Wyden, Merkley Announce Funds For Sagebrush Restoration In Eastern Oregon
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.
“Restoring and conserving Oregon’s sagebrush ecosystems is critical to protecting biodiversity, mitigating the dangers of invasive species, and making our landscapes more resilient to climate chaos and wildfires,” said Merkley. “This crucial funding will support collaborative conservation efforts and help ensure our rural economies and important rangelands are strong long into the future.”
“Oregon’s sagebrush ecosystems are critical to ensuring resilience against the disastrous effects of the climate crisis like wildfires and drought,” Wyden said. “This federal funding will help regions on the frontline of this fight use a proven approach of ecosystem restoration and conservation. I applaud this federal investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that I fought to secure, and will continue to push for more resources to support restoration projects across Oregon.”
Friday’s announced funding came via the landmark Infrastructure Law, which will invest nearly $10 million to support 53 strategic projects in Western states focused on habitat restoration and on-the-ground science.
The Oregon projects receiving funding are as follows:
- $197,424 for the Southeastern Oregon Collaboration to address primary threats to sagebrush landscapes in Baker and Malheur counties.
- $166,000 for post-fire restoration to Oregon rangelands in Malheur County.
- $164,195 for the county line juniper removal project in Deschutes and Harney counties.
- $105,447 to improve landscape resiliency on public and private lands for sagebrush obligate species through invasive weed management in Baker County.
- $46,624 for the defending and growing the core: adaptive management and virtual fence at Trout Creek Ranch project in Harney County.
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