Sagebrush Steppe

What is the Sage Brush Steppe?

The sagebrush steppe-a Russian word meaning treeless plain-is a
temperate, semi-arid landscape of shrubs and widely-spaced bunchgrasses.

A Dramaric Climate

Scarcity of water-coupled with cold winters; hot, dry summers; and
dramatic daily and seasonal temperature swings-places sever
constraints on plaints and animals.

Did you know?

Pronghorn are perhaps the fastest animals in the world. Cheetah and prnghorn
have both been clocked at more than 60 mph, but beyond sprinting, pronghorn
can sustain speeds above 30 mph for miles.

The Quest for Water

In water-limited ecosstems, surface waters like the
Big Lost River can incesse pant and animal
diversity. Repairian areas provide additionmal moisture
for wetland plants, cottonwood trees for
nesting raptors, and abitat for waterfowl,
shorebirds and even trout. The Big Lost River
probably flowed here year-roud before upstream
diversions reduced flows to the lower river. It now
remains dry mot of the year.

High Desert

With an average elevation of 4,900 feet (1,500 m) this
area is of a norther tip of the longest desert in the United
States, the Great Basin Desert.

Cold Desert

Winter on the steppe is cold and windy with soils
remaining frozen, and snow on the ground for three
months or more. Most precipitation comes in the form
of snow, which can accumulate in drifts that last into
late spring.

More Diverse than Meets the Eye

Dominated by aromatic big sagebrush, this
ecosystem is home to more than 400 species of
plants that provide habitat for 250 wildlife species
including mule deer, pronghorn ,sage grounse,
burrowing owls, pygmy rabbits and even elk.

Examples of "sagebrush obligate" species are pygmy rabbits, sage grouse,
sage thrushers, sage sparrows, sagebrush voles and sagebrush lizards.

Lost River Valley

Don't miss the rest of our virtual tour of Butte County in 1604 images.