Tag: klamath basin wildlife

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Klamath Drainage District Hosts Meetings About Lower Klamath Projects

Handouts on a table at Klamath Drainage District's October 29th, 2024 PL-566 Projects comments meeting held at Klamath Community College.

Big changes for irrigation efficiency and modernization – as well as for habitat restoration – are getting underway in the Klamath Basin. 

With several of those projects happening in the Klamath Drainage District (KDD), the district held two meetings to gather public comments and to inform KDD landowners and neighboring interests about reconnecting the Klamath River to Lower Klamath Lake.

Public Comment Meeting

KDD recently received confirmation from the Farmers Conservation Alliance (FCA) that its Modernization Project Draft Watershed Plan has been approved by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). As part of the process, KDD needed to hold a meeting to educate the public about the projects and gather public comments.

NRCS Watershed Program Manager, Gary Diridoni, presenting to Klamath Drainage District's meeting audience at Klamath Community College.
Gary Diridoni, NRCS Oregon Watershed Program Manager, going over the requirements for PL-566 projects.

The meeting was held on October 29th at Klamath Community College’s Conference Center. KDD Manager, Scott White, kicked off the meeting at 11 am, sharing details about the drainage district and why they sought PL-566 project funding from the NRCS.

“We have a lot of infrastructure things we want to do on the district,” White said. “We are limited in our financial resources, so we look for opportunities that are out there to help us pursue some of those things we want to do and not put as much of a burden on our landowners.”

Farmers Conservation Alliance Watershed Planning Program Manager, Raija Bushnell, presenting to KDD's meeting audience at Klamath Community College.
Raija Bushnell, FCA Watershed Planning Program Manager, discussing part of KDD’s Draft Watershed Plan.our landowners.”

Following White’s opening comments, Gary Diridoni, NRCS Watershed Program Manager. Diridoni covered PL-566 requirements, emphasizing that all PL-566 projects must have benefits for agriculture and rural communities. 

Before wrapping up the presentations, Raija Bushnell, FCA’s Watershed Planning Program Manager spoke about the planning process and dove into details about the projects, how they came about, and the benefits these projects provide. The projects she covered include:

    • North Canal Extension across State Line to the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge (which includes upgrades/enlargement)
    • North Canal Fish Screen at the Klamath River
    • Straits Drain Pumping Plants E&F Upgrades and transfer of works to KDD
    • Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system throughout the district for improved automation and data acquisition

Overall cost of the projects is $16,878,000 with PL-566 funds covering 75% of the total. Construction for all of the projects is expected to take three years.

After the presentations, attendees talked to representatives from the NRCS, FCA, and KDD’s Manager.

KDD board member, Luther Horsley, thanking Greg Baker of the NRCS for taking time to visit the Klamath Basin and attend the meeting.
KDD landowner, Lynn Long, discussing the projects covered in the meeting with Raija Bushnell, FCA.
KDD Manager, Scott White, talking about KDD’s Infrastructure Modernization Project with meeting attendee.

The public comment period opened on October 11th, and comments will be accepted until November 15th. To learn more about submitting a comment about the Klamath Drainage District’s Infrastructure Modernization Project, visit https://klamathdrainagedistrict.org/2024/10/08/public-comments-sought-for-klamath-drainage-district-infrastructure-modernization-project/.

For those interested in viewing this meeting, FCA has it available at https://fcasolutions.app.box.com/s/24qbnkxvdqon8ph2lg19od44wz8cb9ck. 

Lower Klamath Landowner/Stakeholder Meeting

The following week, on November 4th, KDD held another meeting in Dorris, CA, at the Butte Valley Community Center. Doors opened at 11 am, with guests being greeted with the aroma of lunch catered by Melissa’s Country Kitchen.

Scott White, KDD Manager, presenting to audience in Dorris, CA.
Scott White, KDD Manager, discussing the Klamath Reconnection project with meeting guests at the Butte Valley Community Center in Dorris, CA.

The purpose of this meeting was to discuss reconnecting Lower Klamath Lake and the wildlife refuge to the Klamath River via the Ady Canal. 

Though the Klamath Reconnection project has wide support from a variety of partners and stakeholders, KDD Manager, Scott White, wanted to ensure landowners and stakeholders neighboring the district were informed about reconnection details and that a key component of the project is to identify and secure sustainability for growers in the region.

Along with White, representatives from the Modoc Nation and the Klamath Basin Refuges were in attendance to answer questions about the Klamath Reconnection, its benefits, and potential challenges.

White opened the meeting with a brief history of the Klamath Drainage District and a discussion about KDD and its relationship with the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. He recalled an older grower once telling him, “We need that refuge just as badly as that refuge needs us.”

The district manager went on to explain that when LKNWR goes dry, it causes a variety of problems for the district ranging from birds needing fields for habitat to water security. White also emphasized that the only way the reconnection project could move forward is that growers and landowners receive protection from the Endangered Species Act with salmon and sucker fish potentially swimming in the district’s canals.

The project has received $2 million for feasibility analysis of the concept. To date, there has been update LiDAR and sonar done in the region and the alternatives planning phase is currently underway. 

Following White, Ken Sandusky, Homelands Project Manager for the Modoc Nation, discussed the microclimatic implications of the reconnection project as well as how it would benefit the ecosystem on the whole.

Ken Sandusky, Modoc Nation Homelands Project Manager, presenting to audience in Dorris, CA for KDD's Klamath Reconnection landowner meeting.
Ken Sandusky, Modoc Nation Homelands Project Manager, sharing projects being worked on by his crew.

The Modoc Nation has a 3,200 acre ranch bordering the southern end of LKNWR. According to Sandusky, the Modoc Homelands are the hardest hit when the refuge goes dry. While there’s a lot of focus on habitat on the Upper Basin, Sandusky sees the Modoc Homelands not receiving as much attention.

“You can’t sacrifice a huge landscape within the system and expect other restoration efforts to be successful,” said Sandusky. “Everything is interconnected.”

Sandusky also pointed out the microclimate benefits of getting water back on the Lower Klamath landscape. While the wetlands would suffer evaporation during the summer months, 60% of that water goes back into the local system. He also talked about the need for more management of public lands, with juniper removal being another way to free up water to a historically wet area.

Acting Klamath Basin Refuge Complex manager, Ken Griggs, spoke after Sandusky. Griggs opened his discussion by commenting that 50,000 acres of refuge habitat are “offline” with the exception of only a few units. 

Ken Griggs, Acting Klamath Basin Refuge Complex Manager, presenting to guests at the KDD Klamath Reconnection Meeting held in Dorris, CA.
Ken Griggs, Acting Klamath Basin Refuge Complex Manager, told attendees how the Klamath Reconnection project will impact Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge.

“In our current state of affairs, we are not meeting our purpose or mission as America’s first waterfowl refuge,” stated the manager.

