People Who CollaborateAs Director of Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Janelle Wick's work is expansive. "The work I do spans every conceivable aspect of managing a small conservation focused non-profit which serves the mission to promote the conservation and appreciation of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge through outreach and education, advocacy, and on-the-ground stewardship. I’m an event planner, project coordinator, communications manager, partnership liaison, volunteer manager, and fundraiser so that we have the financial resources to support our work." READ MORE.
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How Does a HDP Collaborative Form? (Part 4)First it's the need to to address a complex issue or seize an opportunity, then a coordinator is identified, the search for funding begins and relationships among the coordinator and partners develop, evolve and strengthen. When these relationships come together around a table and through a Zoom screen a skilled facilitator, facilitating from a place of neutrality, is essential toward all voices contributing to discussions about the complex issues and opportunities being addressed while ensuring the collaborative is having the conversations it needs to have.
The talented facilitators engaged by High Desert Partnership possess immense listening skills and the ability to identify key points of conversations. They maintain objectivity, fairness and a strategic approach during meetings as well as before and after meetings toward helping the collaborative reach consensus decisions. Importantly, facilitation extends beyond meetings. The conversations and planning that happens before and after meetings is critical for successful collaborative meetings and building the collaborative's culture. Moreover, the facilitators selected by High Desert Partnership bring subject matter expertise to the table, whether it's wetlands restoration, wildfire mitigation, forest restoration, rural economic development or youth opportunities; enriching their capacity to discern key aspects of conversations. Finally, once the collaborative reaches decisions, the facilitator is there to support the working group as they determine how to implement their decisions.
The Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative formed in 2011 with one issue being how to restore Malheur Lake. Carp have long been an issue at Malheur Lake and there have been many discussions and projects implemented over the years to reduce their population. Over the years guided by facilitated conversations the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative researched and discussed the complex ecosystem of Malheur Lake and as a result developed an ecosystem model that did include carp as an issue but also, wind and the availability or lack of availability of light for emergent and submergent vegetation. The facilitated conversations that supported the collaborative as they developed this ecosystem model are now supporting the group as they develop projects to address each of the issues that are impacting Malheur Lake health.
*In June, meetings convene and we talk about what people bring to the collaborative table.
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Thank You OWEB!
Thank you to the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and the Focused Investment Partnership program, more than $8 million will come into Harney County over the next 6 years to support and maintain flood irrigation systems and environmental practices designed to meet the needs of ranchers, the migratory birds, and other species who rely on Harney Basin wetlands for their ongoing survival.
These funds, granted to the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative will be used for carp reduction, the control of invasive plant species, replacement of aging flood irrigation infrastructure, floodplain reconnection, riparian restoration and Malheur Lake and other wetlands restoration.
Congratulations Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative!
Photo by rancher Susan Doverspike.
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Bird Festival HighlightsFor the Harney County Migratory Bird Festival, the 2nd annual Wetlands Happy Hour proved once again to be a fun and educational event about why birds use some areas more than others; what entices birds to rest and nest at different locations in the Harney Basin and a bit about wet meadow restoration that is enhancing this habitat and agriculture land. Thanks to several Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative partners for their support of this event.
And, thanks to Melissa Petschauer, the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative Coordinator for the multiple tours she hosted in the Malheur National Forest and the wetlands of the Harney Basin. The photos below by Brandon McMullen share a few scenes from Harney County Migratory Bird Festival weekend.
*In the images below top right is Brewer's Blackbird in suspended motion and bottom right is a Double Crested Cormorant in flight.
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Thank You IWJV!
We are excited to announce that Intermountain West Joint Venture (IWJV) selected the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative as their 2023 Conservation Partnership Award recipient. As IWJV describes this recognition: This award recognizes and honors an individual or a group of partners/collaborative effort that has made outstanding contributions to a project or initiative and has played an instrumental role in advancing strategic, landscape-scale habitat conservation. Further, it recognizes exemplary achievements in building and strengthening conservation partnerships in the Intermountain West in alignment with the goals, objectives, and priorities of the IWJV.
Thank you IWJV for this recognition.The Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative has very committed partners including IWJV and we want to take this moment to thank you for your long-standing commitment toward the health and restoration of the Harney Basin ecosystem and your active participation with the collaborative.
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Helping The Water FlowThroughout 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.
To complete these projects, collaboration is necessary. The High Desert Partnership’s Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative has been a vital part of identifying these projects and seeing them to completion. A recent infusion of legislative funds has made it possible to get even more work done. READ MORE.
