Our Approach

voices

Terry Butler, 2018 Volunteer of the Year

Terry Butler, 2018 Volunteer of the Year

“If I have to pick a favorite place in Oregon’s high desert, it would be Sutton Mountain, but I’m excited about all of the Wilderness Study Areas,” says Terry, adding, “Each is a gem to explore, and I hope they all get protection someday… I love the scale of the physical beauty of the desert.”

fact

What defines Oregon’s high desert?

What defines Oregon’s high desert?

Bounded by the Cascade Mountains to the west and the Blue Mountains to the north, Oregon’s high desert covers approximately 24,000 square miles. Annual rainfall in the high desert varies from 5 to 14 inches. The average elevation is 4,000 feet; at 9,733 feet, the summit of Steens Mountain is the highest point in Oregon’s high desert. The terrain of the high desert was mostly formed by a series of lava flows that occurred between 30 and 10 million years ago.

Sources: The Oregon Encyclopedia; Wikipedia  

watch

Stewardship Pronghorn Fence

Stewardship Pronghorn Fence

Aaron Tani

Restoring Lands and Waters

Oregon Natural Desert Association restores key habitats across Oregon’s high desert and advocates for management to support healthy ecosystems, clean water and high quality wildlife habitat. We partner with public […]

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Jim Davis   Website

Protecting Public Lands,
Waters, and Wildlife

Oregon Natural Desert Association conserves the most wild, spectacular and ecologically important public lands in Oregon’s high desert, including treasured landscapes such as the John Day River Basin, Steens Mountain, […]

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