Valley Station Bark Beetle Hazard Plots
Herberger Corral Bark Beetle Hazard Plots
Hog Creek Bark Beetle Hazard Plots
Lemon Creek Bark Beetle Hazard Plots
Malheur National Forest
Masonic Camp Bark Beetle Hazard Plots
Prineville District
Starr Camp Bark Beetle Hazard Plots
Strawberry Mountain Wilderness

Ecoregions

Blue Mountains

Located in NE Oregon, the Blue Mountains ecoregion is the largest ecoregion in the state. It provides a diverse complex of mountain ranges, valleys, and plateaus that extend beyond Oregon into the states of Idaho and Washington.

Strategy Habitats

Aspen Woodlands

Aspen woodlands are woodland or forest communities, dominated by aspen trees with a forb, grass, or shrub understory. Aspen woodlands can also occur within conifer forests.

Grasslands

Grasslands include a variety of upland grass-dominated habitats, such as upland prairies, coastal bluffs, and montane grasslands.

Late Successional Mixed Conifer Forests

Late successional mixed conifer forests provide a multi-layered tree canopy, including large-diameter trees, shade-tolerant tree species in the understory, and a high volume of dead wood, such as snags and logs.

Ponderosa Pine Woodlands

Ponderosa pine woodlands are dominated by ponderosa pine, but 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. Their understories are variable combinations of shrubs, herbaceous plants, and grasses.

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.

Ducks on a wetland in Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area, Oregon

Wetlands

Wetlands are covered with water during all or part of the year. Permanently wet habitats include backwater sloughs, oxbow lakes, and marshes, while seasonally wet habitats include seasonal ponds, vernal pools, and wet prairies.