Cline Buttes

Cline Buttes
Name	Cline Buttes
Elevation m	1011
Location	Deschutes County, Oregon, Oregon, United States
Range	Cascade Range
Topo	United States Geological Survey

Cline Buttes is an east–central Oregon group of volcanic peaks and ridgelines located on the eastern flank of the Cascade Range near the Deschutes River and the city of Redmond, Oregon. The formation lies within Deschutes County, Oregon and is part of a landscape shaped by Pleistocene volcanism, Columbia River Basalt Group events, and subsequent erosional processes tied to the Missoula Floods. It is a regional landmark used for recreation, grazing, and scientific study by institutions such as Oregon State University and the United States Geological Survey.

Geography

The buttes rise above the high-desert basin that includes the Deschutes River, the Willamette Valley drainage divide, and the nearby Ochoco Mountains, forming part of the transitional zone between the Cascade Range and the Columbia Plateau. Prominent nearby places and features include the city of Redmond, Oregon, the community of Tumalo, Oregon, the Deschutes National Forest, and the Crooked River National Grassland. The area is intersected by regional transportation corridors such as U.S. Route 20 (Oregon) and local county roads, and lies within the traditional territories associated with the Warm Springs Indian Reservation and other Indigenous groups.

Geology

Cline Buttes are volcanic in origin, composed largely of basalt, andesite, and pyroclastic deposits related to Cascades Arc activity and Miocene to Pleistocene volcanism. Their formation is associated with regional tectonics including the subduction processes that created the Cascade Volcanic Arc and the emplacement of the Columbia River Basalt Group flood basalts. Geological investigations by the United States Geological Survey and academic researchers from Oregon State University and University of Oregon have identified lava flows, dikes, and volcanic necks that record episodes contemporaneous with vents like Mount Mazama and Newberry Volcano. Erosional sculpting from the Missoula Floods and Pleistocene glacial meltwater shaped the surrounding terrain, exposing stratigraphic relationships useful for studies in volcanology and geomorphology.

Ecology and Wildlife

The buttes sit at the intersection of sagebrush steppe and Ponderosa pine woodlands, providing habitat mosaics that support species monitored by agencies such as the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Vegetation includes Artemisia tridentata communities, Pinus ponderosa stands, and sage-associated forbs and grasses important to wildlife like American black bear, Cervus canadensis (elk), Odocoileus hemionus (mule deer), and avifauna including Sage grouse and raptors observed by groups such as the Audubon Society. The area also supports populations of smaller mammals and reptiles that are subjects of study by Smithsonian Institution collaborators and regional natural history museums like the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

History and Human Use

Indigenous peoples, including bands associated with the Warm Springs Indian Reservation and the Klamath Tribes, utilized the region for hunting, foraging, and seasonal movement along corridors linked to the Deschutes River and trans-Cascade routes. Euro-American exploration and settlement included fur trade era contact tied to figures like John C. Frémont and later pioneer migration along routes connected to the Oregon Trail. Ranching, timber harvest, and the development of grazing allotments under policies promulgated during administrations such as the Homestead Act era shaped land use patterns; federal land management by the Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service followed. Scientific fieldwork by institutions including Oregon State University, University of Oregon, and the United States Geological Survey has documented archaeological sites, historic ranch structures, and geological exposures.

Recreation and Access

The buttes provide opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, birdwatching, and dispersed camping managed along trails and roads overseen by the Bureau of Land Management and Deschutes National Forest. Trail systems connect to regional networks near Redmond, Oregon, Tumalo State Park, and areas used by clubs such as the American Alpine Club and local chapters of the Sierra Club. Winter sports in surrounding higher-elevation Cascade Range areas, combined with summer backcountry use, attract outdoor enthusiasts from nearby urban centers including Bend, Oregon and Eugene, Oregon. Access is governed by federal and county regulations, and coordinated with stakeholders such as the Oregon Department of Transportation for road maintenance.

Conservation and Management

Management of the buttes involves multiple agencies including the Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and consultation with tribal governments like the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Conservation priorities focus on sagebrush habitat restoration, invasive species control modeled on efforts by the Nature Conservancy and state partners, fuels reduction in Ponderosa pine stands following protocols influenced by the Healthy Forests Restoration Act, and protection of cultural resources under statutes such as the National Historic Preservation Act. Collaborative projects with universities, non-governmental organizations including the Sierra Club and local watershed councils, and federal research programs aim to balance recreation, grazing, and biodiversity objectives while monitoring effects of climate variability identified in reports by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Category:Mountains of Deschutes County, Oregon Category:Volcanoes of Oregon