South Fork Willow Creek RNA

South Fork Willow Creek Research Natural Area (RNA) was established to represent wet sedge meadow in alpine cirque. The RNA encompasses the upper part of a glacial cirque located on the east rim of Steens Mountain at the headwaters of the South Fork of Willow Creek. The RNA includes a wide variety of microhabitats including rock outcrops, ledges, a series of three boggy terraces, pools, streams, and open shrubby areas. Special status plants in this natural area include: Steens Mountain paintbrush (Castilleja pilosa var. steenensis), gray moonwort (Botrychium minganense), pinnate grapefern (Botrychium pinnatum), lance-leaved grapefern (Botrychium lanceolatum), Hayden's cymopterus (Cymopterus nivalis), weak-stemmed stonecrop (Sedum debile), foetid sedge (Carex vernacula), Bellard's kobresia (Kobresia bellardii), short-fruited willow (Salix brachycarpa), alpine fescue (Festuca brachyphylla), capillary sedge (Carex capillaris), Cusick's giant hyssop (Agastache cusickii), moss gentian (Gentiana prostrata), sticky polemonium (Polemonium viscosum), and slender gentian (Gentianella tenella ssp. tenella).