Griggs says now, the refuge is working with anyone they can to get water back on the landscape, reversing the management of previous refuge managers. They’re also looking at a more holistic approach to benefit the ecosystem and the greater good, versus the previous philosophy of single-species focused.

The last presentation was from John Vradenbug, supervisory biologist for the Klamath Basin Refuge Complex.

Vradenburg said the wetlands are telling us something has changed dramatically. Birds that once stopped in the Klamath Basin are now passing the region by, and the Klamath Reconnection project will get the landscape inline with how it’s been historically. 

Though Vradenburg is optimistic about the benefits of the project, he discussed some of the unintended consequences, such as its effects on infrastructure, the need to ensure the water budget isn’t compromised, and asserted that KDD growers are protected. 

John Vradenbug, Supervisory Biologist for the Klamath Basin Refuge Complex, talking with KDD landowner, Sam Henzel, at KDD's Klamath Reconnection landowner meeting in Dorris, CA.
John Vradenbug, Supervisory Biologist for the Klamath Basin Refuge Complex, talking with KDD landowner, Sam Henzel, about the Klamath Reconnection project.

“We tried to be really thoughtful in making sure we didn’t compromise the water budget – because that’s a stress. We wanted to make sure that we were always meeting this larger flow-through desire of nutrients and filtration,” said Vradenburg. “And we always wanted to keep with what Scott’s been hammering on – we cannot do any of this without protections on KDD because we are inviting endangered species onto our landscape.”

When Vradenburg’s discussion about the intricacies and effects of the Klamath Reconnection project finished, the panel took questions from the audience. Conversations following the presentation and Q&A were positive.

Attendees at Klamath Drainage District's Klamath Reconnection landowner meeting discussing projects.
After the presentations, meeting attendees took advantage of being able to ask questions and have discussions about LKNWR and the Klamath Reconnection project.

The project has garnered support from Oregon and California as well as federal agencies, conservation groups such as Ducks Unlimited, California Waterfowl Association, and Trout Unlimited; agricultural groups such as Family Water Alliance and Klamath Water Users Association; the Klamath Watershed Partnership, and Klamath Basin Tribes.

Other projects in the Klamath Project and around the Klamath Basin 

Though these two meetings were about projects happening in KDD, there are several other habitat restoration projects happening in the Klamath Basin and on the Klamath Reclamation Project:

Agency-Barnes Wetlands Project – In a collaboration between the Klamath Tribes, Ducks Unlimited, and the United States Fish & Wildlife Service, over 14,000 acres of wetland for waterfowl and C’waam and Koptu habitat.

Sprague River Collaborative Restoration Project – Running through 2025, this Upper Basin Collaborative project’s goals are to restore 26 miles of tributary streams and rivers in the Upper Sprague River watershed; develop plans for instream and floodplain restoration on the mainstem Sprague River to improve the shallow groundwater table, enhance water quality and habitat for future watershed restoration; and lastly, create and implement an Agricultural Resiliency Toolbox (ART) that directly benefits participating landowners to emphasize a commitment to voluntary, incentive-based approaches to advance agricultural and environmental resiliency.

Tule Lake Flow Through Infrastructure Improvement – The flow-through project is aimed at increasing water availability for Klamath ag and also cleaning water before it goes to the Klamath River by pushing it through wetlands.

Lake Ewauna Restoration for the Benefit of People, Fish and Wildlife – On the shoreline of Lake Ewauna in downtown Klamath Falls, this project will restore and develop the wetlands in the area along with instream improvements to the Link River to benefit native fish populations as well as waterfowl.

Upper Williamson River Restoration – This is the second phase of a project to improve fish passage to over 26 miles of the upper Williamson River and reconnect wetlands and riparian areas in the Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge.

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Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge Needs More Water Despite Improved Conditions

Ruddy Ducks in Unit 2 of the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge.
Waterfowl taking advantage of water in Unit 2 of the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge along Stateline Road.
Though Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge still has some water, the hot, dry summer is quickly drying it out.

Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge looks different this summer than it has for the last several years.

Thanks to the efforts from the Klamath Drainage District (KDD) and Tulelake Irrigation District (TID), reeds and tules are growing throughout the refuge. And with the greenery, wildlife and waterfowl have returned to the wetlands. 

 

 

But for how long remains in question.

On July 12th, 2024, the Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA) sent a letter to the Commissioner of the US Bureau of Reclamation, Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton, urging Reclamation to not cut off water to Klamath Basin refuges and farmers late in the season.

Klamath Basin family farmers and ranchers are depending on late season irrigation to finish growing row crops and to get another cutting of hay to sustain their herds through the winter and to sell to other farms throughout the region.

The birds, on the other hand, need water in the refuges to stave off an epidemic of botulism. 

Several varieties of ducks swimming in Unit 2 of the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, along Stateline Road.
Ducks swimming in Unit 2 of the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge.

As migration along the Pacific Flyway is already underway for some bird species, birdwatchers, hunters, and waterfowl enthusiasts (including Klamath ag) hope to see Klamath Basin refuges start to return to their former glory.

Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, Unit 3, teeming with pelicans, egrets, and ducks.
With the return of water to Unit 3 of the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, so have a variety of birds. Pictured here are pelicans, egrets, and ducks.

However, as this hot, dry summer continues to drag on, the fear is that the diminishing wetlands will become a breeding ground for disease instead of waterfowl. In 2020, Lower Klamath saw 40,000 birds killed by avian botulism, and while steps have been taken to prevent another massive infection that will impact waterfowl and other Klamath Basin wildlife, at this time there’s still more work to be done.

With the 2020 avian botulism outbreak, Unit 3 of LKNWR was hit especially hard. Refuge managers were left with two options – flush it with cool water to stop the bacteria from multiplying or drain it. The unit was drained, and a field hospital operated by Bird Ally X was set up to treat the birds pulled from the drying, fetid water.

While the much celebrated flow from TID to Unit 3 via D Plant is starting to recede, there’s still a lot of water and waterfowl out on Lower Klamath. In this unit of LKNWR, massive pelicans to the much smaller and more delicate avocet, the wetland is finally looking like the “Gem of the Pacific Flyway” again.  In Unit 2, the wetland fed by KDD’s flows, egrets and herons stand guard in the tall reeds while ducks, herons, coots, and grebes swim and feed in the water.

A lot has been gained this year on behalf of the Lower Klamath refuge. However, there’s also that much more at risk if the refuge is allowed to go dry again.

A family of ruddy ducks swimming in Unit 2 of the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge.
With waters in the Lower Klamath refuge receding, the risk of avian botulism puts migrating birds and waterfowl broods at risk.

In a recent press release from Ducks Unlimited, they’re reporting a 25% decline in duck breeding numbers in the Pacific Flyway. Add a drying refuge to the equation, this could be devastating to West Coast duck populations.

