Recently, Hart Mountain NAR engaged in a major spraying effort on 51,000 acres aimed at controlling invasive plants, primarily cheatgrass and medusahead. Herbicide choice and dosages were carefully calibrated to target the specific problems of certain areas.
During late August we completed 15 hours of transects and reconnaissance looking for other locations with flowering loosestrife. We also floated the Blitzen River upstream for 15 miles looking for other occurrences. None were found. On 8/28/25 the County came out and sprayed the known plants from an airboat.
Post-fire conditions can pose a serious threat with opportunistic annual grasses invading ahead of the native perennial flora. The increase in introduced, annual grasses shift fuel loads and can make fires occur more often than typical.
Written by Marla Polenz, High Desert Partnership Bird Conservation Oregon has selected Keaira Burns, a college student from Burns, Oregon, as the inaugural recipient of the Bob Sallinger Fellowship Award.
Written by Janelle Wicks, FOMR Director Over the past 4 years Jon and Karen from Prunus have been helping the refuge to manage aging trees near headquarters and other
