August, 2018
Oregon and California each have just a single National Grassland.
California
As with the other
Grasslands, the
Butte
Valley National Grassland was created through the Bankhead-Jones Act of
1937 through the purchase of failed farms during the depression. However,
it wasn't until 1991 that the land became part of the National Grassland system.
Consequently, this land hasn't seen the decades of environmental
stewardship that the other grasslands have had and it's not clear what the
future holds for it.
There are no facilities within the grassland, but there is a nice unpaved road.
Forest fires have reduced the visibility.
Oregon
Crooked
River National Grassland is a large preserve near Bend, Oregon. As
with California's Butte Valley grassland, this one doesn't quite fit the pattern
of the grasslands in the Great Plains of the central states. But, however
it became a designated grassland, Crooked River contains significant land that
might otherwise be encroached on by the rapidly expanding Oregon cities along
the Deschutes River.
In addition to the level areas that are more associated with grasslands are smaller mountains that have established trails.
Rimrock Springs was once a constant source of water in the area, but years of farming and diversion changed all that. Efforts are now being made to return things to something of what they once were.
Piles of cut Juniper trees. If left alone, Juniper will take over.
