2025 Badlands Wilderness Fence Removal

About the place

ONDA’s conservation work takes place on the traditional lands of the Northern Paiute, Wasco, Warm Springs, Bannock and Shoshone people, as well as ceded lands of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and on lands currently managed by the Burns Paiute Tribe and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Many Indigenous peoples live in Oregon’s high desert region today, including members of the Burns Paiute Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (Wasco, Warm Springs and Paiute), the Klamath Tribes (Klamath, Modoc and Yahooskin) and the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe.

Located just 15 miles east of Bend, the Oregon Badlands Wilderness is a 30,000-acre area containing fascinating lava flows and ancient junipers. Thanks to an ONDA-led campaign, this area was protected as wilderness in 2009. Within this landscape, one can find incredible displays of desert wildflowers, dry river canyons, castle-like rock formations and Native American pictographs.

About the stewardship work

This project will remove of a section of barbed wire fence that is no longer needed and is impeding wildlife movement. Volunteers will use hand tools to remove barbed wire and fence posts, hand-rolling the wire and carrying fence materials out of the wilderness area.

Timeline

• Friday, June 6, 9 a.m.: Meet at a public parking area near the Badlands Wilderness to carpool to our work location. Participants should be prepared to spend the day away from their vehicle and have everything they need in a daypack.
• Friday, June 6, 4 p.m.: Return to our vehicles and head home.

Difficulty

Level 3-4

The physical requirements for this project are moderate to strenuous (depending on weather conditions). Volunteers will hike up to 6 miles both on and off trail over mostly flat terrain and will carry heavy fence materials over long distances.

Participant responsibilities

Participants are required to provide their own transportation to the project meeting point, as well as their own work clothing, sturdy hiking boots, and food and water in a daypack that they are comfortable carrying all day.

Gear provided

ONDA will provide all training, tools and materials required for the work, safety equipment such as work gloves and eye protection, and extra water and snacks.

Registration

An ONDA registration application and medical form are required for this trip.

Join Waitlist

You will receive a confirmation email within 2 weeks of submitting your registration form. This email will provide information regarding trips where you are a confirmed participant and trips that are full where you have been placed on the waitlist.

Six weeks before the start of the trip, the trip leader will send out an email reconfirming participation. Based on responses, any open spaces will be filled with people from the waitlist.

Three weeks before the trip start date, registered and confirmed participants will receive driving instructions, carpooling options, maps, and additional information in an email sent by the trip leader.

If you have any questions in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact the trip leader.