It is once again fire season in the Harney Basin. Wet, cooler weather has allowed for a longer greening up period locally, but with the onset of summer, we can expect hot, dry weather and storms with lightning that can touch off wildfires. 

Tim Boyce, a Fire Management Specialist with the Malheur National Forest Emigrant Creek Ranger District, said the month of May was drier than normal and while the area has seen some rain in June, the rest of the summer looks to be dry and hot. “For the months of July, August and September predictions from the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center indicate above normal temperatures, below normal precipitation and drought,” he said. Read more.

You've got a fire lookout from your computer. Check out alertwildfire.org. You can look at the landscape thanks to strategically placed cameras. This virtual fire spotting is helping catching wildfires. Read more. 

We at HDP are incredibly grateful for the support we receive from Oregon Humanities and Oregon Community Foundation during these difficult times. Their partnership and support is helping our community building efforts and collaborative conversations continue in Harney County.

Footage of the Silvies River roaring through 70+ year old Sweek Dam spring of 2019.

The new and improved Sweek Dam with its installation completed fall of 2019. You're looking at footage taken June of this year. Funding to replace the Sweek dam was obtained though a grant from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) and the projects were given the green light from the Harney Basin Wetlands Initiative. “It’s a win-win,” Ben Cate, High Desert Partnership Ecological Coordinator said. “Landowners get an updated infrastructure at essentially zero cost out of pocket, and it’s also going to ensure that the flood meadows will continue into the future.” More about Sweek and Tyler dam replacements.