Mickey Basin Research Natural Area Burns District , BLM Northern Basin and Range Ecoregion Cell(s): Winterfat plant community growing on ash soils

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The 226 ha Mickey Basin RNA lies north of the Alvord Desert at the north end of the Alvord Valley in Harney County, Oregon. The RNA contains a winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata) plant community growing in a nearly pure stand on ash soils at 1,250 m elevation. Soil series represented are Norad, Deppy, Tumtum (low precipitation), Davey, Oreanna, Enko, Skedaddle (shallow) and Atlow (low precipitation), with rock outcrops. Annual precipitation averages 13 to 18 cm. The RNA was designated to protect the winterfat, which is uncommon in the Basin and Range Physiographic Province. Past disturbances include livestock and wild horse grazing, wind erosion, and noxious weed invasion. The BLM has established belt transects for monitoring the winterfat population, which are read every three years.