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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Oregon / Washington

About Prineville

Prineville District Locator Map

Prineville Office
3050 N.E. 3rd Street, Prineville, OR 97754
Office: 541-416-6700
Fax: 541-416-6798
Email: Prineville

Prineville is the largest District in Oregon with 1.65 million acres scattered over 13 million acres. The boundary generally follows county boundaries and stretches from the Columbia River in the north to the edge of the Great Basin in the south, and includes the Cascade crest in the west and the Blue Mountains in the east. It is roughly 180 miles across, both north-south and east-west.

Half of this land base (50%) is managed by three federal agencies: US Forest Service (33%), BLM (13%), and Bureau of Indian Affairs (5%). The remainder consists of privately-owned lands (47%), and minor amounts of other federal, state, and county properties (3%).

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Climate and Topography

The district is in the rain shadow of the Cascades and has a mild and relatively dry climate. Most of the 10-16 inches of average precipitation falls as snow, although localized thunderstorms can drop significant amounts of rain.

High temperatures can exceed 100 degrees F in the summer, while sub-zero temperatures are common during the winter.

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The District Overview

  • The BLM administered land (public land) in the District contains unique and diverse ecological communities, ranging from forested mountains to sagebrush steppe.
  • The Crooked, Deschutes, White and John Day Rivers make up over 385 miles of Wild and Scenic River in the District. The District’s Wild and Scenic Rivers comprise over one sixth of all BLM Wild and Scenic Rivers in the United States.
  • The District also manages 14 Wilderness Study Areas, three Wilderness areas, and 14 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). Of the 14 ACECs, one is an Instant Study Area, two are National natural Landmarks and five are Research Natural Areas. These nationally recognized areas contribute to communities’ sense of place throughout the District.
  • The District encompasses an urban area around the cities of Bend, Redmond, Madras and Prineville. In the last 10 years, the population in the Crook, Jefferson, and Deschutes counties has grown 30 percent, while the State of Oregon’s population has grown only 8 percent. This increase of neighbors and recreationists present the District with increased opportunities and challenges for managing public land.
  • The District provides multiple uses for these neighbors and customers. There are more than 500 mining claims, 400 grazing permits/leases, 55 developed recreation sites, and 267 miles of designated motorized and non-motorized trails on public lands.