“My greatest hope is that Oregon’s desert continues to gain public lands protections, and is guarded from unsustainable development, so that future generations may benefit from all the region has to offer.
I felt inspired by trips to Oregon’s high desert, and was actively searching for ways to contribute to the protection of these wild places. ONDA stood out as a leader in this respect, and when I’ve had money to contribute, ONDA has been a clear choice.”
voices
Carl Axelsen, member since 1999
Carl Axelsen, member since 1999
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.
watch
Jeremy Fox on Steens Landscape
Jeremy Fox on Steens Landscape
This project takes place in an area of traditional aboriginal use by the Burns Paiute Tribe. The Tribe has a reservation in Harney County, located near Burns and several conservation properties in Harney and Grant Counties. The Burns Paiute People are the descendants of the Northern Paiute, or Wadatika people. The Wadatika’s homeland encompasses a territory from the Cascades east past what is now Boise, and from the Columbia south well into Nevada. Learn more about The Burns Paiute Tribe here.
This case involves former Secretary of the Interior Bernhardt’s decision to award a grazing permit to Hammond Ranches for four allotments along Krumbo and Mud creeks near Frenchglen. The Biden administration rescinded the decision after ONDA filed suit. The Bureau moved to dismiss our case as moot in January based on its plan to undertake a new environmental review process. ONDA opposed that motion because the Bureau has not yet actually begun that process and has left the challenged Environmental Assessment in place. We expect an initial ruling from the court this spring on the Bureau’s motion to dismiss. Regardless of the outcome of the motion to dismiss, the lengthy public process required to prepare an environmental impact statement (“EIS”) should leave the area ungrazed at least through 2022.
The objective of this project is to document improvement in ecological communities and recovery of riparian systems since the allotments have been ungrazed while the legal case is ongoing. We also want to document if there is any sign of cattle trespass – if any cows are currently out on the grazing allotments and/or if there is recent sign of cows – patties, browse on vegetation, soil disturbance, etc. that appears to be fresh this year.
Please note:Given the ongoing litigation, we know some of the adjacent grazing permittees support the Hammonds being reissued the grazing permits. Please be aware of this and use your judgment in any chance encounters. You may want to say you are simply exploring this interesting area you heard about or saw on a map rather than saying you are doing monitoring for ONDA.
This is a photo monitoring project:
You will take photos with a smartphone or tablet, and record notes about your observations at each photo point.
Timing:
This project will ideally be completed before December. The Hardie-Summer pasture is the highest and snow may make access difficult later in the season, so September or October monitoring would be ideal.
Areas:
There are three pastures to monitor, Hardie-Summer, Krumbo, and Mud Creek. All three are on the west side of Steens Mountain and are accessible from highway 205 or the Steens Loop Road.
Visit the pastures
When you arrive at the pasture, use the GaiaGPS app to navigate around. We want you to take photos of what current on-the-ground conditions look like and document any cattle grazing happening. You do not need to visit the whole pasture, focusing on the creeks and riparian corridors will be most fruitful.
Please focus on any:
Areas that look healthy – robust vegetation communities, lush grasses, tall shrubs, etc.
Areas that look cow-impacted – signs of browse on vegetation, fresh cow patties, etc.
Fence-line contrasts (grazing impacts different on either side of a fence)
Cows if you see any within the ungrazed pastures
Take Photo
Take photos in landscape position – so the image is wide and not tall.
Please make sure your location data is turned on for your camera. You can test this by taking a photo and uploading it to this webpage: www.pic2map.com which will show you if the photo has geodata embedded in it.
Write Down Observations: please note, volunteers will be typing up your observations, so please make sure your handwriting is readable!
For each photo you take note it on the blank monitoring sheet. Start with 001 for the first day, and in the “photo number” column on the paper, write 001. If you are out more than one day, keep the numbering the photos sequentially.
In the third column of the monitoring form write down the direction you are facing when taking the photo (N, S, W, E, NW, SW, etc. or degrees 180°). You can use the compass feature at the top of the Gaia app to note the direction you are facing when you take the photo (you are welcome to use another compass-type app if you like, or a real compass; a declination of 13 degrees should be taken into account for an accurate reading).
In the “observations” column write down anything notable about the location, for example – area heavily impacted by cattle, abundant grasses growing, etc. The more detailed your observations, the easier it will be to match the descriptions to the photos should a photo point get skipped, or an extra photo gets taken.