Pictured: Colony Creek with blown-out ditches making for less efficient irrigation due to ditch bank washouts.
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Seeds Were SwappedThe annual Seed Swap event Saturday, April 6 hosted by the Harney Food Systems Group, an initiative of the Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative, collected more than 50lbs of food that was donated to the Senior Center/Harney Hub.
Held at the Harney County Fairgrounds Memorial Building the event featured demonstrations on pruning, canning, and a presentation about soil. Visitors enjoyed collecting seed packets, listening to presentations, shopping local vendors, and learning about the Harney Food Systems Group Community Garden Project. There were also a couple competitions, the "oldest seed packet" (winner: Dave Vickstrom with a packet of Marigold seeds from 1972) and the "earliest grown item" (winner: Dana Peila with her Cherry tomato plant).
Various vendors showcased their items, including OSU extension, Basin Bee Co, Burns High School Science Club, Wood Creations, Brightside Flowers, Coffee by Kelsey, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Leann Hancock's informational booth on the upcoming 100-year fair celebration, The Plot Chickens, Smith & Smith Farms, and the Library's "Library of things." Thank you to Doverspike Beef for the delicious lunch.
Thank you to everyone that came out to enjoy this event and help us celebrate the changing
season.
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New Farmers Market Business for Harney
Burns Farmers Market opens Saturday, May 18. Dedicated to supporting the viability of local farmers, ranchers and food producers and providing Harney County with flowers, local produce and protein, the Burns Farmers Market begins Saturday May 18. Open from 8:30am-12:30pm this first market of the season you'll find peonies, flowers, hanging baskets and veggie starts to purchase. After the May 18 market this outdoor store will reopen June 15 and be open every Saturday through September.
Location: Palace Lot, downtown Burns, 260 N. Broadway.
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Community Garden SproutingIn partnership with the Harney Hub, Oregon State University extension, Harney Soil and Water Conservation District and Burns Science Club, Harney Food Systems is starting a community garden at the Harney County Senior Center.
Stock photo from David Clode via Unsplash
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Transitioning Landscapes
If you're in or near Sisters, OR Thursday, May 2 join us from 6:30-7pm for a captivating discussion about transitions and migration in the Harney Basin, brought to you by the Roundhouse Foundation and Pine Meadow Ranch. Speakers are Teresa 'Bird' Wicks, Biologist with Bird Alliance of Oregon and partner of the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative and Brenda Smith, High Desert Partnership's Director.
Location: Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture
68467 Three Creeks Road, Sister, OR 97759
The event is free but please register to attend.
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Dirty Freehub Podcast About Malheur Lake
In this podcast, Connections, from Dirty Freehub, Dominic Bachman, Aquatic Biologist at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge talks with Kira Corbett about Malheur Lake and the refuge.
Dominic shares insights into the health of Malheur Lake, the role of the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative, High Desert Partnership and Friends of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and what cyclists can do toward helping the restoration of Malheur Lake while having cycling adventures on the refuge.
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Flourishing Oregon Conference
We in Harney County know what it means to work together having built a culture of collaboration. The Flourishing Oregon conference at the end of May in Portland is bringing people together from around the state to share insights and success stories about what happens when people do work together.
During a presentation Tuesday, May 28, High Desert Partnership's Denise Rose, the Youth Changing the Community Collaborative Coordinator, will participate in a panel: Collaboratives and Collective Impact sharing best practices from collaboration in Harney County.
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Funding Rural Podcast
There's a new podcast in town, Funding Rural, from the Roundhouse Foundation and its founder, Erin Borla. Five episodes have aired so far with more coming including the May 28 episode with Brenda Smith, HDP's Director. The goal for this podcast: " . . . a podcast about how philanthropy can better serve rural communities and spark systemic change."
Find much more here including all past episodes.
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Land Water Sky Soul | Harney County
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2024 Upcoming Events
Thursday, May 2 | Transitioning Landscapes Presentation @ Pine Meadow Ranch
Wednesday, May 22 | High Desert Partnership Board Meeting
Tuesday, May 28 | Youth Changing the Community Collaborative Meeting
Tuesday, May 28 | Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative Meeting
Tuesday, May 28 | Flourishing Oregon Panel Participation
Thursday, June 6 | Harney County Wildfire Collaborative Workshop
Wednesday, June 19 | High Desert Partnership Board Meeting
Tuesday, June 25 | Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative Meeting
Wednesday, June 26| Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative Meeting
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