The Narrows, Oregon
Copyright © 1996, Don Baccus
Copyright © 1995, Don Baccus
All images copyright © 1995, Don Baccus
The Narrows separates Malheur Lake from Mud and Harney Lakes. In the early 1980s, the lakes rose over 10 feet and joined into one very large body of water, closing the road. A causeway was built, the water continued to rise, and the causeway was raised to its current level. Now that the water has receeded, the roadbed lies perhaps fifteen feet above the surrounding land.
My ex-wife Sandy and I drove across the flooded highway during our first visit to the area, dodging deep holes in the road.
Birds which can be seen from the road include waterfowl, eared, western and occasionally Clarke's grebe, white pelican, American coot, American avocet, killdeer, black-crowned night-heron, great-blue heron, and other common birds of open water and mudflats. Shorebirds make use of the mudflats during migration.
Mammals include black-tailed jackrabbit, pronghorn, muledeer, and coyote.
Insect viewing can be interesting here, due to the vast swarms of aggressive mosquitos which are common in spring.
