Rooster Comb Research Natural Area Burns District , BLM Northern Basin and Range Ecoregion Cell(s): Riparian community dominated by black cottonwood and creek dogwood Mountain mahogany/bluebunch wheatgrass canyon

Access by unpaved roads and hiking

The 291 ha Rooster Comb RNA is located at the mouth of the Little Blitzen Gorge on Steens Mountain in Harney County, Oregon. The area encompasses both sides of the canyon and about 2.4 km of the Little Blitzen River. The RNA was designated to protect a terrestrial community of mountain mahogany/bluebunch wheatgrass (Cercocarpus ledifolius/Pseudoroegneria spicata) and an aquatic ecosystem, a black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) riparian community, both of which were determined to be the best examples of those ecosystems in the Northern Basin and Range Physiographic Province. Annual rain fall is 38 to 51 cm. Soils series represented are Croesus, Duff, Hackwood, Pearlwise, Pernty and Noname. Elevation ranges from 1,700 to 2,300 m. Human developments include about 0.8 km of road and about 18 km of hiking trail; other disturbances include camp sites along the stream and historic livestock grazing. The RNA is within the no livestock grazing area on Steens Mountain.