South Fork John Day Watershed Council

02/14/2026

Tree and shrub orders are due by April 3rd! Order forms can be found at the SWCD office and in post offices around the county. Also, visit the SWCD website and order online: https://www.shermancountyswcd.com/

01/09/2026

Recent investigations have linked Chinese Americans with more than 30 historic ranches in Eastern Oregon, including one south of Dayville in Grant County.

01/09/2026

Congratulations to our board chair, Jeff Maben! Well deserved!

Eastern Oregon 2025 Merit Award - Jeff Maben. Forestry consultant Jeff Maben earned the Merit Award for his work with private landowners in and around Grant County, helping them improve forest health through removal of encroaching juniper and thinning of overcrowded ponderosa pine stands. His work increased water flow in local creeks, rejuvenated aspen groves, and reduced shade on mountain mahogany, an important source of winter browse for elk. It also reduced the risk of catastrophic wildfire. View the video: https://youtu.be/ExoG8EVXNa0

09/29/2025

Quick reminder about our native plant giveaway tomorrow Tuesday, September 30th and Wednesday, October 1st from 10am - 2pm for South Fork John Day landowners. First come, first serve. Any extras will be open to the public Wednesday afternoon. We hope to see you there!

~ South Fork John Day Watershed Council Native Plant Giveaway ~

In partnership with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, we will be giving away a variety of native plants on Tuesday, September 30th and Wednesday, October 1 from 10am - 2pm at our new office at 353 Patterson Bridge Road in John Day. This will be first come first serve to our South Fork Watershed landowners. If there are any additional plants after Wednesday, we will open it up to the larger John Day area. Feel free to call us during the times of the giveaway if you can't make it and would like to reserve any plants.

09/23/2025

~ South Fork John Day Watershed Council Native Plant Giveaway ~

In partnership with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, we will be giving away a variety of native plants on Tuesday, September 30th and Wednesday, October 1 from 10am - 2pm at our new office at 353 Patterson Bridge Road in John Day. This will be first come first serve to our South Fork Watershed landowners. If there are any additional plants after Wednesday, we will open it up to the larger John Day area. Feel free to call us during the times of the giveaway if you can't make it and would like to reserve any plants.

09/16/2025

Remember last fall the helicopter flying up and down the valley with a huge antennae hanging from it?" Here is your chance to learn what it found!

09/03/2025

Congratulations to Jeff Maben for being nominated by our local Oregon Department of Forestry for the Operator of the year for Eastern Oregon! Jeff's work was highlighted during interviews with ODF and featured his work for South Fork John Day Watershed Council project areas, funded through Natural Resources Conservation Service RCPP and Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board

08/28/2025

Thanks to support from the Bella Vista Foundation, we have been able to purchase a new office space!

08/06/2025

Malheur National Forest Reduces Public Use Restrictions

Due to the amount of moisture and moderating temperatures effective Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at 12:01am, the Malheur National Forest will move to a Moderate fire danger level. The north zone (Blue Mountain and Prairie City Ranger Districts) will move to seasonal restrictions and the south zone (Emigrant Creek Ranger District) Will move to Phase A of Public Use Restrictions (PUR). Both zones will remain in an Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) I.

When fire danger is “Moderate” it means that fires can start from most accidental causes, but number of fire starts are usually low. If a fire does start in an open, dry grassland it will burn and spread quickly on windy days. Most wood fires will spread slowly to moderately. Average fire intensity will be moderate, except in heavy concentrations of fuel, which may burn hot.

Under Phase A of Public Use Restrictions, the following acts are prohibited on all National Forest System Lands within the Malheur National Forest, in the state of Oregon:
1. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter and cleared of all flammable material. 36 CFR § 261.52(d).
2. Operating a chainsaw between the hours of 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm. 36 CFR § 261.52(h). Saw operators are required to have a shovel (8” wide, 26” length), and fire extinguisher (minimum ABC 8 oz.) in their possession. A one-hour fire watch is required after saw operations cease.
3. Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order in accordance with U.S. Forest Service Standard 5100-1. 36 CFR § 261.52(j).
4. Possess or use a vehicle off National Forest System roads. 36 CFR § 261.5 Except when parking in an area devoid of vegetation within 10 feet of the roadway

For additional information about Fire Danger, Public Use Restrictions, and Industrial Fire Precaution Levels, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/malheur or call our office at 541-575-3000.

07/26/2025

Division 512 Rules Public Hearings are coming up August 4th and 5th! August 4th will be in Seneca and two meetings on August 5th at the Harney County Community Center. Please reach out if you need help to make your comments! The comment period will close on August 7th!!

07/17/2025

We've been working on a new to us project type.

Woven wire fence became popular in the early 1900s for containing sheep, often referred to as sheep fence.

This fence inhibits migration of big game species like mule deer. Deer have a hard time jumping through this fence, often becoming tangled and dying.

SFJDWC cooperation with Oregon Wildlife Foundation, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Widows Creek Ranch, 2 miles of woven wire fence has been replaced.

04/04/2025

DAYVILLE – (Press Release from the Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife) The annual winter ...Read More