If you don’t see any impacts, please note that you don’t see any ground disturbance. No impacts, or no new impacts are very important to note.
When you have taken all of the photos, review to make sure the number of photos you took matches the number of photos you wrote down on your monitoring sheet. Please do this in the field in case a photo point was missed, or something went wonky in the note taking.
Note: The Hardie Summer and Krumbo grazing pastures contain both public and private lands. There may or may not be fences along private property boundaries on the ground (and there may be fences between portions of public land, so fences are not always indicative of private property). Please respect any signed private property closures and use the Private Lands layer in Gaia to stay on public land. The Mud Creek pasture is entirely on public land.
Hardie Summer Pasture
Approx. 7 miles (roundtrip) of cross country hiking with 1,000 ft gain
From Frenchglen: Take the Steens Mountain Loop Road for approximately 15 miles. Just west of the Lily Lake primitive camp area, turn onto be a dirt road to the north. This route may cross private property, but should be open to public access. You may have to park and walk part of this route depending on conditions. Hike cross country down to the Big Fir Creek drainage and then up and over the ridge to the Little Fir Creek drainage. The fence and public land portion of Little Fir Creek are lines in Gaia. There is also a line in Gaia for the public portion of Big Fir creek. You don’t need to walk the whole length of the lines, just whatever portions are of interest to you. Here are Google directions to the parking place. You may be able to drive farther down this road depending on conditions.
Priorities to photograph:
Little Fir Creek – The fence crosses Little Fir Creek, if you can compare conditions on both sides of the fence it would be interesting to get some pictures of those to see whether there is any visible difference between the two.
Big Fir Creek – Lower priority, but you’ll cross it on the way to Little Fir.
Krumbo Creek Pasture
Approx. 4 miles (round trip) cross country hiking with 300 foot gain
Take Krumbo Reservoir Road from Hwy 205. Park at the Krumbo Reservoir and walk east cross country from along the south side of the reservoir to the creek. There is a line in Gaia for the public portion of the creek. Here are Google directions to the parking place.
Priorities to photograph:
Cows from neighboring allotments tend to be found in Krumbo. Walk the public portion of the creek corridor to document any recovery and/or signs of grazing.
Mud Creek Pastures
Approx. 5-7 miles (round trip) cross country hiking with 700-1000 foot gain.
From Frenchglen: Take the Steens Mountain Loop Road for 3 miles. Turn north onto the Eastside Canal Road (just over the bridge, across from Page Springs Campground access road). Drive on Eastside Canal Road for approximately 2 miles, and take a right to cross the canal and continue on a dirt road. In about 0.4 miles, there should be a spur road to the left that goes to the edge of Mud Creek. Find a place to park here and get ready to hike. Find a good place to cross Mud Creek and hike cross county to the Lambing Creek drainage. This may be a good place to hike up along the creek corridor to document vegetation condition. Feel free to hike wherever interests you. Here are Google directions to the parking place.
Sign up for the pasture you would like to monitor.
Monitoring Activities Must Conform to the Non-Impairment Standard
Monitoring activities need to meet the non-impairment standard. Thus, your use of vehicles or motorized travel for monitoring purposes must follow the same rules that the general public is required to follow. In other words, please do not drive off of any established routes and be sure to follow the guidelines from the land management agency you are working in regarding vehicle access and parking or trailhead locations.
Adjust the timing of your visit to avoid negative impacts to resources. These include:
Avoid using primitive routes when they are wet and driving would cause rutting.
If you are taking monitoring photos of roads or routes, take the photo of a road BEFORE you drive on it.
If driving is difficult (very rocky road, rutted, wet, etc.) and/or will impact the road in a negative way, please walk the road to do your monitoring. When in doubt, walk it out.
Avoid driving on 2-track roads during fire season. If a two-track road has tall grasses that would brush the underside of your vehicle, please do not drive, instead walk the road. Tall dry grasses can easily ignite in the dry season. If you are monitoring during fire season you will need to carry a shovel, 5 gallons of water and a fire extinguisher; these items can help you put out a small fire should you encounter one during your monitoring.
Please report all instances of fire you encounter while monitoring.
Private Land, Fences & Gates
All of ONDA’s monitoring projects are on public land, however some areas contain inholdings (small parcels of private land surrounded by public land). You may pass very close to private land, and in a few spots an easement allows travel on two-track roads through private property boundaries. If you encounter a “No Trespassing, Keep Out,” sign, please respect the boundary. If you decide to explore on your trip, it is your responsibility to ensure you are on public land. Many apps, like GaiaGPS, offer private land layers you can reference.
