The collaborative effort with neighboring landowners and multiple agencies to control invasive weeds, such as perennial pepperweed and Canada thistle, in the Diamond Valley watershed was an effort to prevent the introduction or the spread of invasive weeds to tens of thousands of acres of Refuge, private, and public lands.

This was the first project for the Refuge to work with landowners and multiple agencies to address invasive weeds on a landscape scale in Harney County, and the SWCD fulfilled a critical role by establishing the initial relationship and trust with the landowners. The SWCD also played a vital role for the Refuge by providing for the overall project coordination, administration and distribution of grant funds.

Overall, the project was a critical step toward achieving on-the-ground habitat restoration to conserve, restore, and enhance native plant diversity, wildlife habitat, and forage quality. The project also instilled personal responsibility in the landowners and emphasized the priority for controlling invasive weeds using a variety of integrated pest management methods, including chemical and mechanical controls. This successful project began in September of 2003 and was finalized in the summer of 2004.