Written by Peter Pearsall/Photos by MNWR
A deferred maintenance project is currently underway in Unit 7 on the northern end of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
This project will rehabilitate numerous dikes that exhibit breaches and significant erosion, with numerous beaver and muskrat holes. The ditches are vegetated, and accumulations of silt threaten the canal and levee infrastructure during periods of high runoff. The project will restore more than 5,000 acres to increase wildlife habitat from Wright’s Pond north of Sodhouse Lane, and west to Highway 205.
“If we have big projects that aren’t currently funded, they go into deferred maintenance,” said Ed Moulton, MNWR Maintenance Supervisor. “The funding eventually comes from a Regional pot of money. The Unit 7 project is piggybacking off efforts to remove Dunn Dam and replace with fish weirs, which is a Ducks Unlimited project.”
The Unit 7 project will create more wildlife habitat closer to Refuge Headquarters. For instance, Wright’s Pond, which has been without water for many years, will likely receive water diversions year-round.
The work began in July 2024 and will hopefully wrap up by February 2025.