Most Bureau of Land Management land follows a Multiple Use Mandate as part of their management plan. The Multiple Use Mandate ensures that a variety of different land uses may occur on public lands. Expect to encounter other land users while conducting your monitoring project. Please respect their rights to use these lands and take care to not interfere with their operations or equipment. Other activity that may be encountered includes: livestock grazing, wildlife habitat, wild horses, cultural preservation, off-road vehicles, rock hounding, and hunting.
You will encounter fences while in the high desert. Not all fences mean private land, and not all private land is fenced. Many of the fences you will encounter are important borders for public land grazing allotments. PLEASE leave all gates that you encounter as you find them. If there are gates that are difficult to open or close, make a note and pass that information along to us.
Desert Driving and Preparedness
Some access roads you might utilize for a monitoring project are not suitable for regular passenger cars. In addition to a high-clearance, 4WD vehicle, it is recommended that vehicles traveling in Oregon’s high desert have the following:
At least one full-size spare tire, with car jack, lug wrench and a 1’x1’ square of plywood (or similar—something to set the jack base on in sandy soils). Practice putting on the spare tire in a nonemergency setting is very important!
Extra key in a magnetic hide-a-key box. It’s no fun driving with a broken window because you had to break into your car to get your locked-in key.
Extra fuel for the vehicle, extra engine coolant and engine oil.
At least one gallon of extra drinking water.
Jumper cables, Fix-A-Flat, tow-strap and a flashlight.
Consider a small DC-powered air compressor.
After a significant rain event, desert soils/primitive roads may become too supersaturated to drive on, so please look at the weather forecast before leaving home.
Shovel and possibly a fire extinguisher. Check with local Bureau of Land Management offices, Forest Service and National Wildlife Refuge offices for fire danger levels and whether these items are required.
Camping
Dispersed camping in the high desert can be a wonderful way to add another element of adventure and connection to your trip. Most projects will take place on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land where dispersed camping is allowed. Here are a few tips we suggest you consider when looking for a camp site:
Camp 100 feet away from any water source
Do not drive off existing roads to establish a camp
Camp where others have camped before; look for an established fire ring or impacted area
Pack it in, pack it out
Follow Leave No Trace principals (see safety tab for more info)
Pay attention to fire restrictions on public land during fire season (mid to late summer-early fall most years)
Roads with vegetation may be closed during times of extreme fire danger due to the flammable nature of dried grasses.
Do not rely on Google Maps or other driving apps for directions, they are regularly wrong. A road map atlas is the best source of road conditions.
You will need these tools for this project:
Smart phone/tablet with capability to take geolocated photos – needs to be capable of running the GaiaGPS app (see more below)
External battery pack (suggested for longer monitoring projects when you might need more power)
Please make sure your location data is turned on for your camera. You can test this by taking a photo and uploading it to this webpage: www.pic2map.com which will show you if the photo has geodata embedded in it. PLEASE DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP
NOTE: If you are using an ipad with wifi only capabilities – no cellular service – the tablet does not have a GPS location chip. If you are not sure, turn off the wifi on your device and turn on an app like Google Maps. If the map doesn’t register your location, you do not have a GPS location chip. You can buy an external GPS receiver to make your tablet work, but almost all cellphones have this GPS chip installed in the device.
NOTE: Apple phones may use the camera file format HEIC. ONDA prefers jpg files for geolocated photos. You can change the file type from HEIC to jpg from your settings > camera > formats. Please check that it works before you go!
***
In 2022 the stewardship team will hold a series of scheduled Zoom sessions to address any technology questions or concerns you might have regarding the apps and systems developed for your projects. You are welcome to attend them as needed, or not at all if you have a good handle on how to use and record the data required as directed below for the project. Upcoming sessions will be held on:
Click on above link to join, if needed the meeting ID is 850 4767 6451, Passcode: 618880
***
You will need to install this app on your phone/tablet:
GaiaGPS – This app works great for navigation, locating photo points, viewing satellite imagery, private and public land parcels and more. We have uploaded all the info you will need for this monitoring project, including the base maps you will use while your device is in the field and on airplane mode.
Download the Gaia GPS app onto your device (Apple) (Android)
Log into the GaiaGPS monitoring account (login: grazing@onda.org, password: HammondGrazing1)
The preferred layer to view the topography is the USGS topo map. It’s also helpful to turn off all the Trailbehind POIs.