KDD, its patrons, and its partners have been working to find ways to improve conditions on the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge and to keep those wetlands wet. Many of the conversations during the Lower Klamath Renaissance Tour focused on how a variety of stakeholders can work together on restoration efforts and securing water for the refuge.

However, while the projects that KDD and its partners talked about are going through the process of becoming a reality, Lower Klamath still needs water to ensure there’s not another avian botulism outbreak on the scale of 2020. There are already reports of botulism coming from Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

At this time, KDD’s board is working with the Bureau of Reclamation and the US Fish & Wildlife Service to find a way to get much needed water to Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge.

There are also a few things the public can do to help LKNWR.

KDD has a page about how the public can support the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. Writing to leaders expressing concern for the refuge and waterfowl populations can help them understand the importance of Lower Klamath to the region and the Klamath Basin ecosystem. This understanding can lead to influencing Reclamation to providing much needed water to LKNWR.

We also recommend visiting KDD lands and LKNWR. The district and the refuge have an abundance of waterfowl and wildlife that make this an extraordinary place in the Klamath Basin. Then share those experiences either in-person or on social media to help others understand the importance of Lower Klamath to the Pacific Flyway and the Klamath River ecosystem.

Finally, if you, the public, have ideas on how we can get more water to Lower Klamath, we’d love to hear from you. Drop us a line and let us know your thoughts.

Klamath ag, and especially KDD patrons, have a distinct connection with the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. With community support, we hope the Bureau of Reclamation will provide the water the refuge needs to make it through fall migration and beyond.

Unit 3 of the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge at sunset.
Unit 3, Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge
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Lower Klamath Renaissance Tour Focuses On Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge and Collaboration

Amelia Raquel, Regional Biologist for Ducks Unlimited, introducing DU's Lower Klamath projects and members from the US Fish & Wildlife Service.

(Note: This article was written by the Klamath Drainage District’s PR administrator on behalf of the Lower Klamath Renaissance Tour. This article also appears on Basin Ag News and on the Klamath Water Users Association’s website.)

News of the 2024 Winter Wings Festival cancellation spread through the Klamath Basin like the wind over the barren lakebed of the Lower Klamath National National Wildlife Refuge. 

Image of Sandhill crane in water created by Mary Williams Hyde.

 

Known as  in the Klamath Basin winter for decades. The workshops brought birders and tourists to our community, while the chance to see a variety of raptors and birds migrating on the Pacific Flyway drew in photographers from all over the world. In recent years, Winter Wings also gave Klamath ag a chance to share how farms provide much needed habitat for area wildlife and the Pacific Flyway, especially with the historic dewatering of two national wildlife refuges.

 

the nation’s oldest birding festival, Winter Wings provided a bright spot

When word passed through the birdwatching, conservation, and agricultural circles the Winter Wings Festival was canceled, phones started ringing. A conversation regarding the impacts of canceling the Winter Wings Festival between Klamath Drainage District manager, Scott White, and Board Chair of the South Suburban Sanitary District (SSSD), Joe Spendolini, ended the call with the two agreeing for the organizations to arrange a tour similar to one White had organized for the festival in previous years.

In a matter of weeks, White pulled together a team that included the Modoc Nation, South Suburban Sanitary District, Ducks Unlimited, Friends of Klamath Basin Birding, the Klamath Basin Audubon Society, and the Klamath Water Users Association to create what would become the Lower Klamath Renaissance Tour.

The Lower Klamath Renaissance Tour team’s goal was to highlight the importance of the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge (LKNWR) to the Basin and the collaboration needed to create water security for the nation’s first waterfowl refuge. Invitations were sent to guests at federal agencies, conservation organizations, local leaders, and Klamath Basin Tribes. On March 7th, the week’s expeditiously organized tour left the Running Y Resort to see and discuss what could happen.

Lakeside Farms' Dr. Karl Wenner discussing the importance of the Tule Smoke Club and Lower Klamath Wetlands.
Dr. Karl Wenner, owner of Lakeside Farms, discussing the importance of the Tule Smoke Hunting Club and Lower Klamath region to the first people of the Klamath Basin and the ecosystem.

From the Klamath Drainage District’s F/FF pumping station through the district, down to where the Ady Canal meets Stateline and on to Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, the tour centered on projects and plans that KDD, Ducks Unlimited, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Modoc Nation were working on to help improve conditions on the refuge and increase its access to water.

The discussions about the history of Lower Klamath Lake, the people who lived there from time immemorial, the formation of the Klamath Irrigation Project, the creation of KDD and LKNWR, and the projects provided context for the conversations that would take place throughout the day.

A lot of those conversations, both between individuals and in the larger groups, focused on collaboration. There was a quiet acknowledgement that everyone was tied together, and regardless if the guests were there on behalf of farmers, fish, waterfowl, or clean water, no one would be able to succeed in their goal without the other partners succeeding in theirs. 

Ken Sundusky, Chief Robert Burkeybile, Council Member Braxton Graham, and Homelands Manager Brian Herbert of the Modoc Nation.
Ken Sandusky, Resource and Development Director, talked about the Shapa’sh Landscape Restoration Project with Modoc Nation Chief Robert Burkeybile, Council Member Braxton Graham , and Homelands Manager Brian Herbert.

“Today provided lines of communication to open up once again. It was a safe space for interested parties to speak, share ideas and share our struggles,” wrote Normajean Cummings, enrolled member of the Klamath Tribes. “It was also an opportunity to see some changes Agriculture is doing to make a difference. Learning more about the difference wetlands can make is eye awakening.”

Ms. Cummings added, “I’m afraid that drought is the new normal, and I think all our communities need to be able to come together to collaborate and find new practices. We have seen what hasn’t worked in the past, but there are some new models out there that bring me hope. I hope to remain involved in seeking solutions and community building. I also hope for more opportunities like today where we can all gather, talk, offer thoughts and ideas and find a path forward that will benefit us all. Opportunities to learn from one another.” 

Karuk Tribe Council Member Troy Hockaday’s takeaway of the discussions, “Today was amazing to hear from the farmers and the government and the fisheries people about the problems in the basin. I came out of the day that we all have the same mindset to make the Basin better for everybody and a quality of water for the fish and habitat, I hope some of discussions that we talked about will help with further future programs and projects in the basin, to help water control for the Klamath river base.”

Lower Klamath Renaissance Tour group at the Ady Canal.
At the Ady Canal, the Lower Klamath Renaissance Tour guests listened to representatives Greg Austin and John Vradenburg discuss getting more water to LKNWR.

“Five to six years ago, we couldn’t get a meeting with anyone from the Tribes, and today we had folks from the Modoc Nation, Karuk, and the Klamath Tribes come to this meeting,” said Bill Walker, board president of the Klamath Drainage District. “I feel strongly that we can fix the problems we’re all facing because we’re all working together. I can’t thank everyone enough for coming and getting the doors open. We need to get together again and keep this momentum moving.” 

