|
The Harney Basin is a 'closed basin' with Malheur Lake being a 'terminal lake' which means that the water moving in from all sides flows inward and does not move onward via some tributary to an ocean. The '24-'25 winter snowpack has been above average and as it melts is sending a torrent of water into the basin.
This image is a still taken from a video at Moon Reservoir over the weekend.
Source Video by Rick Vetter
| | |
Just down the rocky ridge from where I called home merely two months ago the playground is completely under water. Triangle Park is being referred to as Triangle Lake. Surrounding residential areas are all under level 3 evacuations that extend east from Broadway Avenue in downtown Burns. (Right: Aerial view of northeast Burns, Harney County Sherrif's Office)
We go through every winter hoping for a healthy, above average snowpack so that the spring runoff can replenish depleted groundwater reserves after the decade long drought and ongoing water extraction. But we hope it will be slow with the ability to soak in and spread out. This flush of water running across the landscape has devastating impacts to the communities of people, plants, and wildlife.
| | |
Floodwaters are the highest they have been in 75 years as neighborhoods in Burns are inundated and evacuated. (Left: flood waters at the Pete French Round Barn Historic Site) The city sewer system has failed. Gov. Kotek has issued a state of emergency and responders are now streaming into the community to help fill and place sandbags, secure tarps, and rescue people and pets. City of Burns has asked that residents conserve water to prevent additional pressure on the public works infrastructure. The Oregon State Fire Marshal, Oregon Fire Service, and Deschutes County Swift Water Rescue teams are all coming into Harney County to lend their resources to the response effort. Lastly, as of yesterday Refuge staff and their airboats are also out there helping. This morning, I get word that the Bureau of Reclamation is sending an additional airboat from their Klamath Falls office.
We have been talking a lot lately about the BIG picture and we will continue to keep our eyes on that while we lend out hands to this issue right now. But we must remember that it's all connected. Neighbors who spent last summer under threat of wildfire are now fighting against floodwaters. The juxtaposition of these scenarios is not just ironic and tragic - it is to be expected. Harney County is experiencing the impacts of global climate change - right here at home.
Science is Real.
Climate Change is Real.
Predictive Weather Technologies and Modeling are Critical.
Emergency Response Resources are Essential.
These things and more are important factors when considering how we will move forward as a society and be able to support one another and all the wild things that are vulnerable to the impacts of environmental changes.
For our part, we will be here in our not-so-small corner of Southeastern Oregon, supporting our Refuge and its community.
In Service to Malheur,
Janelle Wicks
Executive Director
| | Looking east from The Narrows where recent past years folks have stood and wondered at where the water is or it if would ever return. I always say the online thing predictable about water at Malheur NWR is its unpredictability. Photo by Sally Works, FOMR Volunteer | | |
Water Update: Late March 2025
Written by Peter Pearsall/Satellite photo taken March 1, 2025 by Landsat 9
Malheur Refuge Maintenance Supervisor Ed Moulton reports: “The water situation is high. Malheur Lake is starting to push across Highway 205 at the Refuge boundary with a neighboring landowner. The Blitzen is still running high but has been fluctuating between 200 - 800+ cfs for the last few weeks. Burns is under a flood warning from the Silvies River until Friday (3/28/2025), and has already flooded the north end of town. Read More
Check out this article from High Desert Partnership's recent newsletter: Harney County Starts the Year with Favorable Snowpack Data
| | |
Waterbird Prey Availability at Malheur Lake
Written by Olivia Hinds, USGS Biologist Photos of American Avocet by Garth Herring, USGS Biologist
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) partnered with the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge to investigate the importance of the preserve as a breeding ground for native birds. In doing so, the refuge has joined a larger USGS project known as the Saline Lake Ecosystems Integrated Water Availability Assessment. This project’s goal is to better understand the importance of the Saline Lake ecosystem to migratory waterbirds and to determine how water management decisions impact them. Over 600 species of birds have been identified in the Great Basin, and with the loss of terminal lake wetlands and habitats, we need to know more than ever the factors impacting the birds’ success. Read More
| |
Swan Saga Continues
Written by Gary Ivey PhD/ Photos by John Megan USFWS Law Enforcement
Here’s an April 2025 update on the seven Trumpeter Swans marked on Malheur Refuge’s Benson Pond in February 2023 with GPS-GSM neck collars to track their migration. Of these seven, four are no longer active (@13, @16, @17, @19); three of those last transmitted data in April 2024, and one in July 2023. The remaining three are still transmitting data this year. I am also including a discussion of swan @12 in this report (marked at Summer Lake Wildlife Area). Read More
| | |
2025 AiR Program Reflection
Written by Janet Stuart, AiR Program Artist
Students in schools across Harney County enjoyed making art to celebrate the annual bird migration. The Artist in Residence program was again a huge success. Student art will be on display in Burns in April during the Bird Festival.
