Written by Darrick Boschmann, Oregon Water Resources Department Hydrogeologist/Photo by Alan Nyiri
Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) staff have been measuring groundwater levels in the Harney Basin at least as far back as the 1960s, and some USGS data goes back as far as the late 1920s.
The current quarterly well network was expanded significantly back around 2015 in anticipation of the Harney Basin groundwater study, which was completed in cooperation with USGS in 2024. Information on the groundwater study, including a number of publications, can be found at the following web locations:
- https://www.usgs.gov/centers/oregon-water-science-center/science/harney-basin-groundwater-study#overview
- https://www.oregon.gov/owrd/programs/gwwl/gw/harneybasinstudy/pages/default.aspx
These observation well networks evolve and change over time based on changing science needs and priorities. The current OWRD Harney Basin observation well network consists of about 90 wells, and extends from up in Silvies Valley down to Steens Mountain, and from Silver Creek Valley over to Virginia Valley. During the peak of the groundwater study in 2018 the well network included more than 230 wells. There are currently only 3-4 wells in the network that are on refuge property, although during the height of the groundwater study we were monitoring 8-10 refuge wells.
These water level data have informed and supported a number of efforts over the years.
- OWRD/USGS Harney Basin Groundwater Study (links above)
- Community-Based Water Planning
- Harney Basin (Division 512) Rulemaking
The primary goal of the groundwater study was to inform an update of the Division 512 rules, which govern groundwater management in the basin. The updated rules were adopted by the Water Resources Commission in December 2025. Moving forward the water level data we continue to collect in the Harney Basin will inform implementation of the updated Division 512 rules with the goal of stabilizing groundwater level declines across the Basin.