Press the layers icon (looks like three sheets of paper stacked), scroll down to the bottom and turn “Layered Maps” on. This will allow you to adjust your view between the three maps we have saved to the account 1) USGS Topo, 2) Private Land (so you can make sure you are public land for your project), and 3) Satellite (which can be helpful to reference). Please refer to this for more information. There are many other layer options, but these are the three we would like you to use for this project.
Under the settings button sync your device with Gaia cloud (while you are on wifi), this will automatically start a download of the topo maps you will need during your monitoring trip. Make sure these are all downloaded before you leave wifi. It might take some time for all the tracks, waypoints, and maps to download.
If you are getting “sync incomplete” errors and not all of the data is showing up, log out and log back in.
Test it: turn your phone on airplane mode, then navigate to the area on the map that you downloaded, and make sure the topo map shows up.
NOTE: all data is synced between devices, any additional downloads of maps or waypoints will be shared among all monitoring Gaia accounts and other monitoring devices using GaiaGPS. Please don’t use the monitoring account for personal trips, don’t delete anything in the account, and logout when you are finished.
NOTE: The monitoring account may be used for more than one project, so other data could be downloaded when you login. Please do not delete this data.
NOTE: The GaiaGPS app does allow you to take or attach photos to waypoints from within the app, but there are limitations to this method, especially with bulk photo downloads. Please do not take or attach photos in the GaiaGPS app at this time; use your device’s camera app.
Map of grazing allotments (PDF) – Orange lines indicates driving access to the pastures of interest and red lines are suggested hiking routes for the photo monitoring. See the map legend for all other symbols.
Once you are finished with your project, please fill out our reporting form in a timely manner, ideally within two weeks of your project visit.
If you take multiple trips to complete a project, please submit a report for each trip you take.
If you carpool, only one person needs to fill out mileage, but please have every person who attends (even friends and family – see next tab) fill out the report individually.
We will be tracking this information:
Date: The date started the project; on multi-day projects, please report the first date you were out.
Mileage: What was the total mileage from your home to the project site and back?
Hours: How many total hours did you spend on the project? Please include project prep time (reading this web page!), drive time both ways, post-project data/photo processing, and reporting
Expenditures: How much money did you spend while completing the project? Please include any food, gas, lodging, etc. you spent east of the Cascades.
Project details:
Photo Monitoring: Number of photo points taken
Data upload
Please open this google drive folder and make a new folder for your data (click the button in the upper left corner that says “+ New” and click the first option “Folder”). Name the folder with your name and start date of your monitoring work, like “Jane Doe June 22”
Upload all of your photos into this folder, leaving the photo names as is, but make sure you noted in the monitoring sheet the last three numbers of each photo so we can match the notes to the image.
Take a photo of your photo monitoring sheet and upload it to the folder. A volunteer who has offered to help us with data management will be typing up your observations into a spreadsheet. In case of handwriting legibility issues, we may connect you with that volunteer so you can help them read your observations sheet.
If you made tracks or waypoints in GaiaGPS to share with us, please open the app and sync your device (under settings) while on wifi.
To recap, every photo you uploaded should have a corresponding observation noted on the photo monitoring sheet.
Should you have an emergency while on your project please call 911. See below for medical and emergency resources in the area.
Harney County – including Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Steens Mountain, and Alvord Desert
Harney District Hospital, 557 W Washington St, Burns, OR 97720, 541-573-7281
Harney County Sheriff’s Office – Search and Rescue, Non-emergency phone: 541-573-6156 weekdays only
It’s always a good idea to check the weather before you head out; excessive moisture or storms can make some areas in the desert inaccessible.
It is extremely important to avoid approaching other public land users under the pretense of enforcement or engage in any potentially controversial discussions. If you witness any potential illegal activity (e.g., people who are driving off-road in a WSA), avoid approaching the illegal use or engaging in potentially confrontational discussions. Your personal safety is your highest priority. Only attempt to collect identifying information (e.g., license plates and photos) if you feel it is safe to do so.
Should you have any notable interactions or conversations, please let us know.
Water
While there may be springs or perennial water sources in the area you will be monitoring, we strongly advise you bring all water you will need for the duration of the trip with you due to the unreliable nature of many desert water sources. If you do plan on utilizing water sources on your trip, please filter or treat all water before consuming.
