Mahogany Ridge Research Natural Area

Vale District , BLM

Northern Basin and Range Ecoregion

Cell(s):

• Mountain mahogany/mountain big sagebrush community with bitterbrush
• Mountain mahogany-aspen-cherry snowbank

Access by hiking trails south of the all-weather Leslie Gulch road; northwestern parcel accessible from road to Birch Creek ranch via two smaller roads to north which are passable from late spring to fall when dry

True to its name, Mahogany Ridge RNA protects undisturbed stands of mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius) trees on 276 ha of the northern and western slopes of Mahogany Ridge. It is located on Mahogany Mountain, west of US Highway 95 and north of Jordan Valley, Malheur County, Oregon. In addition to the undisturbed mountain mahogany stands, the RNA includes high elevation curlleaf mountain mahogany/big sagebrush and mountain mahogany/Oregon grape communities. The topography is characterized by steep slopes and dissected canyons, with elevations ranging from 1645 to 1860 m. Soils derive from volcanic materials: rocky loams or cobbly ashes, and lithosols over basalt. Average annual precipitation is 25 to 30 cm. Summers are hot and dry; winters, cold and moist. This RNA provides habitat for the broad-tailed hummingbird and other neotropical migratory birds, and a special status plant species, Owyhee clover (Trifolium owyheense). Past and current disturbance includes slight to moderate livestock grazing.