The day was successful from the point of view of bringing together partners from a variety of backgrounds, interests, and needs, and to get them talking. However, the Lower Klamath Renaissance Tour serves as a starting point for bringing water security to the Lower Klamath refuge and other initiatives for the Klamath Basin. Whether it’s KDD’s Replumbing the Klamath plan, SSSD’s wastewater treatment facility to provide water to the refuge, Ducks Unlimited’s highline canal and pumping station for LKNWR, or the Modoc Nation and Modoc National Forest’s Shapa’sh Landscape Restoration Project, more hard conversations and collaboration will be needed.

And hopefully, the spirit of collaboration we saw on March 7th will continue to push the momentum forward on these projects and more for the future of all creatures that are dependent on the Klamath watershed.

KDD Manager, Scott White, discussing the district’s plans for adding solar panels during lunch at Liskey Farms.
The Lower Klamath Renaissance Tour stopped at KDD’s F/FF Pumping Station along Hwy 97 to talk about the importance of this station to get water to LKNWR .
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Why Doesn’t Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge Have Water?

Geese flying into wetland in Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Darcy Hill.

Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024.

The morning was clear and crisp. Hoarfrost coated barbed wire and plant-life alike in the Klamath Drainage District. The sun snuck through the clouds, heating the ground just enough to create low-lying fog in areas.

Along Stateline Road, in the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, geese and ducks honked and chattered as they picked their way through the rushes and grass from last season. An occasional heron would make his presence known with a disgruntled clucking and squawk to let anyone around they were too close and were disrupting his peace as its giant wings would spread and he’d glide to somewhere further from the road in the refuge.

Chipping sparrow perched on a reed on Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Darcy Hill
A chipping sparrow perched at the edge of the water on Lower Klamath.

While the majority of the Lower Klamath refuge is dry, this unit has water and if one focused only on this small piece of sanctuary, that person could almost imagine what the Gem of the Pacific Flyway was once like.

Across Stateline, neighboring canals and drains have water and fields flooded for winter provide more habitat for the birds migrating south. Hawks, eagles, and falcons are also hunting these grounds, making a drive down Township Road a birdwatcher’s heaven. The wildlife that frequents KDD are a point of pride for the landowners in the district.

This disparity between KDD and Lower Klamath is being called out on social media, most notably in a Facebook post celebrating Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge’s anniversary of being designated a National Historic Landmark. Bird hunters are wondering if KDD has water in the canals and fields, why is Lower Klamath refuge not getting any water?

The short answer is the Bureau of Reclamation isn’t authorizing Klamath Drainage District to divert water to Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge.

The reality is more nuanced than that.

For over 20 years, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) has prioritized the fish in the Klamath River and Upper Klamath Lake over agriculture and the Klamath Basin refuge system. Considered “single-species management” by many affected by this water management style, the refuges are the last priority when it comes to water diversions in the Klamath Basin. 

As a result, Reclamation’s water management of the Klamath Project has not only hurt Klamath Basin family farmers and ranchers, another unintended consequence has been the devastation wreaked on Tule Lake and Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuges. Two years ago, the refuges were given an allocation of zero water. The result was the historic drying of Tule Lake and Lower Klamath refuges.

Birds, mammals, and even fish that depended on the refuges bore the brunt of that zero water allocation. Since then, KDD has worked with the US Fish and Wildlife Service as well as other stakeholders like the California Waterfowl Association and Ducks Unlimited to bring water back to Lower Klamath.

This brings us to what we’re seeing with the Lower Klamath wildlife refuge today.

In a letter dated December 15th, 2022, Scott White, Manger of KDD, and Greg Austin, Manager of Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge, were told by the Bureau of Reclamation to suspend water diversions due to hydrological conditions: 

Letter to Scott White (KDD) and Greg Austin (Klamath Basin Nat'l Wildlife Refuge) from the Bureau of Reclamation denying water diversions to Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge.

“Effective December 16, 2023, Reclamation is directing the suspension of diversion from Upper Klamath Lake (UKL) and Lake Ewauna/Keno Impoundment. This suspension of authorization to divert is necessary to ensure that Reclamation can meet requirements of the 2019 National Marine Fisheries Service and 2023 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biological opinions to reach a minimum UKL elevation of 4,142.0 feet (BOR datum) by April 1 to protect spawning ESA-listed suckers and to mitigate disease risks for threatened coho salmon.

“Continued diversion of water by Project contractors from UKL or the Lake Ewauna/Keno Impoundment would further reduce Klamath River flows and increase risk to ESA-listed species. Accordingly, Reclamation has determined that no water is available for diversion from UKL or the Lake Ewauna/Keno Impoundment until hydrologic conditions improve. You are directed to immediately cease diversion until you either receive additional written notice from Reclamation that irrigation diversions can resume or until April 1, whichever is sooner. This determination does not affect water previously diverted under existing water rights, and water remaining within the irrigation system.”

As you can see, despite the stakeholders and KDD’s best efforts to provide water to Lower Klamath, Reclamation isn’t allowing it.

One can imagine how Lower Klamath looked when it was nicknamed ‘Gem of the Pacific Flyway’
Canada geese coming in for a landing.
A peaceful morning on Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge.

What You Can Do to Help Get Water to Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge

As frustrating as this is, we don’t have to idly sit by and allow this devastation to continue.

The first step is to learn what is happening in the Klamath Basin refuges. You can do that by following KDD, California Waterfowl, and Ducks Unlimited on Facebook, Instagram, and X. You can also visit our websites to see what we’re working on to improve conditions on Lower Klamath, such as the KDD Restoration Plan – Replumbing the Klamath.

KDD’s Manager, Scott White, is also a great resource to get in touch with to learn more about what’s happening on Lower Klamath and what the district is doing to help.

Next, share what you’ve learned. This can be as simple as sharing posts from KDD and the stakeholders we work with, or taking it a step further and engaging fellow birdwatchers, hunters, and anyone else who cares about Klamath Basin wildlife and ecology. Tell them about your experience in the Klamath Basin refuges. Share with them the plans in place to help rehydrate these valuable wetlands. Write letters to the editor for your local newspaper and to publications with a greater reach outside of your area.

Lastly, get in touch with your public officials. Let your member of congress, senator, state representatives, and the Bureau of Reclamation know how you feel about what is happening to Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. These people need to hear from the public and to know that we the people are unhappy with what is happening to our refuges.

If you need information, KDD is happy to help. Get in touch with us and we can share with you our restoration plan for Lower Klamath as well as any data or anything else you need.

