Gilliam County - Information for Partners and Participants

Gilliam County encompasses over 850,000 acres; of which 92% are privately owned. This 92%, or 783,450 acres, is made up of 288,002 acres of dry cropland, 6,571 acres of irrigated cropland, and 488,337 acres of rangeland. The NRCS office, located in Condon, offers voluntary technical and financial assistance to private landowners interested in natural resource conservation improvements. Historically the NRCS office has focused on soil quality for cropland, and more recently has begun working on juniper removal and irrigation efficiency improvements.

NRCS Local Conservation Activities and Strategies

Recent CCPI, 30-Mile, Upper Rock Creek Watershed Juniper Reduction, Lower Willow Creek Weed Management, Rock Creek Irrigation.

Conservation Implementation Strategy

NRCS Programs Available

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP):
  • Funding for Rangeland improvements; emphasizing juniper management and prescribed grazing.
• Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP):
  • Funding for conservation stewardship and additional enhancements.

Additional Conservation Resources Available

• Bureau Land Management
• Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Gilliam East Watershed Council
• Department of Environmental Quality
• Oregon Department of Agriculture
• Bonneville Power Administration
• Gilliam Soil and Water Conservation District
• OSU Extension
• Oregon Water Resources
• Farm Service Agency
• Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board
• The Warm Springs Tribe
• Lower John Day Working Group

Local Work Group Updates

The Gilliam County Local Work Group works with Wheeler County’s Local Work Group to discuss natural resource concerns and mitigation strategies. Major concerns consist of juniper encroachment on rangeland and water quality/quantity issues in streams.

If you are interested in participating, please contact the NRCS District Conservationist listed below.

For meeting information, please click here.

Success Stories

Custom Planning and Integrated Solutions Alan and Susie Anderson are using EQIP to improve native rangeland on their 6,200-acre commercial cattle operation outside of Lonerock in northeast Oregon. “It’s an excellent way to accomplish great things on our land that we alone, for technical and financial reasons, may not be able to do,” says Alan Anderson.”  More... Key Words:  EQIP, prescribed grazing, conservation technical assistance, John Day Basin

Take Half, Leave Half: Alma Campbell's Golden Rule of Conservation Alma Campbell’s blue eyes twinkle as she talks about her ranch, her cows and her commitment to conservation. The 86-year-old rancher is passionate about the preservation of the land and water that was in her family and passed down to her care. Alma rides her chestnut horse daily to check on her 4,000 acres of Eastern Oregon rangeland and 80 brood cows. Alma urges everyone with land to use good conservation practices: “Even if you have just a small amount of property, and a few horses and cows, you need to take care of it because it will benefit you in the long run.”   More (HTML)... Download a printable copy (PDF 1.01MB) Key Words: CCPI, juniper removal, John Day Umatilla Basin

For Additional Assistance Contact

Condon Service Center
333 Main, Dunn Brothers Building
Condon, Oregon 97823-0106
(541) 384-2671

NRCS District Conservationist:  Misty Bennett (541) 384-2671 x114
Gilliam SWCD: (541) 384-2281 x109