Maria Snodgress, water quality specialist for the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), attended the regular meeting of the Harney County Court on Nov. 7 to discuss Coordinated Streamside Management and Strategic Implementation Areas (SIAs).

According to a handout provided by the ODA, Coordinated Streamside Management is “a coordinated approach to improve water quality and make available more habitat for fish and streamside-dependent plants and animals.” The approach will initially focus on agriculturally influenced areas, and six SIAs will be selected each year, beginning in the 2017-2019 biennium.

“ODA decided we needed to come up with a different way to make sure that everyone in the state knows what the rules are and that they’re in compliance, so we came up with what we call Strategic Implementation Areas,” Snodgress explained. “We’re systematically going through watershed-by-watershed, and within the next couple of years, we will be in every county in the state of Oregon.”

An SIA was established in the Drewsey area this fall. The process began with a survey, which was conducted using aerial photo imagery, stream maps, and tax lot maps. ODA staff also drove on public roads to look for manure piles and bare ground and to evaluate streamside vegetation conditions.

“We don’t go onto private property unless we’ve got permission from the landowner,” Snodgress said. “This is just stuff we’re doing with publicly available information.”

Surveyed properties fall into one of three general assessment categories: “limited opportunity for improvement” (no apparent water-quality concerns), “opportunity for improvements” (possible water-quality impairment), and “potential violation” (pretty likely that water quality is affected). Snodgress said potential violations can only be spotted during the driving portion of the survey. She added that landowners will be given the opportunity to make changes to improve watershed health.

Survey results are shared with the Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and other local entities that work with landowners.

“If a landowner would rather call the SWCD and find out how their property is evaluated, rather call them than us, they can do that,” Snodgress said. “Not everybody wants to work with ODA. Some folks would prefer to work with a local, nonregulatory entity.”

ODA finished the survey and is in the process of scheduling an open house, which will provide information and give landowners an opportunity to discuss survey results with department staff.

“That seems backward to me,” Harney County Commissioner Mark Owens said, questioning why landowners weren’t notified prior to the survey.

Snodgress said she provided an introductory presentation in the Drewsey area and attended SWCD and Watershed Council meetings to discuss the process. Owens offered to contact landowners within the SIA.

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Forrest Keady attended the meeting to discuss the Certified Local Government (CLG) program, which certifies local governments at the county and/or city level to designate properties as historic.

He said CLGs are eligible for noncompetitive grants, and if Burns, Hines, and Harney County all set up a CLG, three grants would be awarded.

“It would be hugely beneficial to the restoration and preservation of historic properties throughout the county, in the cities, and for our Main Street group,” Keady said.

In order to become a CLG, the county would have to pass an ordinance and establish a commission.

Keady clarified that neither the commission nor government entity could designate a property as historic without the owner’s consent, explaining that the landowner/property owner has to initiate the conversation.

The court agreed by consensus to move forward with the process of making Harney County a CLG.

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In other business:

• Rick Paul reminded the court about the terms that will be expiring on the Harney County Fair Board. The court will advertise the positions;

• Lynn McClintock reported that, with the recent appointment of Rachel Beaubien and Brandi Fulton, High Desert Park and Recreation now has a full board;

• Owens complimented the county’s election staff on a job well done;

• Owens reported that Blue Mountains Forest Plan resolution meetings will begin Nov. 27 and run through Dec. 1. They will be held in John Day, Pendleton, Baker City, Wallowa, and La Grande. Owens said he plans to attend most, if not all, of them.

He also noted that a Blue Mountain Forest Implementation Team meeting will be held Dec. 6 in Ontario;

• Owens said Harney County Counsel Tim Colahan and Harney County Planning Director Brandon McMullen are working on two requests for proposals to use the $150,000 that the county acquired to address Federal Emergency Management Agency flood issues;

• Harney County Commissioner Patty Dorroh reported that Susan Christensen, executive director of the Greater Eastern Oregon Development Corporation (GEODC), secured an opportunity to speak about Harney County’s situation during a national conference in Dallas, Texas.

The county received a grant, which it used to hire GEODC to create a “road map” for strengthening middle-class housing in the community.

“Hopefully, we’ll reap some very sage comments from people across the country,” Dorroh said;

• the court awarded consulting services to Cardno Inc. of Portland. The company will seek grants to clean up three sites in Harney County;

• the court appointed Jenny Falk to the Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization Local Community Advisory Committee;

• the court discussed water use requests.

Later in the meeting, Diane Rapaport asked about transfers and extensions and shared her concerns about water use.

Owens reiterated that the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) provides public notices of water use requests every Tuesday, and anyone can comment or protest;

• Acting Emigrant Creek District Ranger Aaron Gagnon introduced himself to the court;

• the court discussed the Malheur National Forest Schedule of Proposed Actions for Fall 2018;

• OWRD Hydrogeologist Jerry Grondin wrote a letter to the court regarding ongoing groundwater level measurements at selected wells;

• the court will attend the Association of Oregon Counties annual conference Nov. 13-15 in Eugene.

The next meeting of the Harney County Court will be held Wednesday, Nov. 21, at 10 a.m. in Runnels’ office at the courthouse.