The droughting of Lower Klamath and Tule Lake refuges is another one of the troubling aspects of how the Bureau of Reclamation is managing the Klamath Project. Unfortunately, due to ESA demands, it appears Klamath Basin refuges will continue to bear the brunt of this style of management that harms farms, waterfowl, and other wildlife while we wait to see how it affects the fish these mandates aim to protect. However, we can use our voices to bring an end to this man-made disaster and start restoring Lower Klamath to its former glory.

Canada geese silhouetted against clouds over Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Darcy Hill
Geese silhouetted against the clouds illustrate how beautiful Lower Klamath is – especially when it has water.
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The Impact of KDD to the Pacific Flyway for 2022 Fall Migration

Ducks taking flight in canal in the Klamath Drainage District

Fall migration is upon us! Visiting the Klamath Drainage District, you’ll see the tell-tale “V”s of birds migrating along the Pacific Flyway and hear the calls of geese as they light in the district’s fields to rest on their long trip south. Depending on the time of day, flocks come in wave-after-wave, providing a visual feast for bird watchers and hunters alike.

With that in mind, it seems like a good time to take a look at the 2022 migratory bird numbers for KDD. 

At the end of May, the numbers from the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 2022 bird survey of the Klamath Basin were released. 

Klamath Drainage District landowners are proud that their fields and pastures provide important habitat for birds migrating on the Pacific Flyway. Between the droughts that have hit the Klamath Basin for the last several years, mismanagement of the Klamath Project, and then the historic shut-down of the Project and subsequent historic drying-up of Tule Lake and Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuges by the Bureau of Reclamation, KDD patrons have seen their lands as a safe haven for migratory birds looking for a pitstop on along the Pacific Flyway.

Snow geese in flight in Klamath Drainage District
A total of 8,404 were attributed to Lower Klamath Lake, almost of which were on KDD lands.

Though anecdotal evidence supports our belief that KDD plays a vital role for Klamath Basin wildlife and migratory birds. Thanks to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), we are able to share actual numbers of what we’re seeing in the field, and whether or not our claims of KDD’s importance to the Pacific Flyway are supported. 

With the numbers provided by USFWS, we’re able to look at a snapshot that shows just how vital KDD is to birds. Looking at November 3rd, the peak of migration through the Klamath Basin, the Klamath Drainage District had over 180,000 birds on its lands. That’s significant because at that time Lower Klamath and Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuges had no water in them, meaning that the number of birds counted for Tule Lake and Lower Klamath were counted in KDD. And while we’re proud that KDD could help with facilitating the waterfowl migration, if you look at past migration numbers, there’s still quite a bit of work to be done in the Klamath Basin in regards to the Pacific Flyway. 

2022 Klamath Basin Pacific Flyway Waterfowl Migration Numbers
The Pacific Flyway waterfowl migration numbers for the Klamath Basin on November 3, 2022

Pouring through the bird count numbers on November 3, 2022, a few interesting facts pop up:

    • Sandhill cranes – 1,948 were counted. Last fall we saw large flocks of these giant birds in the fields, casually counting hundreds of them at a time. 
    •  170,032 ducks were found in KDD. In comparison, that day 93,540 were counted on Upper Klamath Lake. 
    • Looking at geese, a total of 8,404 were attributed to Lower Klamath. If we compare that to Upper Klamath again, 1,798 were counted there.
    • Of the 170,032 ducks counted in KDD, which breed was represented the most? The Northern Pintail, with 137,262 birds counted. Next was our favorite green-headed friend the Mallard, with 8,852 counted.

Evaluating the overall numbers shared by the USFWS and the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex, the number of migratory birds passing through the Klamath Basin seems incredible. However, this represents only 5% of what the Klamath Basin could support. The region is hugely important for the Pacific Flyway, and when actions by the Federal government leave Klamath Basin refuges dry, agricultural lands such as KDD become increasingly vital. Now imagine if our refuges hadn’t been allowed to go completely dry by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Klamath Project had been operated as designed.

Sandhill Cranes in Klamath Drainage District
1,948 Sandhill cranes were counted in Klamath Drainage District fields.

KDD landowners should be proud of the work they and the board do on behalf of Klamath Basin wildlife and the Pacific Flyway. The numbers show how important agricultural lands are to the ducks and geese migrating through the Klamath Basin, especially during these times. Add the partnerships and conservation projects the district is working on, such as KDD’s restoration plan, there’s a lot of remarkable things happening in the Klamath Drainage District.

Before wrapping this up, we’d like to extend a big thank you to John Vrandenburg for taking the time to share this information and walking us through the data. Thank you very much, John!

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Press Release: Federal Judge Rules Against KDD Klamath River Diversions

Klamath Drainage District headgate being used to send water to Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge

KDD Letterhead

September 14, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Scott White, General Manager                Reagan Desmond, General Counsel
scott@klamathdrainagedistrict.org       rlbd@clydesnow.com
(541) 510-6311                                                  (541) 797-0011

FEDERAL JUDGE RULES AGAINST DISTRICT’S RIGHT TO DIVERT WATER

District concerned of species restoration implications and prepares for appeal

Klamath Falls, OR – On September 11th, a federal judge in Medford’s United States District Court ruled against the Klamath Drainage District (KDD), and entered an injunction against KDD, stating that KDD can no longer divert water from the Klamath River that has not been authorized by the United States, citing the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as its primary basis. On the same day, the same judge issued Findings and Recommendations in two other lawsuits brought by Klamath Tribes against Reclamation for ESA violations under 2021 and 2022 Klamath Project operations plans. In one case, the court found Reclamation violated the ESA in 2022 by providing farmers even a diminished supply when not all species goals could be met; in the other case, the court found Reclamation had not erred by prioritizing the needs of threatened salmon in Klamath River over endangered C’waam and Koptu in Upper Klamath Lake.

Last year, the United States brought the breach of contract case against KDD, alleging that KDD breached its Reclamation Act contract with the United States by irrigating in 2022 after the United States had informed KDD there was no Project supply available for the district. Notably, the United States provided no evidence of harm to any species as a result of KDD’s diversions in 2022. KDD irrigated under its separate state water right permit in 2022, as it has done since 1977 when it was issued. The ruling issued a permanent injunction that requires the United States’ “authorization” to divert water from the Klamath River, including for any diversions under the district’s separate state permit through the district’s private facilities.

“To say we’re disappointed is an understatement. I’m in disbelief,” said Bill Walker, President of the district. “We are still evaluating the effects of this ruling, but on the surface, it appears to reach far beyond where any court has ever gone.”

The District Board met on the 12th to discuss its options and voted unanimously to appeal the decision. The District Board believes there are several appealable errors in the decision, including what appears to be an unprecedented interpretation of the Reclamation Act and court endorsement of federal control over private state water rights. “Frankly,” as Walker stated with respect to appealing the decision, “we have no choice, our livelihoods and our families are at stake.”

