In April of this year, Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) and U.S. Geological Survey USGS released a new groundwater study for the Harney Basin. This is the first comprehensive study of the entire basin since the early 1960s. The study — which contains historical and current data that was gathered

Submitted photo Rancher Mitch Baker cutting native meadow hay in July 2020. by Amy S. Morfas for Burns Times-Herald According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 100 percent of Harney County is in a severe drought. What does this mean for local ranchers who depend on water to sustain and grow hay to feed their

Photo by  SUSAN DOVERSPIKE  A sandhill crane taking off in a dry meadow.  by Kasey Yanna for Burns Times-Herald According to researchers, the American West is experiencing a 22-year megadrought — the driest conditions it’s seen since the 1500s. Nearly 73 percent of the entire U.S. West (a group of nine states) and 76

Photo by Jeremy Hill The Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative recently completed an updated strategic plan, which includes the goal of restoring Malheur Lake back to a clear-water state. by Amy Morfas for Burns Times-Herald The Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative (HBWC) recently completed an updated strategic plan. One of the plan’s goals is to restore

Stock photo Partners of the Harney County Wildfire Collaborative will address fire suppression, prevention, and restoration of this sagebrush sea landscape. High Desert Partnership (HDP) was awarded just over $5 million from the Oregon Department of Forestry to implement the Southeast Oregon Wildfire Resiliency (SOWR) Project. The SOWR project will use critical fuel

Dr. Jon Bates and Dr. Kirk Davies, scientists for the Agricultural Research Service at the Eastern Oregon Ag Research Center in Burns, were selected for major awards from the Society for Range Management. These awards were presented last week at the SRM Annual Meeting in Albuquerque, N.M. Bates received the SRM

Photo by JESSICA HEDGES For local ranchers like Mitch Baker, fall is full of activities like caring for cattle. Meanwhile, area plants are going dormant for the winter.  by Lauren Brown for Burns Times-Herald Colorful leaves piling on the ground and the crisp, cool mornings mean that fall has arrived in the Harney Basin.  For

Photo by ANDI HARMON Ranchers moving cattle near Little Stinkingwater. by Lauren Brown Burns Times-Herald It was a hot, dry summer. While it may have been nice for outdoor activities and events, such as weddings and other get-togethers, those long, hot spells created extreme drought conditions for the majority of Harney County. This in

Submitted photos Two members of the Harney County Wildfire Collaborative monitoring crew, Megan Ellibee and Danika Piotrowski, at work in the Stinkingwater Mountains region. by Lauren Brown for Burns Times-Herald Each summer, the wildfires in the West dominate the news.  This summer, Oregon was home to the largest wildfire in the country. The lightning-caused Bootleg