Mission

Advocate for the Owyhee through aerial education, and collect photo and video resources with Friends of the Owyhee, Conservation Lands Foundation, County and City officials, and outdoor tourism operators permitted to travel in the Owyhee.

The Owyhee is a rugged, remote region of sagebrush steppe and deep canyons cut by rivers flowing from mountainous headwaters. It extends through southeast Oregon and southwest Idaho into northern Nevada and is defined by its incredible opportunities for solitude, its wild nature, and value to Indigenous peoples and outdoor enthusiasts. The Owyhee Canyonlands are a living cultural landscape and are sacred to the Northern Paiute, Bannock, and Shoshone Tribes’ traditional uses.

We flew over farmlands and communities who enjoy and are supported by the Owyhee. In contrast, we also saw urban sprawl encroaching from Boise and reaching the Owyhee Front in Idaho. The Owyhee area provides critical refuge for birds and species like bighorn sheep, sage grouse, and redband trout.

Our flight continued over the Owyhee River and places popular for camping, fishing, and boating. We flew above calcium carbonate deposits, some untouched and others that have been mined, within cliff bands with unique soils that support rare plants. This geology mecca that includes Shoofly and Mud Flat Oolites boasts trails and opportunities for visitors to view and hike in these strange formations and discover fish and snail fossils.

EcoFlight’s partners are working to support efforts for conservation and management under consideration, including national monument designations, wilderness area designations, mineral withdrawals, non-motorized areas, and more. Our partners are paving the way for more positive conservation efforts, balanced recreational opportunities, and protection of these fragile ecosystems and wildlife habitat.