Our hour-long lesson begins with a discussion of migrating birds such as sandhill cranes, snow geese and pintail ducks. Joining me are Alexa Martinez, Wildlife Specialist for Malheur NWR, and Doug Furr, school board member and volunteer. Students are reminded that this region provides critical habitat for migrating birds that need rest, food and shelter. Read More
| | |
Species Spotlight: Cooper's & Sharped Shinned Hawks
Written by Peter Pearsall
Photos of sharp-shinned (left) and Cooper’s hawks by Dan Streiffert
Cooper’s hawks (Accipiter cooperii) and sharp-shinned hawks (Accipiter striatus) are two closely related raptors that often cause confusion due to their similar appearances and behaviors. Both belong to the Accipiter genus, known for their agile flight, long tails, and short, rounded wings—features that make them adept at hunting birds in forested habitats. Despite their similarities, there are key differences in size, structure, and behavior that help distinguish them. Read More
| | Volunteering with Friends | | |
April is when Spring comes at us in full force and wih it comes a whole host of familiar faces in the Crane's Nest Nature Center & Store and Refuge Visitor Center! Thank you to all of our April Volunteers and a huge Kudos to FOMR's Crane's Nest Manager, Jill Bachman, for volunteer coordinating!
Marcia & Al Huntley, Sally & John Works, Dan Streiffert, Craig Walker, Linda Craig, Michele Wolski, Jo Jefferies, Cheryl Hunter, Larry Hill, Sharon & Ron Vail, and continuing on from their March assignment for a second month - Linda Anderson and Dawn Parker!
| | |
The 2025 Stewardship Project Schedule
Sunday, April 13th - Are you coming to the Harney County Bird Festival? Join us in Giving Back to the Birds; A half day stewardship session with FOMR at Refuge Headquarters.
May 29-31 - Spring Spruce up and Migrate Through Malheur Event; In addition to taking care of various stewardship commitments across the Refuge FOMR will hold its annual public outreach event on Saturday 5/31.
August 8-10 - Sod House Ranch; Every year the historic Sod House Ranch site must be prepared for visitors in advance of its August 15th opening date. Other tasks will be taken on as time and energy allows.
September 19-21 - Stewardship tasks TBD
October 17-19 - Stewardship tasks TBD
If you have any questions or would like to sign up for a Stewardship Weekend, please email friends@malheurfriends.org
| |
Volunteer Birding for Science!
Sign up - Spring Shorebird Survey
April 23-26, 2025
Sign up - Spring Sandhill Crane Bioblitz
April 27-30, 2025
If you have not signed up yet you better do so soon! These community science efforts coordinated by Bird Alliance of Oregon are vital to supporting the inventory and monitoring program at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
| | |
Outreach & Events
Be sure to check out the incredible opportunities below and see our website's event calendar for more. Click the links below to learn more about these programs and sign-up!
| | |
Harney County Migratory Bird Festival
April 10th - 13th | There is quite literally SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE! From Raptor Alley and hiking with llamas to Nature Journaling and birding by ear workshops! Not into group programs but still want to experience the magic of Spring at Malheur NWR? Sign up for the Bird Crawl!
