Marsh future uncertain

	H&N file photo Highway 140, in the lower right, is surrounded by water from the dike break on Upper Klamath Lake in June.

By Lee Juillerat

February 27, 2007

Klamath Falls Herald and News

Landowners haven't decided whether to keep areas of the flooded Caledonia Marsh diked or to breach 100-year-old dikes that separate the marsh from Upper Klamath Lake.

“We're looking at many options, including one where we might breach the dikes intentionally,” said Jon Barkee, a spokesman for the Running Y Ranch Resort.

The resort bought 1,000 of the flooded acres so it could begin repairing the Geary dike which breached last June, flooding the marsh and a portion of the resort's golf course.

The flood waters also temporarily closed and damaged Highway 140.

About 6,000 acres of the Caledonia and Wocus marshes were isolated from Upper Klamath Lake when the Geary family installed dikes in 1905. Another dike prevented flood water from flowing into the Wocus Marsh.

Barkee said Running Y, state and federal officials are involved in determining the long-range future of the Caledonia Marsh. Considerations include water quality in Upper Klamath Lake and impacts on birds, waterfowl and wildlife.

“The impact on wildlife is there no matter what we do,” Barkee said, noting the land reclamation and development of wetlands has benefited various species. “Wildlife have adapted to the changed environment.”

For example, Barkee said, the area has been seasonally flooded to flush out rodents and then drained. During flooding periods, 20 to 30 bald eagles commonly feed on rodents - “The eagles just have a feast.”

Barkee said the diking probably affected Upper Klamath Lake's water quality, noting, “It's been the subject of much debate. The farming activity does add a certain amount of nutrient load.”

Although there is sentiment for permanently breaching the 2-1/2 miles of dikes, there are concerns.

Bureau of Reclamation officials, Barkee said, are concerned about maintaining mandated lake levels for endangered sucker fish, so plans to pump water from the marsh to the lake are being sped up. As water is removed it may be necessary to net suckers from the marsh and transfer them to the lake.

Running Y officials originally wanted to more slowly remove water because of concerns about the dike and whether more breaks are possible.

Barkee said repairing the breached section was difficult because the gushing water cut a 25-foot deep hole. Instead of repairing the actual break, a new $1 million, 1,000 foot long arc-shaped dike was built.

Temporary dikes also were built along sections of the resort's golf course. Following the break, the fourth hole was completed flooded and the third and fifth holes were partially flooded. If the main dikes are removed, Barkee said dikes will be needed to protect the golf course.

“Initially people liked the water inflow,” he said of the reaction by Running Y residents after the breach, “but as the water receded and it began to smell it became a lot less appealing.”

Permanently breaching the dike system could increase Upper Klamath's water storage, but Barkee said the impact would be minimal because the affected area is shallow and subject to evaporation.

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Source:  http://www.heraldandnews.com/articles/2007/02/27/news/local_news/local1.txt