A project spearheaded by a landowner working with the Harney Soil & Water Conservation District seeks to restore the Upper Hanley Canal, where cows and wind are causing bank erosion. The project will ultimately improve wet meadow habitat. April 23, 2025.

A healthy snowpack in the Harney Basin benefits not only ranchers and farmers who rely on it to grow hay, but also migrating birds who depend on the flood irrigated wet meadows in the spring as they travel to their northern breeding grounds. How does this water journey from the higher mountain elevations surrounding the Harney Basin end up in the wet meadows where birds and ranchers benefit?

As a culmination of several Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) Focused Investment Partnership projects, Casie Smith, an ecologist with U.S. Geological Survey, developed a tool using a spreadsheet to determine how water availability and water management activities create various types of bird habitat on the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The hope is that water managers will be able to use this in and around Malheur Lake to assess and improve resident and migratory bird habitat. The goal with this spreadsheet-based tool is to bring together existing data sources to synthesize what is known about the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and the Malheur Lake basin at this time. March 12, 2025

In some places in the Harney Basin the snow water equivalent is more than 300 percent of normal. January 22, 2025.

In the Harney Basin, ditches that are free of debris and vegetation can really help water get where it needs to be for the flood-irrigated wet meadows in the spring. December 18, 2024

The replacement of the Dunn Dam while saving thousands of mussels and fish.

Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler helps provide a snapshot of quantity and quality of water going through the refuge. October 2, 2024

The sun beats down on a group of young adults, nets in hand, as they wade through a cool stream
in the Malheur National Forest. To the casual observer, it might appear they're simply enjoying a
summer day in nature. But these individuals are part of High Desert Partnership's summer crew providing monitoring support to the Harney County Wildfire Collaborative, the Harney County Forest Restoration Collaborative and the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative. September 18, 2024

Over the last decade, reed canary grass has established a robust presence in the Harney Basin. While ag producers may disagree on whether this is good or bad, a pair of projects will examine a variety of habitats where the grass is present and what practices might be employed to manage it. A third project involves mapping the basin to see where various kinds of vegetation, including reed canary grass, are growing and how pervasively they are spreading. July 10, 2024

The Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative was awarded a six year grant for more than $8 million from the Oregon Water Enhancement Board Focused Investment Partnership program. “This funding . . . will help with restoration efforts to meet the needs of ranchers, migratory birds and other species that rely on the Harney Basin wetlands for their survival,” said Melissa Petschauer, Harney Basin Ecological Coordinator. June 6, 2024

Throughout the Harney Basin there are many water diversion structures in need of repair or replacement to spread water more efficiently and meet state safety and fish passage requirements. A recent infusion of legislative funds has made it possible to get even more work done. April 26, 2024

In 2023 the Oregon legislature designated $2.5 million to the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative to fund projects for wetlands restoration. All of the projects have the goal of benefiting migratory and resident bird populations as well as assisting landowners with water management. April 3, 2024

A healthy snowpack in the Harney Basin benefits not only ranchers and farmers who rely on it to grow hay, but also migrating birds who depend on the flood irrigated wet meadows in the spring as they travel to their northern breeding grounds. Current snowpack numbers put the Harney Basin at a snow water equivalent of 122 percent of normal as of March 3. How does this water journey from the higher mountain elevations surrounding the Harney Basin (uplands) end up in the wet meadows (lowlands) where birds and ranchers benefit? It starts in the Blue Mountains to the north and Steens Mountain to the south. March 13, 2024

As of Jan. 23, the Harney Basin snowpack was at 114 percent of normal, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service interactive snow water equivalent map website. While ranchers and researchers have noted that we haven’t had the early snowstorms in November and December as we did last year, this year’s numbers still give reason for locals to be optimistic about the water year. February 7, 2024

Portland Audubon and the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative, are working together using song meters to help monitor birds in the Harney Basin. This information will help researchers better understand how birds utilize and adapt to habitat quality influenced by ever-changing weather conditions, as well as the stewardship strategies implemented by land managers. January 24, 2024

Updating the old infrastructures will allow ranchers to divert water more efficiently to benefit both native hay growth and migratory bird habitat. October 11, 2023

Vegetation is thriving and invasive carp numbers are dwindling. September 27, 2023

High Desert Partnership's Summer Monitoring Crews play an important role in furthering collaborative work in Harney County. September 13, 2023.

In a win for the Harney County community, the recent Oregon state legislative session resulted in the passage of bills that will send in a total of $2.5 million to support critical wet meadow work and collaboration in the Harney Basin. August 9, 2023

From drought one year to flooding the next, the swings of Mother Nature present challenges for those who live in the basin.

