People Who CollaborateBraden Morris serves as a SONEC Partner Biologist with the Harney Soil and Water Conservation District, where his work focuses on collaborative habitat improvement across private lands. In his role, Morris works with landowners to enhance riparian areas and optimize habitat for water birds, primarily operating within the basin while covering projects throughout the county.
Morris's path to this position began in his hometown of Potlatch, Idaho, where he spent most of his life before pursuing higher education. Following high school graduation, he moved to Casper, Wyoming, to earn an Associates Degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Management. Recognizing the need for further education, Morris returned to the University of Idaho, where he completed his Bachelor of Science in Fisheries Biology in 2024. READ MORE
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RFPAs Receive Funding, Recognition from Oregon LegislatureFollowing devastating wildfire seasons, particularly the Falls Fire that burned over 150,000 acres in 2024, the Oregon Legislature signed Bill 3349 in July 2025, providing $1 million in funding support for Rangeland Fire Protection Associations (RFPAs) and allowing the Oregon Department of Forestry to donate or sell firefighting equipment to these volunteer organizations. The legislation emerged after Governor Tina Kotek visited Harney County and learned about the financial strain on RFPAs, which are composed entirely of community volunteers—teachers, farmers, ranchers, and business owners—who protect rural areas that would otherwise lack fire protection.
With annual operating budgets of just $15,000-$20,000, associations like the Lone Pine RFPA faced enormous costs during unprecedented fire seasons, spending thousands on fuel and equipment repairs while volunteers dedicated weeks away from their jobs and families. The bill represents both crucial financial assistance for the 28 RFPAs in Eastern Oregon and legislative recognition of their vital role as first responders in rural fire protection, though the funding may still be insufficient given the scale of challenges these volunteer organizations face. READ MORE.
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Emergency Flood Infrastructure Program Funds 32 ProjectsAfter mountain snowmelt and an abnormally wet spring caused widespread flooding throughout the Harney Basin, the Emergency Flood Infrastructure Restoration (EFIR) program stepped in to help landowners with repairs caused by the flooding.
The projects had to be closely tied with repairs to flood irrigation, and the program received much interest with more than 40 applicants applying for funding in May. “With a turnaround and closure date of a little over two months, the outreach was incredible,” said Braden Morris, SONEC Partner Biologist for the Harney Soil and Water Conservation District (HSWCD) and one of the managers of the EFIR program. HSWCD along with the High Desert Partnership’s Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative put the program in motion by reallocating cost savings from an irrigation project funded through a legislative bill awarded to the wetlands collaborative. READ MORE.
Pictured: Flooded meadows in the Harney Basin spring 2025. Photo by Brandon McMullen.
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"Firefighters of the Future"CBS came to Harney County to spotlight a groundbreaking Wildfire Ready Internship Program!
This summer’s inaugural program, created through a partnership with Treasure Valley Community College and three of HDP collaboratives—the Youth Changing the Community Collaborative, the Harney County Wildfire Collaborative and the Harney County Forest Restoration Collaborative—gave local high school students the chance to explore wildland firefighting careers while earning college credits AND making real progress on wildfire mitigation projects.
Watch Junior Raif share his experience in this powerful story about preparing the next generation to protect our communities.
Huge thanks to incredible partners: Forest Service, BLM, Burns and Hines Fire Departments, and Harney County Emergency Management for making this program possible.
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The Harney Way Community ShowingJoin us for a special community screening of "The Harney Way," a compelling short film that promises to captivate and inspire.
Mark your calendars for September 24th at 7pm, at the Desert Historic Theatre in Burns, Oregon for this unique cinematic experience hosted by the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative.
This community showing offers a wonderful opportunity to come together and experience storytelling that celebrated the spirit of collaboration in the Harney Basin.
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Groundwater Policies UpdateMany people were involved in submitting comments over the summer regarding the Oregon Water Resources Department Div. 512 Draft rules concerning groundwater management in the Harney Basin. The following is provided by Harmony Burright, water consultant to High Desert Partnership about those comments and the ongoing process.
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The public comment period for the draft groundwater policies for the Harney Basin (known as the Division 512 rules) closed on August 13.
Public Comments Received on Proposed Rules
The comments received have been compiled by the Department and posted online. There were 127+ written comments totaling over 1100 pages. Comments can be accessed on the Division 512 rulemaking webpage or via the following links:
The public comment period is now closed and additional public comment on the rules will not be accepted. Thank you to all who took the time to participate. The Department will review and summarize the public comments and may make adjustments to the proposed policies based on comments received. The Department anticipates bringing the final rules before the Water Resources Commission at their December meeting. The final rules along with the summary of comments and changes made will be posted as a staff report prior to that meeting.
