Lower Klamath: Amid grim signs, a ray of hope?

Volume 2 | Nov. 19, 2020

Save Lower Klamath!

A California Waterfowl e-newsletter about the fight for water for Lower Klamath

This newsletter covers the latest news about conditions at the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge and CWA's effort to resolve the predominantly man-made water crisis there.

We are working on two major solutions: Securing high-priority water rights for the refuge and securing an agreement to distribute water more equitably in the Klamath Basin.

Learn more - visit our Lower Klamath webpage

Photo of Lower Klamath NWR sign with Mount Shasta in the background

There's precious little wet in this wetland

Lower Klamath is 85%-90% drier this year than it was last year. Waterfowl counts at the Lower Klamath and Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuges are down 86% this year.

Click here to read more and click on the photo to see it at full size.

October 2020 satellite imagery of the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge revealed a wetland with precious little water.

Donate to save Lower Klamath

A ray of hope: money for water

The U.S. Department of Interior announced plans this month to make funding available for the purchase of water rights to support the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge.

This funding - if ultimately approved by Congress - could not come at a more critical time for the refuge. Earlier this summer, the Klamath Basin experienced an avian botulism outbreak that killed an estimated 61,000 waterfowl and shorebirds. The outbreak was made much worse by reduced water deliveries that overly concentrated birds onto limited wetland habitat.

Securing water rights for the refuge is one of the top goals of California Waterfowl and its Lower Klamath Refuge Task Force. High-priority water rights would provide the most reliable, cost-effective way to flood the refuge consistently, and throughout all the times of year when it needs water.

California Waterfowl has been working with landowners in the Klamath Basin who want to leave a legacy of supporting waterfowl and the Lower Klamath refuge.

Interior included Lower Klamath water rights on a list of projects to receive money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, made available through the recently signed Great American Outdoors Act. CWA is grateful for the support of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and the efforts of Congressman Doug LaMalfa, which helped make this possible.

Mallard harvest: a sign of the problem?

The mallard harvest was down on opening weekend at five Central Valley refuges that typically have the highest mallard harvest numbers.

Could we be seeing the impact of insufficient water at Lower Klamath for breeding habitat this spring and summer?

Lower Klamath: key for pintail, too

While a healthy (read: wet) Lower Klamath is critical to the success of California's breeding population of mallards, it's also a critical habitat for California's other favorite duck: pintail.

This article by Emily Downing of the Intermountain West Joint Venture details the vital role Klamath plays for pintail on their way north to the breeding grounds each spring and south to the Central Valley each fall.

And we couldn't agree more with the closing line: "The solutions to the water-related challenges facing Pacific Flyway migratory birds won’t come easy, but the path forward is coming into view—and it’s rooted in collaboration among farmers, ranchers, and wildlife conservationists across one big landscape."

In the news

Jeff Volberg had planned to retire in 2013 after a distinguished career in water policy. But an opportunity to work for California Waterfowl to fight for water for the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge kept him in the game.

The Northern California Water Association featured Volberg, CWA's director of water law and policy, in its blog last month - a wonderful write-up. Click here to read the profile.

Our partners and allies

Solving a problem as big as the Lower Klamath crisis can only be done in concert with a team of all-star partners and allies, starting with Klamath Basin farmers who are also struggling to get sufficient water, but nonetheless move heaven and earth to get more water to the refuge. This most notably includes the Tule Lake Irrigation District and Klamath Water Users Association.

We also rely heavily on information and voluntary efforts by local hunters in the Klamath Basin, most notably the Cal-Ore Wetlands and Waterfowl Council. Volunteers within Cal-Ore have done much to help improve habitat and hunting conditions on the refuge and pick up birds sickened or killed by avian botulism, among other important actions.

We are also grateful to all who have donated to our effort to save Lower Klamath, with contributions ranging from $25 to $25,000.

Did you receive this email as a forward?

Click the button to sign up for this monthly e-newsletter!

Additional resources

Lower Klamath Refuge Task Force brochure

CWA Annual Report