Approximately 624,000 acres of rangeland in southeast Oregon are managed by the Department of State Lands, primarily in Lake, Harney, and Malheur counties.
Rangelands have a significant impact on rural economies of central and eastern Oregon, providing grazing leases to local ranchers and open lands for hunting and recreating. Much of the land is arid high desert with grasses and shrubs that are well-suited for livestock grazing.
Partnerships with leaseholders, nonprofit organizations, and landowners are vital to ensuring healthy, properly functioning ecosystems. Approximately 579,000 acres of managed rangelands in eastern Oregon are in greater sage-grouse habitat. Management of these lands is critical for the benefit of multiple wildlife species including sage grouse along with maintaining long-term sustainability to the states natural resources.
Monitoring
In addition to monitoring sage-grouse habitat, Rangeland Managers at DSL utilize monitoring points to measure annuals, perennials, and forbs as well as density, composition, and percentage of bare ground. Longterm vegetative trends, some sites have been monitored since 1960s, help staff manage layers of complex ecological relationships that are otherwise difficult to quantify.
Monitoring allows staff to make informed management decisions such as determining sustainable grazing patterns, investing in deep-rooted perennials to stabilize a hillside after wildfire, or understanding whether a prescribed burn increased the number of native grasses as intended.
Invasive Species
Managing invasive species serves several of DSL’s management goals by benefitting wildlife habitat, supporting sustainable grazing, mitigating wildfire risk, and preserving healthy rangelands.
DSL routinely partners with nonprofit organizations and landowners for treatments of invasive grass and removal of encroaching juniper.
Leasing Rangeland for Grazing
State-owned rangeland may be leased from DSL or subleased from a current leaseholder to graze livestock. Leases are valid for a 20-year term and may be eligible for a 20-year renewal. Leaseholders pay an annual grazing fee to DSL based on the number of AUMs associated with the leased parcel. As of 2025, the grazing rate is $19.16/AUM. There is a minimum grazing fee of $250.
See currently available rangeland parcels below. To apply for a rangeland lease or sublease, contact us to request an application. Then, submit the completed application, along with a nonrefundable processing fee for review.
Rangeland Parcels Available for Lease
The parcels listed below are available for lease. If there is no information below, there are no vacant parcels available at this time.