KDD owns and operates its own infrastructure and also pays over double the percentage of any other district of Reclamation Project Operation and Maintenance costs, regardless of whether or not Reclamation supplies water. KDD is still in the process of evaluating the costs and impacts of this ruling on the operations and rights of both the district and its landowners. However, it is immediately apparent that it will lead to a significant loss in revenue to its landowners if not overturned on appeal, particularly in light of the court’s separate ruling in the Klamath Tribes case which will almost certainly lead to a reduced amount of Project Supply for farmers under project irrigation contracts going forward.

The district is also assessing how this ruling could play a role in large-scale restoration planning. On the eve of the largest dam removal project in history, the district has been working with agencies, tribes and interested stakeholders to utilize existing district infrastructure for a massive restoration project.  The district is concerned there are negative impacts to that effort as a result of this ruling.

“How can we afford to operate and maintain the facilities we are offering up for restoration when our landowners may not be able to pay their assessments,” questioned Scott White, General Manager of the district. “The financial impacts of this decision are so much larger than just harvesting a crop or not. We’re talking about the recovery of species here, and this ruling appears to have the opposite effect of what the court cited as their reason for the decision.”

For the last decade, Tracey Liskey, a lifelong landowner in KDD, a board member of the district, and the President of the Klamath Water Users Association, has committed his time, money, and energy to helping build a facility that grows endangered sucker specifically targeted at recovering the fish. “The United States and their courts are taking the tools right out of the hands wanting to do the hard work it takes for recovery,” Liskey lamented in frustration. “All we want is for these fish to recover and thrive so we can go back to what we love and here we have another ruling that hamstrings our ability to utilize our resources in that effort.”

Liskey was not alone in his concern about the species. “All the restoration experts we work with are focused on ecosystem recovery as the major ingredient to species recovery,” noted Walker. “It is our duty and responsibility to seek a favorable ruling that will not limit anyone’s ability to help in the recovery of our environment. We owe it to the water users, and we owe it to the species to appeal this ruling.”

KDD has a long history in aiding species recovery. In 1978, Bald Eagles were listed as endangered, and the district’s lands became key to the birds’ recovery. In 1983, KDD’s lands were classified as the “Oregon Feeding Grounds” for our nation’s bird due to the district’s historical practice of winter diversions making it prime hunting habitat for the raptors and critical to the bird’s survival. The spirit of recovering species and providing wildlife habitat has been a mainstay for KDD ever since.

More recently, when the Bureau of Reclamation denies water to Tule Lake and Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuges, KDD’s fields provide the much-needed winter habitat for the migrating waterfowl of the Pacific Flyway including Bald Eagles. Last year, KDD’s lands were the only habitat in the Upper Klamath Basin where migrating water birds could find refuge due to the wildlife refuges being dry.

The district plans to begin communicating with its restoration partners immediately to discuss what this means for the projects and to identify if there are some opportunities remaining.

Klamath Drainage District (KDD) is a 27,000-acre district located in southern Oregon bordering the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge in California. KDD proactively works to improve distribution and delivery of its scarce water resources including recycling over 35,000 acre-feet annually through its recently installed recirculation pumping plants. Of this recycled water, most is reused to grow crops, but a percentage is used for growers outside of the district and used for habitat improvement and other refuge purposes. KDD is home to one of the largest concentrations of bald eagles in the lower 48 states and prides itself on its restoration activities and the tremendous wildlife viewing opportunities it provides.

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Download PDF version of FEDERAL JUDGE RULES AGAINST DISTRICT’S RIGHT TO DIVERT WATER

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2023 Grasshopper Infestation Hits Lower Klamath

Clearwing grasshopper near Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge clinging to car window

Grasshopper Infestation Attacks Lower Klamath Wildlife Refuge, KDD and Klamath Project

Driving the thin line of pavement that divides Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge and the fields and farms that make up the Klamath Drainage District is getting messier. 

Instead of enjoying the the birds and other wildlife that live in the area or marveling at the variety of crops and the people working in the fields in KDD, the ping-ping-pinging of grasshoppers splattering across windshields and sticking to the hoods and grills of cars and pickups are requiring drivers to pay more attention to the road. In their rearview mirrors the desiccated carcasses of the grasshoppers dance in the breeze like the leaves from trees in the fall. 

Clearwing grasshopper near Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge clinging to car window
Grasshopper on Stateline Road near Lower Klamath Wildlife Refuge clinging to the window of a pickup

While Upper Klamath Lake might be known for the tiny midges that leave the front-ends of cars looking fuzzy and green, unfortunately for the last two years, Lower Klamath is getting known for grasshoppers. LIke the midges, they cover windshields with bug-guts and goop that seems nearly impossible to clean. 

However, unlike midges, the roads can at times become slick with the remains of grasshoppers crushed on the road. Even worse, the grasshoppers damage crops, impacting not just the production of pasture and hay crops but also lettuce, potatoes, and wheat along with the much-needed grasses and other plants that provide food for the wildlife in KDD.

Even worse yet, the grasshoppers aren’t confined to just KDD. People first started seeing the hoards of hoppers in early June, mostly along Stateline Road, reporting the carnage that covered their cars in Facebook posts. As their numbers and hunger has increased, they’ve spread to Merrill, Malin, Tulelake, and even Poe Valley. There’s also reports of heavy grasshopper numbers in Langell Valley.

How did this happen?

Recall the Bureau of Reclamation’s infamous, historic dewatering of the Tule Lake and Lower Klamath Lake National Wildlife Refuges. The droughting of those refuges left thousands of acres open to ravages of the wind, sun and pests. Pests such as grasshoppers.

Without water in Lower Klamath refuge, the eggs and then nymphs have been able to mature and reproduce. Water in the spring helps drown out the young grasshoppers and eggs, which helps keep their populations under control. If you also add the delayed irrigation season by the Bureau on top of the dried refuges, the Klamath Basin becomes the ideal breeding ground for the voracious pests.

In our region, we’ve seen this pattern before, most notably on the Klamath Marsh. Looking at articles about grasshoppers and their devastation on the Klamath Marsh, there’s a common thread between: a lack of water in the spring and being cut-off from irrigation water. And a drive along Stateline Road, drivers will see the same thing.

The interesting thing about what we’re seeing in KDD and Lower Klamath Refuge is that there is tangible evidence between a dry refuge and a wet one. Driving along Stateline, the areas where you find the most grasshopper carcasses littering the road – not to mention more of the pests smearing their guts across windshields – is where Lower Klamath has yet to receive any water. However, as you get close to the Oregon Drain and towards Highway 97, the number of grasshoppers embedding themselves into your vehicle goes down. There’s much fewer of their exoskeletons littering the road, and less of them getting stirred up by traffic.

The bodies of dead grasshoppers littering Stateline Road between Lower Klamath Lake National Wildlife Refuge and the Klamath Drainage District
Grasshoppers flying over Stateline Road to Klamath Drainage District fields
Where Lower Klamath refuge is getting water from KDD, there’s hardly any grasshopper carcasses on Stateline Road

Does the water Klamath Drainage District provide to part of the Lower Klamath refuge mean there’s less grasshoppers in that area?

