Wayne Smith attended the Harney County Court meeting on March 13 to discuss the establishment of wolves and other predators in the county.

Smith began by reading a letter signed by Jeff Maupin, president of the Harney County Stockgrowers’ Association. The association approved the letter during its business meeting on Feb. 5.

The letter states that cattle ranching is the primary enterprise and “economic lifeblood” of Harney County, and the presence of wolves has detrimental effects on beef production.

Noting that hunters bring significant recreation dollars to this community, the letter states that wildlife populations will be jeopardized in the face of uncontrolled predation, which is “of keen concern to hunters from all over the Northwest.”

Unhealthy grazing patterns were also a point of concern.

“In an effort to flee wolves, cattle no longer utilize certain areas of a pasture, and that leads to increased grazing of ‘safer’ areas,” the letter states, adding that plant health and water availability are better when the use of pastures is more even.

The letter also notes that the Canadian wolf is not indigenous to Harney County nor any of the lower 48 states.

“Introduction of this species is not natural nor does it serve the overall ecosystem in a healthy manner,” the association’s letter states. “Overall ecosystem health should be the primary focus, not single-species management.”

The letter also discusses a clause in the proposed Blue Mountains Forest Plan, which states that cattle cannot graze within a mile of a wolf den.

“The implications of that clause are horrendous when one considers water sources, fence lines on pastures, required grazing utilization protocol compliance, let alone the nutritional needs of livestock, wildlife, and feral horses,” the association’s letter states.

Health risks to humans and animals (both wild and domestic) and public-safety concerns were also discussed.

“These concerns are a very real threat to the livestock industry, wildlife, and the general public,” the letter states. “We ask the county court to prohibit the establishment of Canadian Grey Wolves in Harney County. We also respectfully request [that] you require Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife [ODFW] to give real-time data on the location of wolves in Harney County. And, lastly, we ask the court to adopt an ordinance stating that any wolf, wolf hybrid, or any other predator (bear, cougar, coyote, etc.) that causes harm, death, or harassment to anyone’s livestock, pet, or to the public be permanently removed from the county immediately.”

An outline for a proposed ordinance was provided to the court.

Harney County Commissioner Mark Owens said he supports all of the points that were made in the letter. He added that the court cannot keep Canadian Grey Wolves from coming into Harney County, but he would support a proclamation or similar notice stating that the situation is undesirable.

Harney County Commissioner Patty Dorroh noted that the Harney County Wolf Advisory Committee is working to establish a dispatch system that will text or email registrants when ODFW staff spot a wolf.

“That way, [ODFW District Wildlife Biologist] Rod Klus would just have to make one call or contact, and it would shoot out to all those who are registered,” Dorroh said.

She noted that ODFW provided general approval for the dispatch system, and expectations for its use will be discussed. Dorroh explained that most committee members would like Klus to notify registrants anytime a wolf is spotted in Harney County, regardless of whether it’s transiting or its exact location is known.

Harney County Judge Pete Runnels asked whether notifications will be immediate or delayed, and Dorroh said she’ll discuss the matter with Klus.

Regarding the proposed ordinance, Owens said he’d like to sit down with the Stockgrowers’ Association to work on language.

“We can have strong language, but we want to make sure that we’re not actually saying that we’re going to do something against federal law,” he said.

“We can’t trump state and federal law,” Runnels said. “As long as we have the right, proper language, none of us are opposed.”

The court will consult with legal counsel regarding its options.

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Harney County Watershed Council Coordinator Karen Moon provided an annual update.

The council’s current projects include:

• The Harney Basin Small Grant Program, which is available to local landowners/managers who want to develop a project costing less than $15,000;

• Community Based Water Planning, which has held numerous collaborative meetings and created four sub-working groups. The groups will develop a plan for sustainable water use for the future of Harney County;

• participation on the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) Groundwater Study Advisory Committee. OWRD and U.S. Geological Survey are studying declining groundwater levels in the Harney Basin. A report will be delivered in 2020;

• monitoring more than 100 wells in the Harney Basin to participate with the OWRD groundwater study;

• High Desert Youth Range Camp, which teaches high school students about desert ecosystems and connects them with people who work in the field;

• Science in the Sagebrush Steppe, which offers college students who are majoring in range science the opportunity to work on real-life problems with researchers and leaders in their field; and

• helping the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge develop methods for restoring healthy habitat in Malheur Lake and private landowners continue traditional flood irrigation, which benefits water birds during migration.

Additionally, Moon recommended appointing Tyler Harris to fill the  council’s Drewsey-area position, and the court agreed to appoint him.

Moon noted that there are still vacancies on the council.

•••

In other business, the court:

• was addressed by Mary Ausmus regarding West Ridge Apartments.

Runnels answered her questions and provided an informational handout;

• heard an overview of Owens’ trip to the annual National Association of Counties conference in Washington, D.C.;

• approved Resolution 2019-05, amending Resolution 2012-09 and adopting policies for travel allowances for county employees.

“Basically, it is tightening down,” Runnels said;

• appointed Curt Blackburn to a three-year term on the Harney County Budget Board;

• signed a proclamation commemorating The American Legion’s 100th anniversary.

“I can tell you that The American Legion Post 63 here in Harney County is a really great organization, and I know that you join me in being happy to sign this proclamation for an organization [that’s] 100 years old [and] still serving veterans,” Dorroh said;

• tabled a road-naming application, allowing time to consult with Geographical Information Systems Coordinator Bryce Mertz and Harney County Planning Director Brandon McMullen;

• signed a proclamation recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month;

• approved the 2019 Fund Exchange Agreement for the Long Hollow County Road Overlay Project.

“It’s our typical contract that we do every year with the state of Oregon,” Harney County Roads Supervisor Eric Drushella said. “It’s federal money that gets run through the state of Oregon. They take a small percentage, but then we don’t have to stay with federal guidelines. So we can actually do the work ourself;”

• approved Resolution 2019-06 to correct the name of a revenue line;

• learned from Owens that the 90-day period for the Land Conservation and Development Commission to appeal the land-use change in the Harney County Comprehensive Plan ended, and the land-use plan is now adopted;

• discussed Public Notices of Water Use Requests;

• received correspondence from the Vale Bureau of Land Management stating that the process for renewing grazing permits for three allotments in the North Fork Malheur Geographic Management Area is starting;

• agreed to send a letter to Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, supporting David Bernhardt’s leadership of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Bernhardt has been the acting secretary since January;

• agreed by consensus to apply for a $42,000 grant to assist with planning for domestic municipal water users;

• will hold budget meetings April 10 from 1-4 p.m., April 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., April 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and May 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If necessary, an additional budget meeting will be held May 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.;

• rescheduled its March, April, and May meetings. The meetings will be held March 27, April 10 and 23, and May 8 and 22.

The next meeting of the Harney County Court will be held Wednesday, March 27, at 10 a.m. in Runnels’ office at the courthouse.