East Kiger Plateau Research Natural Area Burns District , BLM Northern Basin and Range Ecoregion Cell(s): High elevation fescue grassland

Access by unimproved road using 4-wheel drive through private land or by hiking

The East Kiger Plateau RNA encompasses 502 ha on Steens Mountain southeast of Burns in Harney County, Oregon. This RNA was developed to protect one of the best examples of high elevation (2,825 m) fescue (Festuca ovina, F. idahoensis, F. scabrella) grasslands in Oregon, which received only light grazing by livestock in the past. Several special status plant species here include Steens Mountain paintbrush (Castilleja pilosa var. steenensis), Steens Mountain whitlow grass (Draba cusickii var. cusickii), weak-stemmed stonecrop (Sedum debile), foetid sedge (Carex foetida var. vernacula), and Davidson's penstemon (Penstemon davidsonii var. praeteritus). Although annual precipitation averages about 101 cm, the effective precipitation is much less due to the harsh climate and high winds. Soils series include Krackle (high precipitation), Croesus (cold, north, and south), and Hackwood, as well as rock outcrop and Aquic cryoborolls. Don Mansfield completed a vegetation survey of this RNA in 1994. This area contains no man-made developments.