Sustaining the Aquifer, Sustaining a Way of Life
Groundwater is a vital resource in the Harney Basin. It supports ecosystems and agriculture, which forms the backbone of the area’s economy. For decades, the state permitted more groundwater use for agriculture in some parts of the basin than is replenished. As permit numbers increased in the early 2000s, groundwater levels started dropping in certain areas of the basin. Today, the Harney Basin is designated a Critical Groundwater Management Area (CGWA), with state rules requiring reductions in groundwater use, and a Serious Water Management Problem Area (SWMPA), which requires flow meters be installed on all irrigation wells by March 2028.
The stakes are high. Agriculture is foundational to the area’s local economy, culture, and ways of life for past, current and future generations. While the rules aim to stabilize the aquifer, they present significant challenges for local water users, especially farmers and ranchers. There are pathways within the rules—encouraging voluntary actions and allowing for adaptive management—that leave room for creative, community-led solutions to reduce groundwater use but success depends on collaboration, trust, and practical implementation. Without a coordinated and community-driven response, state-mandated reductions risk serious harm to the agricultural economy and the broader community.
Harney County is not navigating this alone. Groundwater management is a critical issue worldwide, and lessons from other regions’ governance approaches may be instructive. Seven counties in Oregon currently face groundwater basins of serious concern due to decreasing water yields from pumping and/or declining groundwater levels. Harney County is among several Oregon counties where agricultural dependence and decreasing groundwater levels converge, making the path forward both urgent and consequential.
The Harney Water Collaborative formed to chart that path: finding durable, community-supported solutions that restore long-term water sustainability while protecting the economic, environmental, and social needs of the Harney Basin.
To find out how to get involved with the Harney Water Collaborative, contact High Desert Partnership at 541-573-7820 or director@highdesertpartnership.org.
