Only You Can Prevent
Sagebrush Fires

fact

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

voices

Cregg Large, member since 2009

“I came to Oregon 12 years ago from Texas. Texas, for all its size, has very little public land. Coming to Oregon has made me realize the special gift we as Americans have in our public lands. Volunteering with an organization like ONDA is my way of reciprocating for this gift. Through restoration efforts, I feel we are helping leave a better place than we found it. Through advocating for protection for public lands, we safeguard migration routes for animals and keep the land where it belongs: with the public.”

success

Central Oregon’s “Backyard Wilderness”

Our quest to protect the Oregon Badlands

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

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.
Smoking in wildland areas is permitted only in enclosed vehicles on roads.
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 […]

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 […]

Only You Can Prevent
Sagebrush Fires

By Jeremy Austin 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...

Carl Axelsen, member since 1999

By Corinne Handelman on June 6, 2019 | Posted in:

You folks at ONDA really have your stuff together. Such a well-planned opportunity to comment, since figuring out how to connect with the gummint is off-putting. You make it work for me.

The Oregon Desert Trail

By Lace Thornberg on April 24, 2019 | Posted in:

Join the Oregon Desert Trail Coordinator Renee Patrick for an introduction to a long-distance adventure in Harney County. This 750-mile route traverses some stunning natural features in the high desert like the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge and Steens Mountain, and can be explored on foot, horseback, boat or even skis in the winter....

Dark Desert Skies

By Kody Osborne 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...

Steens Mountain Travel Plan

By Lace Thornberg on March 12, 2019 | Posted in:

Current Status Victorious! On appeal, the Ninth Circuit threw out BLM’s unlawful travel plan and critical wildlife habitat on Steens Mountain in southeastern Oregon has been protected from motorized disruption. Our goal Steens Mountain is one of the last remaining strongholds for the Greater sage-grouse, an iconic bird whose survival is threatened by fragmentation...

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Only You Can Prevent Sagebrush Fires

fact

Swallowtail

voices

Cregg Large, member since 2009

success

Central Oregon’s “Backyard Wilderness”

Our quest to protect the Oregon Badlands

With fire season approaching in Oregon’s high desert, here are three regulations to know and follow:

And, here’s a bit more advice to keep in mind for a safe and enjoyable desert trip:

Safety Tips

Southeast Oregon Resource Management Plan Amendment

John Day
River Basin

Central Oregon
Backcountry

Greater Hart-Sheldon
Region

Steens Mountain
Region

Owyhee
canyonlands

Oregon
Desert Trail

Only You Can Prevent
Sagebrush Fires