Mill Creek Research Natural Area Mount Hood National Forest , USFS East Cascades, Oregon Ecoregion Cell(s): Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg bluegrass Oregon white oak/bitterbrush/bluebunch wheatgrass

Access by road; access is strictly controlled. Permission and key can be obtained from the Barlow Ranger District.

The 330 ha Mill Creek RNA is located in Wasco County, Oregon. The natural area lies within the Mill Creek drainage, the municipal watershed of the City of The Dalles, and access is strictly prohibited. The tract is located on the gently to steeply rolling lower foothills of the east slope of the Cascade Range. Elevations range from 790 to 1,040 m. The natural area occupies the Grassland and Shrubland Steppe. Grasslands, which are found on steep to moderately steep southeast slopes and ridge tops, are dominated by bunchgrass communities, and are characterized by bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata), arrowleaf balsamroot (Bahia sagittata), Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis), Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda), with some needlegrass (Achnatherum) and cheatgrass brome (Bromus tectorum). White oak stands can be found on southeast and southern slopes from the ridgetops to the drainage bottom. The ground vegetation in these stands is dominated by elk sedge (Carex garberi) and bitterbrush (Purshia). Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) dominate stands found in swales and areas of deeper soil on the eastern and northwestern slopes. Understories in these stands are dominated by Symphoricarpos albus, and elk sedge. No logging or grazing has occurred in the tract for over 60 years; however, cheatgrass brome on some steep south facing grasslands suggests that grazing may have altered vegetation.