By SARA HOTTMAN

H&N Staff Reporter

September 30, 2011

     Oregon Wild, a Portland-based environmental advocacy group, has designated Klamath wetlands as the most endangered place in Oregon on a top-10 list.

   The wetlands are part of the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which includes Lower Klamath, Upper Klamath, Tule Lake, Clear Lake, Bear Valley and Klamath Marsh.

   In its report, released Thursday, Oregon Wild says agriculture in the K la math Basi n has destroyed 80 percent of its historic wetlands.  

   The report says limited wetland habitat is exacerbated by leasing thousands of acres of land near Tule Lake and Lower Klamath for commercial agriculture.

   “While the creation of the refuges was intended to preserve vital fragments of once-vast Klamath wetland system for geese, herons, and eagles,” the release reads, “much of that land is instead managed for potatoes, alfalfa, and onions.”

   Ron Cole, refuge manager, said the refuge is indeed suffering, but curtailed water deliveries are the direct cause.

   “The wetlands on the refuge are not doing well,” he said. “Our primary concern is lack of water, and it has been for several years.”  

   Water from BOR

   Tule Lake and Lower Klamath refuges receive water from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which manages the federal Klamath Reclamation Project. In 2010, the drought that severely limited Project irrigators’ water deliveries left the refuges dry.

   “Last year, we had less than 1,000 acres of wetlands at this time,” Cole said.

   This year, a good water year, the refuges are still short on water. They have about 9,000 acres of wetlands, far short of the 25,000-acre ideal for fall.  

   The refuge is an integral part of the Pacific Flyway, a primary north south migratory route for birds. Thousands of birds stop at the wetlands each year.

   “When we’re not healthy, the Flyway is not healthy,” Cole said. “Increasing demands on Project water from a variety of sources that have a priority over the refuges have not left refuges with enough water to meet our objectives.”

   In order of priority, endangered fish, tribes then irrigators receive water before the refuges.

   Cole said settlement agreements among irrigators, tribes and federal agencies are the only solution to give the refuges a stable water supply.  

   Oregon Wild, which does not support the agreements, in its report suggested turning agricultural lands back into wetlands to help alleviate the problem.

   “This is our nation’s first wildlife refuge, it’s a national monument,” Cole said. “Places like that shouldn’t be on a list like this.”