Harney County

As floodwaters recede in Harney County, people are returning home to find immense damage, and in some cases, no insurance to recoup what they’ve lost.  More than 80 homes are unlivable in the Burns area.  Kat Komperda told Central Oregon Daily her family lost almost everything when their house filled with four feet of water.   "Just, pretty mu...

The Oregon Department of Agriculture released is annual Grasshopper and Mormon Cricket Survey.  According to ODA, many areas experienced outbreaks similar to 2023, while other areas experienced less pressure.  The outbreak areas were in areas that have experienced high population pressure.  Approximately 10....

Researchers at Oregon State say they’ve created a way to predict when irrigating farmland makes groundwater resources unsustainable.  Professor Bill Jaeger said the 30-year model is for the Harney Basin in eastern Oregon.   “Five years ago, it was agreed that something had to be done, but there were differences of opinion of how broad the problem was, how much of a change in behavior, in terms of

Late last week, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek declared a drought in Harney County, directing state agencies to offer help to the region.  According to the Drought Monitor, portions of Harney County have been in moderate drought since early July.  Drought...

On Friday, Oregon senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced funding they say will boost habitat restoration in the eastern portion of the state.  The $679,690 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will go to five projects, supporting management of invasive grasses, reducing wildfire risks, and restoring sagebrush habitat.   “Rest...

Farm operations in Oregon have been significantly impacted by recent wildfires.  To help, the NRCS-Oregon technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover from these wildfire events.   A total of $2 million of FY24 funds have newly been made available to support producers in wildfire recovery. Producer...

Governor Tina Kotek has issued two more drought declarations in Central Oregon.  The emergency declarations for Deschutes and Grant counties clear the way for state coordination of resources in an area now in its fourth year of drought.  ...

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife was very busy last week with several depredations in the eastern part of the state.   Investigators were called all to private pasture land in the Silver Creek area of Harney County on Monday, February 27th.  Th...

Over the past couple of years, demand for water in the Harney Basin has increased while groundwater levels in the region have decreased.  Now the Oregon Water Resources Department is slated to begin rulemaking which intends to address those declining groundwater levels in the basin.   ...

With temperatures warming up across the region, six irrigation field days will take place across Central Oregon. Each will start at 9 a.m. and run through most of the day. According to Oregon State Extension officials, the main focus will be the virtues of converting to LESA/LEPA/MDI system pivots and linears, along with other irrigation technologies, to help increase water use efficiency, and r