Only You Can Prevent
Sagebrush Fires

fact

Swallowtail

Swallowtail

The Oregon Swallowtail butterfly is the official state insect of Oregon and a true native of the Pacific Northwest. The Swallowtail can be seen in the lower sagebrush canyons of the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Snake River drainage area.  Source: State Symbols USA

Latin name: Papilio oregonius

listen

South Fork Crooked River and Birds

South Fork Crooked River and Birds

fact

Young Horny Toad Lizard

Young Horny Toad 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

With fire season approaching in Oregon’s high desert, here are three regulations to know and follow:
  1. All motorists should have required fire prevention equipment in their vehicle to ensure fire prevention and personal safety. With the exception of traveling on state and county roads, you are required to have: an axe, a shovel, and one gallon of water and/or one 2.5 pound or larger fire extinguisher.
  2. Smoking in wildland areas is permitted only in enclosed vehicles on roads.
  3. Open fires, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, are permitted only at posted and designated sites.
  • “Axe” means a wood cutting tool having a handle of not less than 26 inches in length and a head weight of not less than 2 pounds.
  • “Shovel” means a digging tool having a handle not less than 26 inches in length and a blade of not less than 8 inches in width. 

Know what is required by the BLM: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/get-involved/fire-prevention

And, here’s a bit more advice to keep in mind for a safe and enjoyable desert trip:
  • Avoid driving on roads where you see plants growing in the roadbed because they could catch fire after contacting your tailpipe or other hot parts of your vehicle.
  • Park only in areas where grasses and other vegetation will not be in contact with your vehicle.
  • Regularly check the undercarriage of your vehicle for debris or other flammable materials.
  • If you notice that your vehicle has come to a stop above flammable plant material, douse the area with water.
  • Know the fire risk of the areas you are traveling in

Find the latest conditions and restrictions: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions

 

Safety Tips

Following these suggestions will help you travel safely through the high desert of eastern Oregon and enjoy fragile places responsibly. Desert Safety: Drink plenty of water. Eastern Oregon is arid, and you may need to carry more water than you are used to in other environments. Be conservative and carry more than you need until […]

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Southeast Oregon Resource Management Plan Amendment

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is amending its Resource Management Plan (RMP) in the Owyhee Canyonlands region. The amendment process will make important decisions that impact how this eastern Oregon treasure is managed for the next several decades. At the heart of the plan is public participation, take action now to ensure public lands […]

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Only You Can Prevent
Sagebrush Fires

By on July 1, 2019 | Posted in: How-To

You might think of forests when you think “wildfire,” but, as OPB reported in May, nearly 75 percent of all acres burned in the west over the past two decades were on rangelands — not forest. As someone who lives in or visits sagebrush country, you have an important responsibility to help prevent human-caused...

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John Cunningham, ONDA member and volunteer

By on June 6, 2019 | Posted in:

Restoration is hard slow work. It takes hold, or it doesn’t, in fits and starts. The immensity of the need can be discouraging, but we must carry on. I am so thankful ONDA carries on.

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Michelle Frisella, member since 2017

By on June 6, 2019 | Posted in:

So proud of ONDA and its members and volunteers. Such hard work gets done. To use an overused word, this is patriotism!

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Where To: Hart Mountain

By on May 1, 2019 | Posted in: Where-to

Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge lies at the center of the Greater Hart-Sheldon Region in southeastern Oregon. Few established trails cross this vast region. Instead, desert enthusiasts have endless opportunities to build their own adventure and experience the solitude of Oregon’s high desert. Here are six tips that will help you make the most...

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Degarmo Canyon, Oregon

DeGarmo Canyon

By on May 1, 2019 | Posted in:

From the base of Hart Mountain you can access this beautiful canyon complete with wildflowers, wildlife and waterfalls. Various hiking options from an easy walk to difficult climb can be accessed from this point. The hike begins by entering a narrow slot canyon with a stream crossing about 50 yards upstream of the first...

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Hart Mountain Revealed Recap

By on April 9, 2019 | Posted in: Look Back, Where-to

During our 2019 High Desert Speaker Series, ONDA’s Hart-Sheldon Coordinator Jeremy Austin presented in both Bend and Portland. Here’s the “CliffsNotes” version of his for Hart Mountain Revealed talk. Where is Hart Mountain? Roughly 230 miles southeast of Bend, Oregon, Hart Mountain sits at the northern extent of the largest desert in the United...

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Dark Desert Skies

By on March 29, 2019 | Posted in: How-To, Where-to

For those of us who have spent time in Oregon’s high desert, there is no need to explain how truly dark skies showcase the wonders of the stars viewable by the naked eye. Night skies relatively free from light pollution — that is, human-created artificial lighting and atmospheric disturbances such as smog — will...

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Beatys Butte Fence Mapping

By on February 28, 2019 | Posted in:

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Hart Mountain Lek Monitoring

By on February 21, 2019 | Posted in:

Watch the incredible sage-grouse mating dance as a volunteer on Hart Mountain.

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High Lakes Fence Pull

By on February 21, 2019 | Posted in:

Join ONDA and the Lakeview BLM in removing obsolete barbed wire fence from the Greater Hart-Sheldon Region.

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