People Who Collaborate

"My hope is that I can connect with, and be a champion for, our small businesses owners as they balance their home and professional lives. In small business, those lines blur, but when done right, it creates a beautiful life."

Jessica Hedges serves as the Executive Director of the Harney County Chamber of Commerce, where she works as a catalyst for business and tourism to help the community thrive and grow. Jessica's path to chamber leadership began when former director Deanna Thrall encouraged her to join. She quickly transitioned from member to board member, driven by her belief in being part of the solution. Through her board service, she developed a deep appreciation for the organization's mission, eventually stepping into the Executive Director position.
READ MORE.

Program Offers Landowners Assistance with Ditch Cleanout

Cleaning ditches is one of those tasks that seem tedious and time-consuming. It can easily fall by the wayside as other projects take precedence. However, 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.

A recent pilot program has successfully helped local landowners clean ditches in 2024 and is looking for more applicants who would like assistance doing that in 2025.

Jason Kesling, the District Manager for Harney Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), said the pilot program received funding from the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative, a collaborative of the High Desert Partnership, which received legislative funds to help keep water flowing through the basin. This program does that by cleaning out ditches to move water through the system without impediment. READ MORE.

Pictured: A ditch in the Harney Basin after being cleaned of plants and debris. Photo by Brandon McMullen.

New Chapter Begins for Malheur National Wildlife Refuge's Conservation Planning

The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is embarking on a next phase of collaborative conservation planning and is inviting the community to help shape its future management. At the heart of this new phase is readdressing the existing Comprehensive Conservation Plan, a strategic document that will continue to guide the refuge's management for the next 15 years. The CCP will serve multiple critical purposes: ensuring wildlife and habitat protection, promoting public engagement, and providing clear, transparent guidance for refuge management decisions. READ MORE.

Pictured: A Greater Sandhill Crane and her chick in refuge meadow habitat, photo by Kay Steele.

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Seeks Community Input for Conservation Plan

The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is developing its Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) through an inclusive community process. Unlike typical refuge CCPs, Malheur's approach welcomes input from everyone interested in the refuge's management and future.

Community meetings for CCP development begin Wednesday, January 29. To learn more about participating in the process, tune in to Harney County Live's podcast featuring Refuge Manager Jess Wenick and High Desert Partnership Director Brenda Smith, interviewed by Mindy Gould. LISTEN

HDP Expands Its Roots: Building Purchase Marks Growth Milestone

The collaborative spirit in Harney County continues to flourish, and with it, HDP has outgrown our current leased space. At the end of 2024, we seized an opportunity to purchase the building we had been partially leasing. This investment not only contributes to Harney County's real estate economy but also gives us room to expand.

The additional space will accommodate our growing permanent staff and provide a home base for our seasonal summer crew, who will arrive in Harney County in just a few months.

Harney County Migratory Bird Festival

April 10 - 13

Spend an amazing weekend witnessing the spectacular spring migration in the Harney Basin of Southeast Oregon. View thousands of migratory birds as they rest and feed in the wide-open spaces of Oregon's high desert. The festival offers non-stop birding activities as well as historical and cultural information.

Registration for tours and events begins in February. Find more HERE.

*The Harney Basin, a critical migratory bird rest stop along the Pacific Flyway, is a landscape where private ranch lands and wildlife habitat coexist. Check out this short film and web page from The Oregon Lottery, who funds the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, a long-standing supporter of the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative.

Land Water Sky Soul | Harney County

2025 Upcoming Events

Wednesday, January 15| High Desert Partnership Board Meeting

Wednesday, January 15 | Harney County Forest Restoration Collaborative Meeting

Tuesday, January 21 | Harney County Food Systems Community Meeting

Tuesday, January 21 | Harney County Wildfire Collaborative Meeting

Tuesday, January 28 | Youth Changing the Community Collaborative Meeting

Wednesday, January 29| Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan Collaborative Meeting

Tuesday, January 29 | Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative Meeting

Wednesday, February 26| Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative Meeting

*Friday, February 14| Happy Anniversary HDP, 18 Years

Thursday, April 10 - Sunday, April 13 | Harney County Migratory Bird Festival

Check out High Desert Partnership's event calendar.

Six Collaboratives Supported By

High Desert Partnership

HDP Website

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