People Who Collaborate

Growing up in suburban New Jersey without much open land, Joe Liebezeit found himself drawn to "exploring little green spaces in my neighborhood." A bird feeder outside his window sparked a fascination that would shape his career, eventually bringing him west where abundant public lands offered endless opportunities for fieldwork.

Today, as Statewide Conservation Director for Bird Alliance of Oregon, Joe coordinates conservation efforts spanning Oregon's diverse landscapes—from coastal marine habitats to the wetlands of eastern Oregon. "Bird Alliance of Oregon's mission is to protect habitats and wildlife across the state and also to connect people with nature," Joe explains. It's a mission he's pursued since joining the organization in 2013, first as Staff Scientist before transitioning to his current leadership role. READ MORE.

Warm Winter Brings Rain Instead of Snow to Harney Basin

The Harney Basin's winter so far has been wet—but not white. Early data shows the region is getting plenty of precipitation, but it's falling as rain rather than the snow that ranchers and land managers typically county on. As of early Janruary, snowpack levels are running well below normal at key monitoring sites. Snow Mountain, northwest of Burns, sits at just 62 percent of normal snowpack, while Rock Springs to the north is at 58 percent. READ MORE.

Garden Planning Starts Now

Planning a garden in Harney County? In a recent Burns Times-Herald interview, Harney County Food Systems Coordinator Kellie Frank shares practical guidance for growing food in our high-desert climate—from seed selection to high tunnels and local food programs.⁠

⁠

As Kellie puts it, “The time to plan and act is now.” She’s currently coordinating a community seed order and helping growers choose what actually works here in Harney County.⁠ More on that below and for the article, find it HERE.

Bird Festival!!

Harney County Migratory Bird Festival is coming soon; registration begins Saturday, Feb 14.

Happy hour, tours, demonstrations, and much more. Find it all HERE.

THIS IS HARNEY

2026 Upcoming Events

Saturday, February 14 | Happy 19th Anniversary High Desert Partnership

Monday, February 23 | High Desert Partnership Board Meeting

Wednesday, February 25 | Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative Meeting

Wednesday, February 25 | Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative Meeting

Wednesday, March 17| Harney County Wildfire Collaborative Meeting

Wednesday, March 24 | Youth Changing the Community Collaborative Meeting

Wednesday, March 25 | Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative Meeting

Wednesday, March 25 | Harney County Forest Restoration Collaborative Meeting

Monday, March 30| High Desert Partnership Board Meeting

Check out High Desert Partnership's event calendar.

High Desert Partnership 2025 Year In Review

Six Collaboratives Supported By

High Desert Partnership

HDP Website

Manage your preferences | Opt out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.

PO Box 252
Burns, OR | 97720 US

This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.