HDP Is Hiring!We are looking for an Associate Director to help strengthen HDP’s internal capacity, operations, staff support, program execution, and organizational systems during an important stage of growth.
We are also hiring a Harney Water Collaborative Coordinator to support the new collaborative’s work—building relationships among partners, helping create an inclusive space for dialogue, and supporting shared action around long-term water sustainability in the Harney Basin.
Both roles are rooted in collaboration, relationship-building, and helping people work through complex issues toward durable solutions.
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Harney Water Collaborative Begins Its Work
The summer of 2026 a Governor Kotek designated Oregon Solutions project took place with the goal to stand up the Harney Water Collaborative. The citizens, scientists, conservationists, ranchers, farmers, irrigators and regulators came together and defined the scope of this collaborative and put together a work plan to build a road map for its work.
That work is now well underway with the first collaborative meeting having taken place September 22. The new community convened Harney Water Collaborative was formed to pursue durable, community-supported solutions balancing water sustainability with the basin's economic, environmental, and social needs.Groundwater in the Harney Basin has been declining for decades due to agricultural use outpacing natural recharge. The basin is now designated both a Critical Groundwater Management Area (requiring use reductions) and a Serious Water Management Problem Area (requiring flow meters on all irrigation wells by March 2028). These rules aim to stabilize the aquifer but pose real challenges for farmers and ranchers whose livelihoods depend on it. The rules do allow room for voluntary, community-led approaches — but making that work requires collaboration and trust locally. Without it, mandated reductions could seriously damage the agricultural economy and broader community.
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Variety Trials Explore Water Wise Crops for Harney County
As Harney County agriculture adapts to new groundwater regulations, efforts are underway to unearth practical crop options that do more with less water. This fall, that work got a running start in two fields, one at Owens Farm and another on Burns Paiute Tribe land.
Two variety trials testing 28 grass and forb species were planted in Harney County. The trials will help show which species hold up under local conditions and could become efficient, alternative crops for producers facing declining water availability. The trials got an early boost from the weather. Soon after planting, the Crane plot recorded 1.25 inches of rain in 48 hours, roughly a quarter of Harney County's annual rainfall. That's a welcome start for young seedlings.
This effort brought together three USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Plant Materials Center teams, all coordinating to make it happen. NRCS has leaned in to both the challenges and the opportunities that come with declining water in agriculture.
The trials wouldn't be in the ground without: the Burns Paiute Tribe, with Trey Wall and team, and Owens Hay, with Mark Owens and team. They had their fields well prepped, and planting went smoothly. Heather Emmons, NRCS public affairs in Nevada, filmed both plantings to capture the story of why Harney County needs to support its growers in exploring alternative crops. Heather Dial, NRCS West Region Plant Materials Specialist, also helped shape the effort.
This is just the beginning. What is being learned from these trials will lead to more species testing.
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Good Local Food, Honest Talk about GroundwaterIt was a beautiful evening for a ranch and farm-to-table dinner Thursday, October 1. HDP in partnership with Project Americana, and Oregon Department of Agriculture built an evening around great local food and honest conversation about where things stand with groundwater — the challenges Harney County is facing and how we're responding together through multiple efforts including the Harney Water Collaborative.
Project Americana is hosting dinners like this around the county and is on a mission to foster unorthodox collaborations - rural and urban, red and blue, local and international - to build a food system that puts farmers and ranchers first and truly nourishes everyone.
In addition to Project Americana and Oregon Department of Agriculture sitting around the tables were Harney County ranchers and farmers, county and city officials, legislators, Oregon Grain and Bean, a new nonprofit Article V, Clearwater Pump & Irrigation and journalists from OPB.
A hearty thanks to the village that provided the local food & goods:- 1188 Brewing: Oregon-brewed beer
- Christy Keerins & Rural Roots Ranch: homegrown and packaged pizza sausage and pepperoni sticks cooking temperature magnets and insulated cooler bags
- Connie Robbins: hand painted batik greeting card prints
- Corrine Huseby: prepared and packaged artisan soap
- Harney County Cattlewomen and Oregon Beef Council: jerky
- Jamie McCormack & Basin Bee Honey: honey for spread and sauces
- Katherine Doverspike & Doverspike Beef: homegrown and prepared harvest garden salad and dressing, rustic herb potatoes, brisket and sauce, steak pizza topping, and spice rub
- Kellie Frank & And The Plot Chickens: homegrown tomatoes for pizza sauce and red peppers for salad
- LaurelLynne Sewell: prepared pesto sauce, tomato sauce and small-batch ice cream
- Lauren Doverspike & Doverspike Desserts: pumpkin chocolate chip cookies
- Mark & Celeste Owens: pizza chef extraordinaire, home-roasted coffee beans and site hosts
- Nichole Adamson: prepared onion jam for Italian sausage pizza and honey/garlic butter spreads, homegrown fresh basil for pizzas and sauces
- Shelby Mims & Ranch Raised Bread Co.: homegrown and prepared farmhouse sourdough loaves, rhubarb streusel cake and cinnamon rolls
- Stephany Connor: large-head variety sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds
- Tara Thissell: homegrown raspberries for lemonade
Great appreciation to Tara Thissell, Stephanie Volle, Wendy Reid & the Pine Room for their planning and behind the scenes support that helped bring this event to life.
A very special thank you to the ranchers and farmers in attendance for sharing their histories as part of the Harney County community and their perspectives about the groundwater situation.
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POWWOW!POWWOW Kickoff Party during Harney Nights, Thursday, Sep 17, 5-8 pm at Arrowhead Plaza.
To have a booth or are a singer or drummer interested in performing, contact Jess Hedges at 541 589 1455. See the flyer below for more.
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2026 Upcoming Events
Wednesday, Oct 21 | Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative Meeting
Thursday, Oct 22 | Harney County Forest Restoration Collaborative Meeting
Wednesday, Oct 28 | Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative Meeting
Thursday, Nov 12 | Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan Collaborative Meeting
Tuesday, Nov 17 | Harney County Wildfire Collaborative Meeting
Wednesday, Nov 18 | Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative Meeting
Thursday, Nov 26 | Thanksgiving Holiday
Wednesday, Dec 2 | Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative Meeting
Wednesday, Dec 16 | Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative Meeting
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