Old-growth juniper trees are a symbol of the American West. Their ancient and gnarled trunks and branches twist into haunting shapes immortalized in photos by Ansel Adams. East of Bend, in the Oregon Badlands, at least one juniper is believed to be 1,600 years old.

In areas where they are native, junipers do play an important role for wildlife, offering cover to mule deer. Some bird species nest in them and eat their berries.

But younger juniper trees that dominate the Central Oregon High Desert are somewhat more controversial. Their explosive growth and march eastward over the past century threatens to crowd out native flora and fauna.

What has changed with the junipers?

Western junipers naturally grow at high elevations, between 2,000 to 5,000 feet, in Oregon, California and other western states. They tend to favor rocky soils where survival is unlikely for other large plant species. They are often spotted growing out of a rocky cliff face, clinging to fissures in the rock with their tough roots. At lower elevations, juniper sapling numbers were historically controlled by periodic fire.

But conditions on Central Oregon’s High Desert changed over the past 150 years with the arrival of white settlers. The new arrivals suppressed fire in country dominated by sagebrush. Their cattle ate native plants and grasses. These two factors gave young juniper trees more opportunities to grow at lower elevations. The result — juniper trees have taken over areas where they previously did not exist, disrupting habitat for other native plants and animals.

Why do junipers threaten the sagebrush steppe?

Juniper is a hardy native tree that tends to outcompete other grasses and plants in the sagebrush ecosystem. One of their weapons is a natural herbicide that can kill off other plants that attempt to grow around it. Another advantage is their massive root system, which can grow 25 feet down and 100 feet in all directions, absorbing water that other plants rely on.

According to an Oregon State University study, a mature juniper tree uses 4,718 gallons of water annually. The amount increases in wet years and decreases in dry years.

“Juniper trees are highly water-intensive, consuming significant amounts of groundwater and depleting water sources for streams, springs, and native vegetation,” said Isabella Isaksen, a spokesperson for the Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River Grasslands.

Junipers and ponderosa pines of similar size actually use a similar amount of water, said Tim Deboodt, the Natural Resources Policy Coordinator for Crook County. But the difference between the two trees is that junipers can grow in drier areas with less precipitation while ponderosas can’t survive in High Desert areas.

The appearance of juniper trees in sagebrush country also causes problems for the greater sage grouse, an at-risk species whose numbers have dwindled in recent decades. Sage grouse are wary of trees or other tall objects, fearing that they might be serving as a perch for a hawk, falcon or other predator, and will avoid areas where juniper trees are present. Sage grouse prefer areas rich in sagebrush, which serves as their primary food source.

The growth of junipers also threatens the cattle industry because the more trees that are present, the smaller the range they have to graze.

What is being done about junipers?

Land managers have taken an aggressive approach to controlling junipers in areas where they are invasive. The Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, soil and water conservation districts and the Deschutes Land Trust are among the agencies applying for rangeland restoration grants in Central Oregon.

“Cutting juniper improves water availability, allowing native grasses, shrubs and wildflowers to thrive and enhancing overall watershed health,” said Isaksen, the U.S. Forest Service spokesperson.

Once cut, the trees are typically left on the ground for one or two years to cure before they are eventually burnt. The curing process allows the wood to burn faster and with less smoke.

But not all trees are put to the torch. Some are taken to sawmills for processing.

What are some practical applications for juniper wood?

Juniper has a reputation for being rot-resistant, which makes this a valuable wood for flooring, raised garden beds and other landscaping features. Countertops, coffee tables and chairs are other products that can be made from juniper.

Ryan Temple, the owner of Sustainable Northwest Wood, a Portland-based wholesale distribution yard, is one of several buyers of juniper lumber, purchasing around 700,000 board feet of juniper annually from some 15 Eastern Oregon sawmills.

He sells to homeowners, landscapers, contractors and other lumber yards up and down the West Coast.

What’s unique about the wood from a buyer’s perspective? Temple says it’s the wood’s unique smell, which in spring fills the air in parts of Central Oregon.

“The most noticeable attribute is its scent. A fresh-sawn juniper has a beautiful, lovely, aromatic smell to it. That is the thing that stands out to people the most.”

From a usability perspective, Temple says juniper has certain advantages, having rot-resistant and bug-resistant qualities that come from high concentrations of tannins and oils in the wood. He describes it as a mixed grain wood, that can make it challenging to work with. The wood is dense and often filled with knots.

“It is a more interesting wood,” said Temple. “The beauty of the wood is in the eye of the beholder.”

Juniper treatments in Central Oregon

Juniper cutting projects are occurring in different locations across Central Oregon. These are a few of the ongoing projects.

• Around 200 acres of juniper trees have recently been cleared on Rimrock Ranch. The trees are in piles with burning taking place this winter. The project is paid for with a $125,000 state grant and is being overseen by the Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District and Deschutes Land Trust.

• Starting in January, 334 acres of juniper piles on the Crooked River National Grassland will be burned to reduce fuel loads. Beginning in March, 1,673 acres of juniper are scheduled for removal on the grassland.