Justin Iverson and Harmony Burright of the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) attended the Harney County Court meeting on Aug. 7 to provide updates regarding the groundwater study and place-based water planning.

Groundwater study

Since 2016, OWRD and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) have been cooperatively conducting a study in the Harney Basin to provide updated information about groundwater resources in the area.

During the study, the number of wells being monitored in the basin increased tenfold or more. Additional wells, automated recording devices, and weather stations were also installed to increase the amount of data that was collected. The Harney County Watershed Council assisted with data collection, and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Crane Union High School provided information concerning water quality.

In late 2018 and early 2019, OWRD and USGS transitioned from collecting data to analyzing it.

“We’ve really been taking all this evidence — the physical data, the chemical data, the information from the weather stations, so on and so forth — and we’re trying to line those all up on top of each other and put together the best picture or understanding we can of how the basin is operating from a groundwater-flow perspective,” Iverson said.

The plan is to publish two reports in 2020. One will pertain to water balance in the basin, and the other will discuss how groundwater flows.

In early 2019, OWRD and USGS scientists started presenting the tables, figures, and maps to the Groundwater Study Advisory Committee. The advisory committee, which includes local landowners and other interested organizations, was co-convened by OWRD and the Harney County Court to track and provide input on the study as it progresses toward its publication deadline.

In 2018, an open house was held to inform the public about data that was collected during the study, and a similar open house will be held in December to discuss the analysis. In early 2020, draft reports will be reviewed by experts in the field. The reports will be published in late 2020.

During the second phase of the process, computer models of the groundwater system will be developed. The models will mimic what happened in the past and project how changes will impact the basin in the future.

“We know exponentially more than we did in 2015. There’s always going to be areas [where] more data might need to be collected, but we’re going to have enough information in order to make landscape-style changes in our basin in order to possibly reduce water use,” Harney County Commissioner Mark Owens said.

“We will have a better understanding that everybody can have access to and read,” Iverson replied, adding that a Rules Advisory Committee (RAC) will be established to consider whether existing rules are sufficient or need to be adjusted.

Harney County Judge Pete Runnels asked whether advisory committee members will serve on the RAC. Iverson replied that committee members will be invited to join the RAC, but he thinks others will be asked to join as well.

“We will come and consult with you when it comes time to assemble the Rules Advisory Committee,” Burright said.

Burright also noted that adaptive management will be used in the Harney Basin.

“If we have certain goals, and we’re not meeting those goals, we can come back and revisit that and maybe make adjustments,” she said. “It’s new territory, so how we do that is going to require a lot of conversations and some creative thinking.”

Place-based water planning

According to the OWRD’s website, place-based water planning is “a voluntary, locally initiated and led effort in which a balanced representation of water interests work in partnership with the state to understand and meet their instream and out-of-stream water supply needs.”

Harney County is one of four areas throughout the state where place-based planning is under way. Local planning will begin by addressing groundwater solutions and then transition to surface water.

“I think the plan is to have an integrated plan by 2023,” Burright said. However, she noted that, “Water issues are very complex, and they’re very complex out here, and there’s no shortage of conflict over water in [this] community.”

She said, “It will be an interesting couple of years, but I think the work that we’ve done over the past three years to build relationships and to just look at the information together has really set us up well for the next three years together.”

•••

By the Aug. 5 deadline, the court received letters from 13 people who are interested in serving on the Harney County Natural Resources Advisory Committee (NRAC). The committee will advise the court on the needs and priorities of the county’s natural resources; provide substantial comments for the National Environmental Policy Act process; and work through implementation of the county’s land use plan.

NRAC will consist of a maximum of nine members who must live in Harney County and identify two areas of interest from the following selection:

• agriculture and livestock production;

• timber and wood products production;

• recreation;

• hunting and fishing;

• the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center;

• cultural resources; and

• natural resources stewardship through the continuation of the customs, culture, health, safety, and economic stability of Harney County.

“We got a lot of unique, diverse voices that I appreciate,” Owens said regarding the applicants.

He will categorize the letters by areas of interest, call each of the applicants, and report back to the court.

•••

In other business, the court:

• received a quarterly update from Greg Smith and Denise Rose of Harney County Economic Development;

• was addressed by Herb Vloedman regarding the budget. Vloedman asked the court to add names and comments so it will be easier for the public to track funds.

He also asked for an update regarding the court’s request for an audit.

During its meeting on July 3, the court agreed to send a letter to Oregon Secretary of State Bev Clarno requesting an objective oversight review of the origin and year-to-year expenditures that caused the county to spend approximately $2.3 million more (during a five-year period) than was received in annual revenue.

Runnels met with Clarno’s auditors on Aug. 13;

• accepted Jackie Smith’s resignation from the Harney County Fair Board, effective after the 2019 Harney County Fair, Rodeo, and Race Meet.

Runnels said another board member indicated that she won’t seek reappointment when her term expires as the end of this year.

Thus, the court is looking to fill two positions on the board. Letters of interest will be accepted until Sept. 10, and appointments will be made Sept. 18. The appointee filling Smith’s position will begin in September, and the other appointee will begin in January. Kerry Opie already submitted a letter of interest;

• requested proposals for its 2019-2021 audit.

Owens said the request doesn’t imply that the court isn’t satisfied with its current audit company (Oster Professional Group).

“Good business practice says you should go out for bids every couple years to make sure you’re not overpaying,” he explained.

The court only received one proposal, and it was from Oster Professional Group for $28,181. The court agreed to accept it;

• after consulting with Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward, recommended that the Oregon Liquor Control Commission renew liquor licenses for Alvord Hot Springs LLC, Crane Store & Cafe, Frenchglen Hotel, Frenchglen Mercantile, Hotel Diamond, Oard’s Gallery & Service LLC, Riley Store & Archery, Round Barn Visitor Center, The Fields Station, and The Narrows;

• will have a work session with Malheur National Forest Supervisor Craig Trulock Tuesday, Aug. 20 at 1:30 p.m.;

• regretfully accepted Harney County Assessor/Tax Collector Ted Tiller’s resignation, effective Dec. 1 and discussed the process for replacing him.

“We’ll target having this person on board by Nov. 1,” Runnels said;

• approved an order in the matter of selling county-owned property located at 857 W. Taylor St. in Burns to the highest and best bidder;

• received a letter from Sprecher Group stating that asbestos was found at 1359 S. Court Avenue in Burns. The county is attempting to clean up the property, but it will have to wait for DEQ’s guidance;

• approved an application to name a road, which is located 7.5 miles north of the southern end of Crane-Buchanan Road, Travis Lane;

• discussed Public Notices of Water Use Requests;

• received correspondence from Trulock regarding a training session that was held Aug. 6 concerning bidding on government contracts;

• received correspondence from the Malheur National Forest regarding the establishment of a Herd Management Area Plan for wild horses in the Murderer’s Creek Wild Horse Joint Management Area;

• received correspondence from OWRD Hydrogeologist Jerry Grondin stating that quarterly groundwater level measurements will take place at selected wells this month.

The next county court meeting was rescheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 20, at 10 a.m. in Runnels’ office at the courthouse.