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Cliff,
creek and shrub-steppe habitats at the Refuge |
Composed of a rich mosaic
of habitat types the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge provides
home to numerous species of plants and animals. The wildlife and
habitats of the Refuge are typical of the northern Great Basin.
Little rain fall and extreme seasonal temperatures created a landscape
dominated by a shrub-steppe habitat. The introduction of water during
the 1950’s through the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project has
created dramatic changes to the landscape. In addition to the extensive
conversion of shrub-steppe land to irrigated cropland, these alterations
have increased the presence of wetland habitats and wetland dependent
species. |
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