Hard-working ONDA volunteers have planted thousands of trees, restored dozens of miles of streams, decommissioned old roads, and removed enough barbed wire to stretch from one end of Oregon to the other.
Their work on the ground adds volumes to our advocacy in the halls of Congress, all toward one goal: giving our deserts a voice.
Central Oregon’s “Backyard Wilderness”
Located just 15 miles east of Bend, Oregon Badlands is a 30,000-acre wilderness area filled with fascinating lava flows and ancient juniper trees Arriving in the Badlands, so named for its rugged and harsh terrain, can feel like stepping
Read MoreScott Bowler, ONDA member from Portland
“The desert speaks for itself, but very softly. I support ONDA to promote and enable discovery of the amazing beauty and recreational opportunities of the high desert by much broader groups of people; and most especially to protect forever the full and diverse landscape of the Owyhee Canyonlands, a place without parallel or equal in our country.”
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.
Riparian restorationONDA’s riparian restoration efforts target streams with protected fish species such as redband trout and steelhead. We strive to improve fish and wildlife habitat by reestablishing conditions that encourage the return of beaver; lush stream banks and lazy meandering streams with deep, cold pools. We plant trees to help reduce erosion, lower water temperatures, and provide the food and building materials that allow beaver to move in and resume their work of constructing dams, a critical part of the long-term restoration process.
Upland restorationAcross Oregon’s desert lands, barbed wire fences fragment the landscape. Many of these fences no longer serve a purpose and interfere with the movement of native wildlife such as Greater sage-grouse, elk, deer, and antelope. By removing obsolete barbed wire fences and retrofitting needed fences with wildlife-friendly wire, our volunteers contribute to improving wildlife habitat.
Wilderness inventoryWilderness inventory volunteers collect critical information that helps ONDA document the conditions found in proposed wilderness areas. Participants collect GPS referenced photos to demonstrate that the area meets the requirements of wilderness: naturalness, opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation, and scenic and wildlife value. Through these inventories, our enthusiastic volunteers have added millions of acres to the list of areas suitable for wilderness designation.
Wildlife monitoringWildlife survey volunteers help to monitor Greater sage-grouse leks or other sensitive species such as raptors and mule deer. Trips are conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and provide high-quality data that is used by these agencies in the management of candidate species for federal protection.
Oregon Natural Desert Association’s independent stewardship projects offers volunteers a self-directed option for promoting a healthy high desert in addition to our structured option of guided stewardship trips. How It […]
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