It really is possible to have too much of a good thing. With Harney County, that too much is juniper. Since 1936, juniper covered acres in our county have increased over 1 million acres (641%). The additional trees consume the equivalent of over 200K acre feet of water annually. That is more than the entire water storage capacity of Warm Springs Reservoir. Juniper trees take in water all year around and the native forbs and grasses cannot compete with that. They die and annual invasives take their place. This chain reaction causes a reduction in ground and surface water plus an increase in hazardous fire conditions. Oregon HB3142 is an attempt to alleviate water demands and fire risk through selective removal of juniper. Juniper removal may also have a side benefit in helping sage grouse populations (its predators attack from perches above) and creating jobs.
Please contact Oregon House Representative Mark Owens or Oregon Senator Lynn Findley if you would like to support this bill.