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 you have a good handle on your body’s needs in this environment. If you are going on a multi-day trip, carry an adequate water purification system and consume plenty of electrolytes (the salts and sugars your body needs to help you absorb the water you are drinking).
Seek out shade, or carry it with you. Make use of shade for food and water breaks. And, with little to no shade throughout much the desert, consider carrying a sun umbrella to take your shade along with you.
Cover up. Desert sun can be harsh on a hiker’s skin, so consider covering up with lightweight long sleeves and pants for sun protection.
Be prepared for temperature swings -Days are hot and nights are cool – even on the hottest days in the desert, the temperatures can drop dramatically when the sun sets. Be prepared for cooler temperatures at night.
Be mindful in brushy sections. Use a hiking pole or stick to rustle tall grasses as you hike to help alert any snakes, and other wildlife, to your presence and give both of you a chance to move away from an encounter. Wearing tall gaiters can be useful in cross-country sections with heavy vegetation, or in places with difficult bushwhacks, to protect your ankles from both snakes and thorny brush.
Go easy during the hottest part of the year, or time of the day. Be careful that you don’t plan to engage in strenuous activities during the hottest part of the year, or during the heat of the day. Hiking during the spring or fall can provide more comfortable all-around temperatures for hiking, or, if you’re going mid-summer, consider getting up early or hiking late and being more relaxed at midday. Think siesta!
Use Verizon cell service. Verizon has the best cell service throughout the high desert. The exception is in the Owyhee region where there is little to no service at all.
Consider carrying a personal locator beacon. Technology has advanced to the point that hikers can always seek assistance if needed with the use of personal locator beacons.
Watch your steps and avoid damaging sensitive terrain. Many areas in the high desert are best explored off trail. To minimize impacts of travel through fragile high desert soils, if you see other footprints, don’t follow them. Instead choose a similar bearing and walk a short distance away. Desert soils can be easily impacted, and it only takes a few hikers to start establishing tread in the desert. Be particularly careful not to step on black, knobby crusts on the soil or sand. These cryptobiotic soil crusts perform important ecological roles, including carbon fixation and more, and can be damaged easily.
Cross fencescarefully. Hikers may encounter fences on cross-country hikes in the high desert, and yes, fences are on public lands. Because many of the high desert landscapes are used for grazing and ranching, these fences keep the cattle where they belong. Cross these fences with care. If you encounter gates, leave them as you find them. Please respect the multiple other uses throughout in the desert.
Avoid driving on wet roads. Waterlogged desert soils can bog down a vehicle in inches or feet of mud. In remote parts of the Oregon Desert, recent precipitation can make some roads impassable, even on flat terrain. Gravel roads can be a better bet when conditions are wet as the gravel can provide extra traction between your car tires and the slick mud. Remember that help in the form of a tow-truck can be hours to days away, and prohibitively expensive in these remote locations.
Don’t start a sagebrush wildfire. 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. Open fires, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, are permitted only at posted and designated sites, and, smoking in wildland areas is permitted only in enclosed vehicles on roads. Know what is required by the Bureau of Land Management.
Practice “Leave No Trace”
When visiting wild areas, it is imperative that you “take only photographs, leave only footprints” and follow the “Leave No Trace” principles:
Plan Ahead and Prepare – Know the rules of the area you’re visiting. Research current conditions and weather in the area and always travel prepared for emergencies or inclement weather.
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces – Minimize your impact by sticking to established trails and campsites or durable surfaces such as rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow. Avoid walking off trail through sensitive riparian areas or on steep slopes. Make your camp at least 200 feet from creeks, lakes and rivers, and leave your site as you found it.
Respect Wildlife – Observe wildlife from a distance to allow them peace in their natural environment. Do not follow or approach them and never feed wild animals.
Dispose of Waste Properly – Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Always pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.
Leave What You Find – Leave rocks, plants, animals and historical artifacts as you find them. Examine, but do not touch, cultural or historical artifacts such as structures and rock art.
Minimize Campfire Impacts – Know the current regulations on campfires for the area and follow the rules. When fires are allowed keep them small and in control at all times. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand. Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes.
Be Considerate of Other Visitors – Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience by being courteous and yielding to other visitors on the trail. Let nature’s sounds prevail by avoiding loud voices and noises. Avoid cliffs and steep areas and be conscious of hikers below you on the trail who may be hurt by any debris that you knock loose.
Carrying the Ten Essentials will help you respond positively to an accident or emergency, and safely spend a night—or more—out, if needed.
