Eastern Washington's shrub-steppe ecosystem is a state treasure with a rich diversity of flora and fauna. The shrub steppe is one of the world's richest ecosystems. Upland vegetation is dominated by sagebrush and grasslands, or “steppe” with wildflowers adding color. The uplands support a complete food chain, from small plants and assorted insects and arachnids, to birds, rodents, reptiles, herbivores, and carnivores.

The riparian zone provides habitat for invertebrates, waterfowl, shore birds, songbirds, raptors, neo-tropical migrant birds, and various plants such as willows. Almost all species use the riparian zone at some time during the year for specific needs.

Fish, amphibians, aquatic invertebrates, and a wide variety of plant species are at home in the water. At the very bottom of the aquatic food chain are microscopic plants and animals called plankton and zooplankton.

Less than half of the original shrub-steppe habitat remains. What does remain is often fragmented or degraded. The Coulee Corridor, along with others is committed to working together to maintain this heritage for future generations.

Representative vegetation that can be observed in Lake Lenore region includes: Flora-arrow leaved balsamroot, bitterroot, black greasewood, blue bunch wheatgrass, bristly Nootka rose, common camas, common rabbit brush, common yarrow, coyote willow, tern-leaved lomatium, giant wild rye, golden currant, goldenweed, gray ball sagebrush, Hood's phlox, Hooker's balsamroot, Idaho fescue, Indian paintbrush, needle-and-thread grass, nine-leaved lomatium, northern antelope-brush, pink fairies, starvation cactus, Rocky Mountain iris, rush, sagebrush violet, Sanberg's bluegrass, scarlet gilia, shaggy daisy, few-flowered shooting star, stiff sagebrush, tall sagebrush, Thompson's paintbrush, tyme buchwheat, tapertipped onion, Wyeth's lupine, yellow nutgrass.

Representative Fauna that can be observed in Lake Lenore region includes: -Birds American avocet, American kestrel, burrowing owl, cinnamon teal, common poorwill, ferruginous hawk, golden eagle, loggerhead shrike, sage grouse, sage sparrow, sharp-tailed grouse. Mammals: badger, coyote, mule deer, Ord's kangaroo rat, pygmy rabbit, sagebrush vole, Townsend's ground squirrel, white-tailed jackrabbit. Fish: largemouth bass, leopard dace, rainbow trout, redside shiner, speckled dace. Amphibians: Great Basin spadefoot, northern leopard frog, tiger salamander. Invertebrates: centipede, green hairstreak butterfly, Jerusalem cricket, palli-winged grasshopper, scorpion, small flat diving beetle, viceroy butterfly.

Ferruginous Hawk (buteo regalis), North America's largest soaring hawk, breeds in the arid grasslands and sagebrush country of Washington's Columbia Basin, About 60 pairs of this specie nest each year. In the Corridor, Ferruginous Hawks commonly build nests on cliffs or rock outcrops along the Grand Coulee that provides a very commanding view.

- Written by Ron Friez