The Malheur River flows 165 miles from its headwaters in the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness, through the sagebrush plains of far eastern Oregon, and into the Snake River.  Populations of bull trout reside in the upper reaches of the main stem and North Fork Malheur, and redband trout can be found throughout most of the watershed.  Fourteen miles of the Malheur River are included in the Wild and Scenic River system.  This section of river is wild and remote and attracts fishermen from around the state. 

ONDA has legally challenged the Forest Service’s grazing plans along the Malheur and North Fork Malheur Wild and Scenic Rivers, arguing that livestock grazing violates important values outline by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and the Malheur National Forest’s own management plan.  The primary goal of ONDA’s legal actions on the Malheur River is to protect critical spawning and rearing habitat for endangered bull trout.  This case is still pending, but in the meantime, ONDA will continue to hold the Forest Service accountable for upholding its responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.