A Window of Opportunity for Harney’s Water Future
We all know water is essential—especially so here in the High Desert.
We live off this land as we have for generations, relying on water to keep us healthy, grow food, support our agriculture-based economy, fuel tourism, and provide critical habitat for wildlife.
Across the Harney Basin, water scarcity may prove to be the community’s most important challenge. Not since the timber industry collapse of the 1980’s, have our local economies and rural way of life been challenged in such a profound way.
The future of our water supply requires our attention and immediate action.
Welcome to HarneysWaterFuture.com, a new online resource put forth by Harney County’s Community-based Water Planning Collaborative and its partners. Access information to better understand the current groundwater situation and explore strategies for improving sustainable water use across the Harney Basin.
This is a work-in-progress that will be continuously updated as new information, resources, and funding opportunities become available. Your input is critical to ensuring this tool is both useful and as up-to-date as possible. Please share any feedback, ideas, or questions to hello@harneyswaterfuture.com
What We Know About Harney’s Groundwater Situation.
As groundwater irrigation demand outpaces recharge, we are seeing a lowering depth of our underground aquifers. Recent hydrology studies conducted by US Geological Survey (USGS) show the water table dropping throughout the basin—in one area by as much as 8-10 feet per year. While more shallow aquifers may naturally recharge over time, some deep and ancient aquifers can take thousands of years to replenish—if ever.
In recent years, this area has witnessed more frequent and severe drought, bringing hotter and drier summers, as well as reducing vital snow-pack during some winters. If this trend continues, we anticipate further impacts on water demand and long-term supply.
With Urgency Comes Opportunity.
Recognizing a need to ensure greater local representation in addressing this issue, a balanced group of stakeholders with a vested interest in water came together to form the Harney Community-Based Water Planning Collaborative.
A product of OWRD’s Integrated Water Resources Strategy, the Collaborative is undertaking a place-based approach to water resources planning. This group of farmers, ranchers, business-people, government officials, tribal members, landowners, conservationists and other interests have been working together to gather information, identify strategies, and determine in-stream and out-of-stream water resources needs to help develop solutions that will meet those needs now and into the future.
"Water is a connector for everything out here."
— Esther Lev, The Wetlands Conservancy (retired)
BE PART OF HARNEY’S SOLUTION
The local community is critical to our ultimate success. Beyond this initial work by the Harney Community-Based Water Planning Collaborative, there will be opportunities to lend your voice and support strategies, actions, and policies that will shape the water future of this region for decades to come. Let’s work together to make it happen. Explore ways to GET INVOLVED.
Sign Up For Updates: Stay informed, get funding opportunities , and find out how to get involved.