Grant-funded projects include studying and restoring flood-irrigated wet meadows as well as replacing aging water diversion structures. June 14, 2023

It’s not unusual to see cars stopped along rural county roads as folks with cameras or binoculars try to get a closer look at flocks of snow geese and Ross’ geese or greater sandhill cranes in the basin’s irrigated flood meadows that are part of the Pacific Flyway. April 12, 2023

Two years of drought followed by a wet cold spring make for some happy migratory birds. April 10, 2023

While birds are on the forefront with spring migration, other creatures also benefit from improved habitat. March 8, 2023

While the snowpack looks promising at present, the next couple of months will be key in determining the outlook for agriculture and migrating birds. February 1, 2023

In some ways, flood mitigation and flood irrigation can work to complement each other. As the county works with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to create new flood maps and work on flood mitigation projects, there is the possibility that hundreds of structures could be removed from the 100-year floodplain, lifting the expensive burden of having to obtain flood insurance for those property owners. As the county looks at different alternatives to divert water from flooding the city of Burns, that water can be redirected to the east to benefit flood irrigated pastures. November 30, 2022

The Pacific Flyway famously runs right through the Harney Basin, which provides critical habitat for migratory birds.

The Harney Basin is a complex and conflicted landscape that is benefitting from informed restoration efforts through collaboration and the work of the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 100% of Harney County is in a severe drought. What does this mean for the local ranchers earning a living here who depend on water to sustain and grow the hay needed to feed their livestock? What does it mean for resident and migrating birds who rely on the Harney Basin to fuel and rest?

The Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative will once again lead a number of studies at the lake this summer in year two of a two-year study to gather enough data to formulate a plan to restore Malheur Lake to a clear-water state.

According to researchers, the American West is experiencing a 22-year megadrought—the driest conditions it’s seen since the 1500s. Nearly 73% of the entire U.S. West—a group of nine states—and 76% of Oregon are in severe drought. In Harney County, all but a slither is in extreme drought. March 2022.

It's spring which means it's time for the annual John Scharff Migratory Bird Festival April 21-24 during which the spring show put on by migratory birds is a stunner. Thousands and thousands of birds will pass through this area as they migrate up the Pacific Flyway to their nesting grounds in Canada. These include, among many others, Northern pintails, mallards, American wigeon, sandhill cranes, tundra swans and two different species of white geese. One of these species, the Ross’s goose, is notable in its journey.

This article provides a summary of the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative strategic action plan with goals of restoring Malheur Lake back to a clear-water state and improving the conditions of Harney Basin flood irrigated wet meadows so waterfowl can continue to thrive, while sustaining a vibrant rural economy for Harney County. February 2022.

The HBWC is focused on improving aquatic health and maintaining wet meadow habitats throughout the watersheds for Harney and Malheur Lakes and the streams and rivers that flow into them. The collaborative effort includes conducting research that will help guide decisions toward restoring Malheur Lake. It’s also supporting landowners as they make changes in water and vegetation management, water management infrastructure upgrades and adding and/or moving fencing to support changes in when and where their livestock graze. This strategic action plan is a significant update the 2015-2021 Strategic Action Plan for Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative, first drafted in 2015. HBWC partners are dedicated to addressing the complex problems of Harney Basin lakes and wetlands, a Closed Lakes Basin along the Pacific Flyway in rural Harney County Oregon. January 2022

Creative entrepreneurs are using natural resources in renewable/sustainable ways. February 2022

From bitter cold winter nights to blazing hot summer days, the ebb and flow of the seasonal cycle drives the basin’s inhabitants to move in turn.

Colorful leaves piling on the ground and the crisp, cool mornings mean fall has arrived in the Harney Basin. Leaves fall, birds fly south and ranchers prepare for the changing season. October 2021.

It was a hot, dry summer, creating extreme drought conditions for the majority of Harney County. This in turn negatively impacted hay production, rangeland health and cattle operations as well as wildlife and the area’s waterways. September 2021

August 19, 2021

The High Desert Partnership is hoping to help youths and young adults test out the waters in the natural resource career field by giving them experience as technicians collecting information on vegetation and helping with projects for the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative and the Harney County Wildfire Collaborative.

July 16, 2021

Summer in the Harney Basin can be an enjoyable time as folks get outside to recreate and enjoy the warmer weather. However, the summertime is also a busy one for ranchers and farmers who are busy moving cows, raising crops and cutting hay in preparation for the colder months. Wildlife rear young, birds nest and fish are simply trying to beat the heat to survive the warmer temperatures.

