Sycan Marsh – Oregon Conservation Strategy

Aerial view of Sycan Marsh. Photo Credit: Sam Beebe

Includes the Sycan River, a tributary of the Sprague River with headwaters in the Fremont National Forest south of Summer Lake. Area includes surrounding areas east of Sycan Marsh.

COA ID: 136

Recommended Conservation Actions

Continue to restore natural hydrology within marsh
Maintain corridors for wildlife movements and habitat connectivity
Maintain or enhance in-channel watershed function, flow and hydrology
Maintain or restore Ponderosa Pine habitat
Maintain or restore riparian habitat; provide complex habitat for wildlife

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Potential Partners

Audubon Society
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

Special Features

General

Important nesting habitat for Yellow Rail, Greater Sandhill Crane
One of the largest montane wetlands in Oregon
Used by hundreds of thousands of migrating and breeding birds and waterfowl

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID EC-11 (Williamson River area)
2006 COA ID EC-13 (Sycan Marsh)
2006 COA ID EC-14 (Sycan River)

Protected Areas

Fremont-Winema National Forest
OC&E Woods Line State Trail
Sycan Marsh
Sycan River
Wetlands Reserve Program

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.

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.

Natural Lakes

Natural lakes are relatively large bodies of freshwater surrounded by land. For the purposes of the Conservation Strategy, natural lakes are defined as standing water bodies larger than 20 acres, including some seasonal lakes.

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.