Not necessarily, and it becomes complicated due to the fact not all of the refuge is underwater.

Walking along the side of the road, grasshoppers still flutter from the green vegetation offering food and protection for them that’s growing in the ditch. With protection and food, there’s very little motivation for the grasshoppers to try and flee from the refuge to KDD for safety. And while the irrigated fields of KDD and water in Lower Klamath helps keep the grasshopper population in check, the area is still plagued by all of the grasshoppers, eating, mating, and laying eggs in the part of the refuge the Bureau of Reclamation has allowed to go dry. 

Also worth noting is the number of birds in both areas along Stateline Road. In the area where the grasshoppers are rampant versus the part of Lower Klamath that’s receiving water from KDD, you’ll see more blackbirds (mostly redwing and yellow-headed blackbirds), meadowlarks, sparrows, swallows, blue jays, and even ravens and crows. Between habitat and water, these birds are likely helping keep the grasshopper populations in those areas in check. 

This particular species of grasshopper, clearwing grasshoppers, are native to the Klamath Basin, which means they’re part of the ecosystem. In any ecosystem, there are natural checks and balances to help keep various species in check. Historically Lower Klamath National Refuge was never the haven for grasshoppers it is now due to the fact it had always been under water. 

However, with the Bureau of Reclamation’s focus on single-species management of Upper Klamath Lake and the Klamath River, governmental officials have created a catastrophe in our ecosystem. As a result migratory birds and other Klamath Basin wildlife bear the brunt of the Bureau of Reclamation and Federal government’s poor water management policies, which is further worsened by adherence to a rigid Endangered Species Act. And now wildlife and farmers alike are having to deal with the unintended consequences of Federal decisions that fail to take entire ecosystems into consideration. 

This catastrophe is not only affecting Klamath Basin wildlife, but also the Klamath Basin economy. As area family farmers and ranchers grain, hay and other crops fail, that will echo throughout the Basin’s economy, where one dollar produced by agriculture is used nine times throughout the community. In KDD alone, unofficially, farmers and ranchers are discussing losses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars in each of their operations.  

The solution to ending this grasshopper plague is simple. Provide water for Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge and for Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge. This simple solution will help keep the hoards of grasshoppers under control and provide the necessary habitat needed for the birds traveling the Pacific Flyway as well as for the wildlife that make these refuges and surrounding fields their home.

Getting these pests under control will also benefit the Klamath Basin economy, as ag receipts would reflect higher yields which equates to more money to be spent throughout the community. And, if the Feds and Reclamation took KDD’s recommendation of using the Klamath Project as designed, not only would there be more grasshopper abatement, cleaner water could be sent down the the Klamath River for salmon.

Egrets in the reeds in Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge with water provided by Klamath Drainage District patrons
In contrast to the parts of Lower Klamath refuge that haven’t received water, egrets and other birds take advantage of the water provided by KDD and its partners

In the end, this ecological catastrophe could have been avoided. Instead, we have migratory birds desperately searching for habitat, farms throughout the Klamath Project still going dry and a grasshopper infestation nearing biblical proportions. The Klamath Drainage District and its patrons will continue to do our best to provide water to the Lower Klamath refuge, but ultimately the Bureau of Reclamation and the Federal government need to readdress how they manage water in the Klamath Project and take into consideration the unintended consequences of their water management policies.

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Klamath Drainage District featured in Deputy Assistant Secretary Strickler’s “Opportunities Tour”

Clipping from the June, 2023 edition of Basin Ag News

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Department of the Interior Matt Strickler recently paid a visit to the Klamath Basin and the Klamath Project as part of an “Opportunities Tour” put together by the Klamath Water Users Association.

June 2023 front page of Basin Ag News featuring Strickland's Klamath Basin "Opportunities Tour"As a part of the June 14th-15th Opportunities Tour, Strickler visited the Klamath Drainage District and met with district manager, Scott White, and district supervisors Tracey Liskey and Luther Horsley. In their discussion with Deputy Assistant Secretary Strickler, they talked about the work being done and the partnerships developed with Ducks Unlimited, Klamath Watershed Partnership, Trout Unlimited, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Waterfowl, and many other stakeholders to benefit the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge and the Klamath Basin wildlife that call it home.

Below is a excerpt from the article “Deputy Assistant Secretary Strickler’s “Opportunities Tour”” that appeared in the June edition of Basin Ag News, provided by the Herald and News. The excerpt focuses on Strickler’s stop in KDD, but you can read the article in its entirety at Basin Ag News.

It is not every day that you get to interact with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Department of the Interior.

But Matt Strickler quickly makes one forget his official title, with his unassuming, down-to-earth demeanor.

Strickler, a long-time congressional staffer and former official in Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s administration, is a seemingly good fit for the Klamath Basin, where stakeholders are still getting to know the Secretary of the Interior’s lead representative on water issues in the Basin.

On June 14 and 15, Strickler visited the Klamath Basin to meet directly with agricultural and tribal leaders, prior to a broader meeting of stakeholders on June 16. The Klamath Water Users Association took the opportunity to organize a tour of the Klamath Project, to look at and discuss concepts that could possibly benefit multiple stakeholders, including fish and wildlife.

The objective of this so-called “opportunities tour” was to demonstrate the capacity and willingness of agricultural producers within the Klamath Project to help solve some of the intractable problems related to water management in the Basin.

The first stop was Midland Hill, which offers a bird’seye view of Miller Island, the Tule Smoke Club, the Southern Pacific railroad embankment, and expanse of Klamath Drainage District and Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. There, Klamath Drainage District’s manager Scott White, along with district supervisors Tracey Liskey and Luther Horsley, spoke briefly about the concepts being discussed among the district and other stakeholders based around the basic concept of reestablishing functioning wetlands within the Tule Smoke Club, Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, and possibly beyond. Wetlands that could potentially be habitat for endangered Lost River and shortnose sucker (C’waam and Koptu).

Klamath Watershed Partnership, Trout Unlimited, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife are involved in this planning effort, among other stakeholders.

Strickler indicated he is hoping to identify a handful of large-scale projects towards which federal funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act (BIL) can be targeted. The goal, Strickler said, is to get away from the perception of “random actions of restoration” that have traditionally characterized federal activities in the Basin.

Following Midland Hill, the group proceeded to the Ady Canal headworks and the terminus of the Klamath Straits Drain.

There, one can see the complicated nature of water management in Lower Klamath Lake, as the Klamath Straits Drain goes both over and under the headworks of the Ady Canal, and the remnants of the original Klamath Straits are still visible just north of the existing channel. The discussion there continued around river flows and potential for the district’s ideas to potentially benefit the Klamath River.