Water Resources Commission Meeting - September 11 and 12
The Department will be delivering an update (this is an update only, not a decision) to the Water Resources Commission on the proposed ground policies and public comments at their upcoming meeting on Day 2 (September 12) of their meeting (see attached agenda). The Department will provide an update on guidance developed for voluntary groundwater agreements and will also ask the Commission to recognize the Harney Basin Place-Based Integrated Water Resources Plan. Note that according to the agenda the Commission will not be accepting any public comment on any of these three topics.
The Oregon Water Resources Commission is a seven-member citizen body appointed by the Governor that sets state water policy and oversees the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD). As a policy-making group, the commission's role is to guide the department in its activities, such as the management of surface and groundwater, the allocation of water rights, and the promotion of water conservation and restoration efforts throughout the state.
Groundwater Advisory Committee Meeting Recordings
The Groundwater Advisory Committee consists of nine members appointed by the Water Resources Commission, each representing a range of interests and expertise. The Committee advises the Commission on all matters relating to rules, legislation, and public policy for the development, securing, use and protection of ground water. As you are likely discovering, there are a lot of moving parts. If you need help understanding how the different puzzle pieces fit together, contact Harmony Burright.
harmony@saltandfresh.solutions
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Highlights from a Recent Harney County Forest Restoration Collaborative Field Tour
Summer is field tour season for the ecological collaboratives and the Harney County Forest Restoration Collaborative held one in late July examining shaded fuel breaks and riparian management strategies in the Emigrant Creek Ranger District.
The tour revealed that while recent fuel break implementations extended only 150 feet from roadsides rather than the prescribed 500 feet, they still provided valuable benefits - particularly demonstrated when one section successfully served as an anchor point during backburn operations in the 2024 Falls fire. The collaborative consensus was that these treatments represent a good start, but future fuel breaks should extend the full 500 feet on both sides of roadways to be maximally effective in wildfire scenarios.
The tour also highlighted new opportunities for active management in riparian areas under the revised Blue Mountains Forest Plan. Participants observed riparian zones experiencing significant conifer encroachment and limited presence of native hardwoods, leading to agreement that strategic conifer removal could help restore these areas to more historical conditions. Overall, HCFRC expressed strong approval of the district's forest management approach and emphasized support for continued fuel reduction work, enhanced coordination with private landowners, and the promising PODs (potential operation delineations) and PCLs (potential control lines) framework for strategically coordinating treatments across the landscape.
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An Unforgettable Thai-Inspired Made in Harney Farm-to-Table Experience
What an extraordinary Thai-inspired farm-to-table dinner Harney County Food Systems hosted August 6th where Southeast Asian flavors met Harney County ingredients in an unforgettable culinary experience. This intimate evening brought together 24 guests who began their journey with signature cocktails and appetizers: house-made Nom Sod pork lettuce cups, perfectly spiced chicken satay, and the intriguingly named "Son-in-Law" eggs. Dinner included refreshing Isaan cucumber salad, aromatic Thai coconut curry bone broth, the evening's stunning centerpiece of "Crying Tiger" dry-aged beef paired with stir-fried broccolini and cilantro rice, and a palate-cleansing finale of lime, mint, and Thai basil shaved ice.
This memorable one-night event delivered stories, laughter, and lasting memories around a shared table as we explored the vibrant world of Thai cuisine through our farm-to-table approach where all the food was raised, grown and prepared in Harney County.
Made in Harney food provided by: Doverspike Beef, And the Plot Chickens, Rural Roots Ranch and Adamson Smokehouse. Dinner prepared by: Doverspike Beef, LaurelLynne Sewell, Adamson Smokehouse and Sonnie Svejcar.
Harney County Food Systems is an initiative of the Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative working for food sustainability and security in Harney County. To learn more about Harney County Food Systems and Made in Harney contact Kellie Frank at kellie@highdesertpartnership.org.
Photos by Brandon McMullen.
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2025 Upcoming Events
Wednesday, September 17 | Harney County Forest Restoration Collaborative Meeting
Tuesday, September 23 | Harney County Wildfire Collaborative Meeting
Wednesday, September 24 | Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative Meeting
Wednesday, September 24 | Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan Collaborative Meeting
Wednesday, September 24 | The Harney Way Film Community Showing
Monday, September 29 | High Desert Partnership Board Meeting
Tuesday, September 30 | Youth Changing the Community Collaborative Meeting
Wednesday, October 22 | Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative Meeting
Monday, October 27 | High Desert Partnership Board Meeting
Wednesday, October 29 | Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative Meeting
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