Part of Oregon’s Northern Great Basin, the Hart Mountain-Sheldon Region, is recognized as one of the most important areas in the nation for the long-term survival of two iconic western species: greater sage-grouse, known for their elaborate courtship displays, and pronghorn antelope, North America’s fastest land animals.

The Oregon Desert Land Trust‘s Jack Creek property supports them both. With its seasonal water, this vast area of sagebrush steppe is relied upon by diverse and sensitive high desert species. In 2025, four parcels totaling 50 acres expanded the property to 533 acres in Lake County, southeastern Oregon. This was done in partnership with Atira Conservation and will help to strengthen these vital wildlife corridors.

These parcels fall within a pronghorn migration route between the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge and the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge sanctuaries. Their conservation significance for greater sage-grouse also stretches beyond state borders as these areas have been identified as Greater sage-grouse “core habitat” by both the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

While Oregon’s high desert contains roughly eight million acres of potential wilderness, only one percent of this landscape is permanently protected. The lands between Hart Mountain and Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge are critical for regional conservation efforts. 

The remote parcels of Jack Creek provide many benefits to the community. They also offer opportunities for backcountry recreation, and maintain and preserve scenic values noted in the Bureau of Land Management’s wilderness inventory. The area has a rich cultural history for local Tribes and one of the oldest archaeological records in North America. These acquisitions lay the groundwork for future conservation, restoration and cultural preservation efforts in the high desert. 

• Property Cost: $32,142
• Atira Conservation Funding: $17,142