Once known as the Ten Essentials list (developed by The Mountaineers in the 1930s), the list has evolved over time from a list of individual items to a list of functional systems.
Navigation: Always carry a detailed topographic map of the area you are visiting, and place it in a protective case or plastic covering. Always carry a compass. Other navigational tools include an altimeter or global positioning system (GPS) receiver; other aids include route markers, route descriptions, and other types of maps or photos.
Sun Protection: Carry and use sunglasses, sunscreen for the lips and skin, and clothing for sun protection.
Insulation (Extra Clothing): How much extra clothing is necessary for an emergency? The term “extra clothing” refers to garments beyond what you are wearing for the active portion of your outing, the additional layers that would be needed to survive long, inactive hours of an unplanned bivouac.
Illumination: Even if you plan to return to their cars before dark, it is essential to carry a headlamp or flashlight, just in case. Batteries and bulbs do not last forever, so carry spares of both at all times.
First-Aid Supplies: Carry and know how to use a first-aid kit, but do not let a first-aid kit give you a false sense of security. The best course of action is to always take the steps necessary to avoid injury or sickness in the first place. At a minimum, a first-aid kit should include gauze pads in various sizes, roller gauze, small adhesive bandages, butterfly bandages, triangular bandages, battle dressing (or Carlisle bandage), adhesive tape, scissors, cleansers or soap, latex gloves, and paper and pencil.
Fire: Carry the means to start and sustain an emergency fire—a butane lighter or matches in a waterproof container. Firestarters, such as candles, chemical heat tabs, and canned heat, are indispensable for igniting wet wood quickly to make an emergency campfire.
Repair Kit and Tools: Knives are so useful in first aid, food preparation, repairs, and climbing that every party member needs to carry one. Other tools (pliers, screwdriver, awl, scissors) can be part of a knife or a pocket tool, or carried separately—perhaps even as part of a group kit. Other useful repair items are shoelaces, safety pins, needle and thread, wire, duct tape, nylon fabric repair tape, cable ties, plastic buckles, cordage, webbing, and repair parts for equipment used on your trip.
Nutrition (Extra Food): For shorter trips, a one-day supply of extra food is a reasonable emergency stockpile in case foul weather, faulty navigation, injury, or other reasons delay the planned return. An expedition or long trek may require more. The food should require no cooking, be easily digestible, and store well for long periods.
Hydration (Extra Water): Carry extra water and have the skills and tools required for obtaining and purifying additional water. Always carry at least one water bottle or collapsible water sack. Daily water consumption varies greatly. Two quarts (liters) daily is a reasonable minimum; in hot weather or at high altitudes, 6 quarts may not be enough. In dry environments, carry additional water. Plan for enough water to accommodate additional requirements due to heat, cold, altitude, exertion, or emergency.
Emergency Shelter: If the party is not carrying a tent, carry some sort of extra shelter from rain and wind, such as a plastic tube tent or a jumbo plastic trash bag. Another possibility is a reflective emergency blanket. It can be used in administering first aid to an injured or hypothermic person, or can double as a means of shelter.
Please refer to the Monitoring Details tab about when this assignment can be completed, then, make some time on your calendar in that time frame to head out to the desert. Fill out the project report in a timely manner when you return from your trip, and plan to submit a report for each trip you take; some projects can be completed over several visits.
Author: Mark Salvo | Published: April 5, 2022 | Category: Deep Dive After three and half decades of monitoring sage-grouse habitat, sorting through the science, engaging in innumerable federal, state […]
Author: Scott Bowler | Published: January 14, 2022 | Category: Where-to A month-by-month guide to appreciating Oregon’s high desert As the tenth largest state in the union, Oregon offers […]
Continuing ONDA’s High Desert Speaker Series, Ellen Bishop will present “Small Splendors, Vast Landscapes.” Oregon’s deserts offer serene and yet provocative landscapes that invite contemplation. Yet sometimes, in viewing their […]
Save the date for the premiere of our newest short documentary, “Essential.” Oregon’s high desert is an arid landscape, defined by the scarcity of water, but that does not mean […]
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, […]
As golden aspen leaves and frosty mornings mark the arrival of fall in Oregon’s high desert, welcomed rains are bringing fire danger down and allowing volunteers to resume work on […]
Each season in Oregon’s high desert, a new world unfolds. From spring blooms to autumn’s migrating birds, this virtual presentation will teach you a bit about what you’ll find year-round […]
