Little Blitzen RNA

Little Blitzen Research Natural Area (RNA) was established to represent terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The RNA lies on Steens Mountain at the head of Little Blitzen River.  There are occasional rock outcrops with aspen groves, vernal ponds, subalpine riparian zones, alpine plant communities, and high elevation grassland. Lance-leaf grapefern (Botrychium lanceolatum), moonwort (B. lunaria), gray moonwort (Botrychium minganense), wedgeleaf saxifrage (Saxifraga adscendens var. oregonensis), Steens Mountain whitlow grass (Draba cusickii var. cusickii), slender gentian (Gentianella tenella), moss gentian (Gentiana prostrata), Cusick's horsemint (Agastache cusickii), rock melic (Melica stricta), snowline cymopterus (Cymopterus nivalis), new sedge (Carex nova) and Davidson's penstemon (Penstemon davidsonii var. praeteritus) are special status plant species present throughout the RNA.