Long considered a trash fish, carp are starting to get more respect in the U.S.

The interview begins at about 9 minutes in on the downloadable audio file.

A conversation with Dominic about three restoration studies underway at Malheur Lake. June 2021

As the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative, a collaborative of the High Desert Partnership, seeks to restore Malheur Lake, there are a trio of studies currently in progress that are examining where carp congregate, what affects water turbidity and what is causing the lack of emergent vegetation in the lake. Read the article below to learn about the work and studies happening at Malheur Lake this summer. May 2021

The spring season is always welcomed with open arms in the Harney Basin. We put the cold, dark winter days in the rearview and watch as the landscape transforms from brown to green. It is a time when everything comes to life. April 2021

A conversation with Tony and Mitch about spring in the Harney Basin. April 2021

The Harney Basin has many native fish and their histories are reflective of how water has moved around the Harney Basin over the years. March 2021.

Range Scientist Tony Svejcar and rancher Mitch Baker talk with Randy Parks about plant life in the Harney Basin. February 2021.

During these colder months wildlife, plants and humans hunker down to await spring. February 2021

Cost-share Environmental Quality Incentives Program benefits migratory birds as well. December 2020

Long considered a trash fish, carp are starting to get more respect in the U.S for recreational carp fishing. November 2020

Harney Basin Wetlands Initiative changes its name to Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative. September 2020

While the proliferation of carp has received much attention over the years, a new two-year study will look at the lack of emergent vegetation and try to determine the best way to foster the growth of bulrushes, cattails and other vegetation in Malheur Lake with the end goal being clearer water that is more attractive to birds and other wildlife. September 2020

The Mesocosm Project will experiment with ways to alter the carp, wind action and nutrients in the water. August 2020

Invasive common carp are wreaking havoc on the health of Malheur Lake and the carp round-up is one measure to reduce their population. July 2020

The Harney Basin Wetlands Initiative (HBWI) strives to sustain wet meadows by supporting the traditional practice of flood irrigation. HBWI works with private landowners to encourage the continued use of flood irrigation by addressing infrastructure issues. June 2020

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has been helping America’s private landowners and managers conserve their soil, water and other natural resources since 1935. May 2020

In January, once they deplete the feed in their wintering locale, Ross’s geese start to head north, and the Harney Basin is a major stopover for them. Located in the eastern part of the Pacific Flyway, the Harney Basin’s wetland habitat is a key part of the Ross’s geese migratory journey. April 2020

As the results from a multi-year groundwater study become available from the Oregon Water Resources Department and the United States Geological Survey, Harney County residents are learning more about the unique geology and the basin water budget and what it might mean for the future of groundwater use the basin. February 2020

There are many urban dwellers who haven’t experienced the wide open spaces of the Harney Basin, but there are also those who have and appreciate its importance and are working together with Harney County residents to find solutions to issues facing the birds and the wetlands. January 2020

Where land and water are concerned, the Harney Basin Wetlands Initiative, has brought together a diverse group of voices to talk about how to manage the abundant natural resources in our corner of the basin.

As water fluctuates across the west and land managers turn to more efficient means of watering crops, the flood-irrigated wet meadows in Harney County have become an even more vital place for birds to rest and recharge on their way north.

Research findings to help understand how Common Carp can potentially be controlled.

The Tyler and Sweek dams on the Silvies River near Burns provide critical infrastructure for private landowners who use flood irrigation to produce hay and forage for their livestock operations. They also play a key role in sustaining seasonal wetlands with continental importance for migratory birds.

Located within Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Malheur Lake is a critical stopover for more than 300 species of waterfowl and other birds migrating along the Pacific Flyway—an aerial highway between North and South America.

Giving high school and college students real-world experiences in natural resource jobs and to further the goals of the Harney Basin Wetlands Initiative.

Malheur Lake is a critical stopover for more than 300 species of waterfowl migrating along the Pacific Flyway—an aerial highway between North and South America.

Flooding meadows for irrigation takes intentional infrastructure and a mix of the right topography, a source of surface water at the right time of year and planning.

The culture of Harney County has been described as “full contact citizenship” as people of this county put in time and effort every day to make Harney County a place we’re all proud to call home.

Findings following several days of research at Malheur Lake on the impact wind has in creating turbid water.

What is lake turbidity and why carp AND wind are its cause.

The results of Intermountain West Joint Venture's research and workshops to gain a deeper understanding of factors influencing ranchers who flood irrigate and how these factors interrelate.

A look at what happens when carp are taken away from the Harney Basin environment.