Unique and Irreplaceable Public Lands: Areas of Critical Environmental Concern

Spotlight: ACECs of Oregon’s high desert

Lake Abert

Lake Abert ACEC protects Oregon’s only hypersaline lake and its vital habitat for hundreds of species of migratory birds. ONDA is working with local communities to identify a conservation solution that returns water to the lake and ensures this delicate ecosystem survives and thrives.

Alvord Desert

The Alvord Desert, one of Oregon’s largest playas, is another quintessential high desert landscape designated as an ACEC.

Leslie Gulch

Leslie Gulch, in Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands, is an ACEC with striking geologic features and many rare plant species.

The Trump administration is planning to revise the regulations for ACECs, likely weakening protections for these iconic desert lands. Check our Take Action page for upcoming opportunities to advocate for ACECs and other conservation priorities in Oregon’s high desert.

Learn about Lake Abert Area of Critical Environmental Concern

Lake Abert: The Place

An Irreplaceable, Ecological Gem Lake Abert is the only hypersaline lake in Oregon, one of three hypersaline lakes in the western U.S., and is the largest saline lake in the […]

Lake Abert: The Problem

A Drying, Shrinking Lake Lake Abert’s delicate ecosystem depends on consistent and reliable fresh water inputs to maintain optimal salinity to support a complex food web that feeds the abundant […]

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