Leslie Gulch
Encyclopedia
Leslie Gulch is a canyon in Malheur County
, Oregon
, United States
. It is on the east side of Owyhee Lake, a reservoir
on the Owyhee River
. Its abundant and striking rock formations are made of tuff
.
The gulch was named after a local rancher, Hiram E. Leslie, who was hit by lightning here in 1882. Previously it had been called "Dugout Gulch."
The last 15 miles of the gulch are on a smooth, but curvy gravel road, adding a bit of time to get there.
.
At the end of the Leslie Gulch road at Owyhee Lake there is a boat launching ramp. Nearby is the 8-unit Slocum Creek - Leslie Gulch Campground, operated by the BLM, which is open from March through November.
Other rare plants found here are grimy ivesia, sterile milkvetch, and
Owyhee clover
.
was established there in 1965. It now consists of more than 200 animals. Mule deer
, coyotes, bobcats, Rocky Mountain elk
, and rattlesnakes are also resident in the gulch.
Many species of birds live here, including quail
, hawks and swifts.
Malheur County, Oregon
Malheur County is a county located in the southeast corner of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the eight-county definition of Eastern Oregon. Most of the county observes the Mountain Time Zone, although the southern quarter of the county observes the Pacific Time Zone along with the...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is on the east side of Owyhee Lake, a reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
on the Owyhee River
Owyhee River
The Owyhee River is a tributary of the Snake River located in northern Nevada, southwestern Idaho and southeastern Oregon in the United States. It is long. The river's drainage basin is in area, one of the largest subbasins of the Columbia Basin...
. Its abundant and striking rock formations are made of tuff
Tuff
Tuff is a type of rock consisting of consolidated volcanic ash ejected from vents during a volcanic eruption. Tuff is sometimes called tufa, particularly when used as construction material, although tufa also refers to a quite different rock. Rock that contains greater than 50% tuff is considered...
.
The gulch was named after a local rancher, Hiram E. Leslie, who was hit by lightning here in 1882. Previously it had been called "Dugout Gulch."
The last 15 miles of the gulch are on a smooth, but curvy gravel road, adding a bit of time to get there.
Management
The area is administered by the Bureau of Land ManagementBureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
.
At the end of the Leslie Gulch road at Owyhee Lake there is a boat launching ramp. Nearby is the 8-unit Slocum Creek - Leslie Gulch Campground, operated by the BLM, which is open from March through November.
Flora
Two species of herbaceous plants are endemic to this drainage.- Etter's groundselSenecioSenecio is a genus of the daisy family that includes ragworts and groundsels. The flower heads are normally rayed, completely yellow, and the heads are borne in branched clusters...
- Packard's blazing starBlazing Staris a scrolling shooter video game for the Neo Geo home game system. It is the sequel to the acclaimed Neo Geo shooter Pulstar, which was itself a close cousin to the R-Type franchise...
Other rare plants found here are grimy ivesia, sterile milkvetch, and
Owyhee clover
Clover
Clover , or trefoil, is a genus of about 300 species of plants in the leguminous pea family Fabaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution; the highest diversity is found in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, but many species also occur in South America and Africa, including at high altitudes...
.
Wildlife
A herd of bighorn sheepBighorn Sheep
The bighorn sheep is a species of sheep in North America named for its large horns. These horns can weigh up to , while the sheep themselves weigh up to . Recent genetic testing indicates that there are three distinct subspecies of Ovis canadensis, one of which is endangered: Ovis canadensis sierrae...
was established there in 1965. It now consists of more than 200 animals. Mule deer
Mule Deer
The mule deer is a deer indigenous to western North America. The Mule Deer gets its name from its large mule-like ears. There are believed to be several subspecies, including the black-tailed deer...
, coyotes, bobcats, Rocky Mountain elk
Rocky Mountain Elk
The Rocky Mountain Elk is a subspecies of elk found in the Rocky Mountains and adjacent ranges of Western North America. The winter ranges are most common in open forests and floodplain marshes in the lower elevations. In the summer it migrates to the subalpine forests and alpine basins...
, and rattlesnakes are also resident in the gulch.
Many species of birds live here, including quail
Quail
Quail is a collective name for several genera of mid-sized birds generally considered in the order Galliformes. Old World quail are found in the family Phasianidae, while New World quail are found in the family Odontophoridae...
, hawks and swifts.
External links
- Malheur Experiment Station, with photos
- BLM brochure on Leslie Gulch
- YouTube Videos of the area http://youtube.com/watch?v=y0SF_gS5OGk, http://youtube.com/watch?v=9u4JV8uPfjM&feature=related
- Photos
- Climbing areas
- Flickr Picture http://www.flickr.com/photos/11314387@N00/294898978/?addedcomment=1#comment72157604365013659