WATCH FOR BIRD FESTIVAL UPDATES WHILE CONDITIONS IN HARNEY COUNTY CONTINUE TO CHANGE DAILY.
QUESTIONS? friends@malheurfriends.org
| | CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE TO REGISTER FOR ONE OR ALL SESSIONS. | | | | |
ANNUAL MIGRATE EVENT
& FRIENDS SOCIAL
May 31, 2025 | FREE
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Volunteers will be stationed at all your favorite Refuge hotspots to share their knowledge and bird observations.
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Join us at the Malheur Field Station's Greasewood Lounge for a FREE Friends Picnic.
7:00 PM Social & Screening of The Harney Way, a 30-minute documentary celebrating the spirit of collaboration in Harney County.
| | |
FOMR's Annual IN-PERSON Board Meeting will take place on Sunday, June 1st.
If you are a Member and/or prospective Board Member and are interested in attending this meeting please email Janelle, director@malheurfriends.org
| | |
March's Most Popular
Every month there is excellent content on the Friends Facebook, Instagram and YouTube pages. Here we will feature the most popular post of the month.
| | |
March 5, 2025 - “Here I find the little water ouzel as much at home as any linnet in a leafy grove, seeming to take the greater delight the more boisterous the stream. The dizzy precipices, the swift dashing energy displayed, and the thunder tones of the sheer falls are awe inspiring, but there is nothing awful about this little bird.”
-John Muir, My First Summer in the Sierra (1911)
Video of American dipper fishing in an icy creek by Peter Pearsall #americandipper
Follow the Friends of Malheur on Facebook and Instagram at Malheurfriends
| | |
Amazon Wish List!
The needs of the Friends and Refuge's programs are changing all the time. This Amazon WishList will be updated seasonally with items supporting the Biology Dept, Volunteer Program, Stewardship Projects and general operational needs!
| | | |
Membership
Membership does more than contribute funds that sustain our work in service to Malheur NWR. FOMR's 1300+ Members demonstrate a strength in community and that's community's passion for Malheur NWR.
If you are unsure of your Membership status you can email us at friends@malheurfriends.org today!
| | | | |
Not a Member or need to RENEW?
Simply visit OUR WEBSITE!
Prefer to send a check? Easy.
Fill out THIS FORM and mail it with your dues to:
Friends of Malheur NWR
36391 Sodhouse Lane
Princeton, OR 97721
Photo (left) burrowing owl family by Volunteer Photographer Lane Wintermute
| | |
Crane's Nest Nature Center & Store
OPEN 7 Days/Week from March 1 - October 31
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
| | |
NEW ONLINE STORE - LIVE NOW!
All of the classic Malheur apparel and keepsakes, books, gifts, and more are now available through our new and improved online store.
| | |
PRE-ORDER YOURS TODAY!
Get decked out in this custom limited-edition rainbow graphic Friends of Malheur NWR t-shirt! These shirts are soft and comfortable recycled tri-blend by AllMade. $30 each w/ FREE Shipping until May 5th.
Our public lands belong to everyone, and we are on a mission to ensure everyone feels welcome and safe at Malheur NWR. The Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge support appropriate access to Malheur National Wildlife Refuge for all people, regardless of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity or cultural background.
| | |
Malheur HQ Visitor Center
OPEN 7 Days/Week from March 1 - October 31
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The Refuge HQ Visitor Center is completely dependent on the availability of volunteers. When volunteer availability is low the VC will be closed, but the Nature Store will remain open. Visitors are encouraged to ask any questions of the volunteers or staff in the Crane's Nest Nature Store at Refuge Headquarters.
| | | | |
