2021 in Review
Mark Darnell
voices
Terry Butler, 2018 Volunteer of the Year
Terry Butler, 2018 Volunteer of the Year
“If I have to pick a favorite place in Oregon’s high desert, it would be Sutton Mountain, but I’m excited about all of the Wilderness Study Areas,” says Terry, adding, “Each is a gem to explore, and I hope they all get protection someday… I love the scale of the physical beauty of the desert.”
fact
Young Desert Horned Lizard
Young Desert Horned Lizard
In the summer these lizards begin foraging for food as soon as their body temperature rises as the heat of the day increases. They feed on slow-moving, ground-dwelling insects. In the fall they hibernate by burying themselves in the sand.
Latin name: Phrysonoma platyrhinos
voices
Reid Williams, 2021 Conservationist of the Year
Reid Williams, 2021 Conservationist of the Year
How far are you willing to hike for conservation? Reid Williams offered to put in more than 20 miles a day, by himself, walking and monitoring fence lines on Beatys Butte. And that was on top of weekly visits to the ONDA office, where he is always eager to help with extra projects. In acknowledgment of his willingness and helpful spirit, ONDA named him our 2021 Conservationist of the Year.
Key Progress and Milestones
Getting a Monument Proposal
Together we achieved a major goal in our campaign to conserve important wild areas in the John Day River Basin with the introduction of legislation that would establish a Sutton Mountain National Monument. The new proposal for a 66,000-acre national monument will preserve the country between the Painted Hills and the John Day Fossil Beds.
Setting a Strong Agenda, Pushing Back Against Bad Ideas
We advocated for more than 1,000 miles of desert waterways to be protected as Wild and Scenic Rivers in the River Democracy Act and made great strides in our campaign to preserve a million acres in the Owyhee. We also defended against misguided management actions proposed across Oregon’s high desert public lands, weighing in on issues ranging from wildlife management in the Greater Hart-Sheldon to expanded military training in Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands.
Learn about the River Democracy Act
Leading Hands-on Restoration
After a pivot to a COVID-safe independent steward restoration model, we surpassed 6,000 volunteer hours contributed to caring for desert public lands. Volunteers planted nearly 17,000 trees, restored more than 500 acres of sagebrush habitat, maintained dozens of miles of trail and a whole lot more to improve the health and resiliency of the desert ecosystem.
Introducing Young People to Careers in Conservation
ONDA hosted another cohort of Tribal Stewards, Indigenous teens and young adults taking part in a paid, career mentorship program, and we hired our first-ever Hillis Intern. Both Tribal Stewards and the Hillis Internship offer increasingly equitable avenues for young people to become our next conservation leaders through paid internships.
Read the story behind the Hillis Internship
Read reflections from the 2021 Tribal Stewards
Inspiring and Welcoming Desert Advocates
To foster a sense of wonder and curiosity about the diverse ecosystems and landscapes of the high desert, we hosted over a dozen events, produced a short documentary and published several multimedia story maps. As we highlight the desert and engage people in advocating for it we are taking steps at each juncture to ensure we are building a culture that welcomes everyone who is interested in conserving Oregon’s high desert.
To see more highlights from this year, as well as years past, please visit our Accomplishments page.
Thank you for the essential role you play in this desert conservation community!
Essential
Oregon’s high desert is an arid landscape, defined by the scarcity of water, but that does not mean that this vast landscape is without water. It means that every stream, […]
Read MoreJoin, Renew, or Give a Gift
Support conservation on behalf of the lands, waters, and wildlife of Oregon's high desert. A gift of any size begins or renews your ONDA membership, so join this community to amplify your support of critical conservation issues, today.
Donate today