Clipping from the June, 2023 edition of Basin Ag News

The group then drove to the district’s recirculating plant on Township Road, which is responsible for a large portion of the water that made it to Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge this past winter and spring. After a brief explanation of the pump’s workings, a quick drive down to the lower end of the Ady Canal led to the site where Ducks Unlimited (DU) plans to build a similar unit with a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A trickle was then flowing through the Ady Canal into Unit 2 on the south side of Stateline Road (commonly known as Stateline Drain). These deliveries are being attributed to a complicated water right transfer from the Wood River Valley, when similar quality water in the adjacent drain is often available if the pump only existed to lift it.

Juvenile suckers have recently been transplanted into Unit 2, making the need for a secure water supply all the greater. Meanwhile the rest of Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge is bone-dry, with great clouds of dust blowing off the former wetlands.

After breaking off from Scott White and Klamath Drainage District, the tour continued down Stateline Road, looking at DU’s other planned pumping site on the west end of Stateline Drain.

You can read the rest of this article and more at Basin Ag News.

 

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KDD Offers Fliers On Klamath Basin Wildlife

Page from KDD flier "Klamath Basin Wildlife in KDD"

Klamath Drainage District patrons are enthusiastic about the wildlife that make their homes in our pastures and fields. From the raptors  hunting for prey from the sky to our canals, ditches and drains filled with turtles, ducks and even otters, we’re proud of all the Klamath Basin wildlife that use our lands for habitat.

It should come as no surprise that for decades KDD has produced a flier touting the number of bald eagles seen in our district. A former KDD district manager, Joe Frost, put together a flier titled, “Eagles Flourish on KDD Lands”.

Cover of pamphlet "Eagles Flourish on KDD Lands"This document offers a great, brief history of KDD, the drainage district’s benefits to the ecosystem and Klamath Basin wildlife, as well as tips for viewing the eagles that nest in the Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge and hunt in the Klamath Drainage District and the neighboring Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. We hope you enjoy this short read, and if you’re planning on birdwatching in KDD, please be sure to visit “Eagles Flourish On KDD Lands“!

More recently, Klamath Drainage District’s PR Committee Members Scott Fentress and Joel McPherson have put together another flier for visitors to KDD lands – “Klamath Basin Wildlife in KDD”. They created this informative flier to hand out during the 2023 Winter Wings Festival field tours of KDD fields and pastures, and now we’re making this document available to the general public.

While Frost’s document covered a lot of KDD’s history and offered insights on when and where to best view bald eagles, Fentress and McPherson’s flier covers the variety of Klamath Basin wildlife that make their homes in KDD lands, what makes this area appealing to wildlife and how KDD patrons are making a positive impact on Klamath Basin ecosystems.

Page from KDD flier "Klamath Basin Wildlife in KDD"

To read the content of this flier or to download a PDF version you can print out, visit “Klamath Basin Wildlife in KDD“.

If you’re interested and getting a copy of either flier, please visit the Klamath Drainage District business offices, 4240 Highway 39, Klamath Falls, OR 97603.

We hope you take advantage of the information from both of these fliers and pay a visit to KDD to check out the variety of wildlife our lands have to offer. While it’s just a little ways off the beaten path, once you take a side road through our district you’ll understand what makes it unique to the Klamath Basin!

 

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Wildlife Viewing in Klamath Drainage District

January 2023 Headline in Herald & News Basin Ag News, "Wildlife Viewing in Klamath Drainage District" and photos of bald eagle and snow geese in a field

This article appeared on Page 10 of the January 2023 edition of the Herald And News’ BASIN AG NEWS. You can also read the full edition of BASIN AG NEWS at KWUA.org, 

In the still of twilight, on a cool, calm, crisp morning; the sound of Canada Geese coming off their roost to go feed in a nearby field echoes across the landscape. Within minutes, as the day begins to make its mark, whistling wings are heard with the accompanying cry of mallard hens, calling for company. As the sun finally pushes over the crest of the Klamath Hills, the valley erupts with countless songs sung by the hundreds of species of migratory birds resting in the area managed by Klamath Drainage District (KDD).

Waterfowl and shorebirds migrating along the Pacific Flyway don’t recognize borders. For them, the term “wetland” is viewed in the literal sense. Land with water on it, particularly when it contains food resources, is potentially suitable habitat, whether it’s a privately-owned field, a drainage ditch, or a national wildlife refuge.

January 2023 article "Wildlife Viewing in Klamath Drainage District" in the Herald & News' Basin Ag News

For the last decade, the Bureau of Reclamation’s operation of the Klamath Project has largely been governed by a hydrological model directing how much water must remain in Upper Klamath Lake for endangered shortnose and Lost River suckers and how much has to be released for threatened coho salmon in the Klamath River. The model also dictates how much and at what times water can go to Lower Klamath and Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuges. There are separate formulas and rules in the model for water going to farms and agriculture. In accordance with the model, over the last three years, just like farms and agriculture, both refuges received little or no water.

In the absence of adequate habitat conditions in Tule Lake and Lower Klamath, migrating waterfowl and shorebirds have been forced to find it elsewhere. Nowhere is the concentration of wildlife more apparent than in Klamath Drainage District (KDD), which comprises the reclaimed portion of Lower Klamath Lake in Oregon.

Over the last three years, the water used by KDD in the fall and winter, which occurs separate from the Klamath Project under district-owned water rights, has provided the majority of waterfowl and shorebirds habitat in the Klamath Basin. As a result, birders and other wildlife enthusiasts have quickly learned that KDD provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in the Klamath Basin. 

According to Scott White, the general manager of KDD, “landowners in the district recognize the importance of wildlife on their lands and take great pride in the close connection between their farming operations and the habitat it provides.”

“While most of the lands within the district are privately owned, we have gotten accustomed to having the public driving around, stopping, and viewing wildlife. So long as people don’t trespass, stay on public roads, are mindful not to block driveways and maintenance roads, and are generally respectful, we are happy to have them visit the district.”

Photos of birds from the January 2023 Herald & News Basin Ag News Article, "Wildlife Viewing in Klamath Drainage District"

According to White, some of the best places to view wildlife in the district are conveniently located along public roads. “Township Road takes you right through the heart of the district,” according to White, including a portion of the refuge within KDD known as Area K. The dirt roads along the Klamath Straits Drain are also public land, though White cautioned Reclamation is still irrigating these lands and roads may be blocked because irrigation lines are across the public roadways.

Running along the Oregon-California border, Stateline Road also provides ample wildlife view opportunities both in KDD and the refuge. Along Stateline Road one can also see the only water being delivered to the refuge, through Ady Canal, which KDD owns and operates. These deliveries are helping maintain Unit 2, which is the only area of the refuge presently containing water. 

Klamath Drainage District ad from the January 2023 Herald & News Basin Ag News