Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) leads a campaign to protect Oregon’s McDermitt Caldera from industrial mining, working with the Protect McDermitt Caldera Coalition—a grassroots alliance of Tribes, ranchers, and local communities. The caldera provides critical habitat for Lahontan cutthroat trout, sage-grouse, pronghorn, and mule deer, and holds deep cultural significance for Northern Paiute, Shoshone, and Bannock peoples, including the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe.
BLM recently authorized exploration threatening 7,200 acres, including 21+ miles of roads and 168 drill holes, that could pave the way for Oregon’s largest mine. Oregon’s state permitting standards—overseen by the Department of Geology and Mineral Industries—offer opportunities for protection that are unlikely at the federal level.
ONDA’s strategy combines coalition co-leadership, legal and regulatory engagement, and community organizing—including Tribal support, public meetings, and advocacy toolkits. Recent wins include preserving a 30-day public comment period and gathering 3,500+ signatures urging stricter state oversight. The near-term goal is stopping expanded exploration; the long-term goal is defeating the full mining proposal to protect roughly 20,000 acres, preserving habitat, cultural resources, and sustainable local economies.
