The Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge is a
National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge System is a designation for certain protected areas of the United States managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge System is the system of public lands and waters set aside to c ...
of the
United States on the border between
California and
Oregon. It is operated by the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge was designated a
National Historic Landmark on October 16, 1965.
Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, established by President
Theodore Roosevelt in 1908, was the first waterfowl refuge in the United States. It is located in the
Klamath Basin near
Klamath Falls, Oregon. It has a total area of , of which are in California and are in Oregon.
The refuge includes shallow
freshwater marshes, open water, grassy uplands, and croplands that are intensively managed to provide foraging and breeding habitat for waterfowl and other animals. The market hunting of migratory birds in the late 19th century created the need for preservation and creation of a wildlife refuge.
Refuge objectives include the protection of habitat for flora and fauna, including migrating waterfowl, and preserving the
biodiversity of the Klamath Basin. It works to integrate
wetlands and
sustainable agriculture and promote
integrated pest management. The refuge provides wildlife-related public services, including education, hunting, and viewing and
photography opportunities.
Avian species on the refuge include the
bald eagle
The bald eagle (''Haliaeetus leucocephalus'') is a bird of prey found in North America. A sea eagle, it has two known subspecies and forms a species pair with the white-tailed eagle (''Haliaeetus albicilla''), which occupies the same niche as ...
,
golden eagle,
American white pelican
The American white pelican (''Pelecanus erythrorhynchos'') is a large aquatic soaring bird from the order Pelecaniformes. It breeds in interior North America, moving south and to the coasts, as far as Central America and South America, in winte ...
,
white-faced ibis,
snow goose,
Ross's goose,
greater white-fronted goose, Canada goose, peregrine falcon, northern pintail, mallard, gadwall, canvasback, western grebe, Black-necked grebe, eared grebe, black tern, and tricolored blackbird.
Conservation and management activities include the maintenance of a local water infrastructure and the monitoring of the interaction between agriculture and habitat. Issues in focus include the loss of wetland habitat, the degradation of water quality, drought, and water rights.
Gallery
RossGeese Oregon.jpg, Ross's goose, Ross's geese on a freshwater marsh
Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge snow.jpg, Mountains
LowerKlamathNWR 8197t.jpg, Marsh with American coots
Lower Klamath Lake marsh.jpg, Lower Klamath Lake marsh
See also
* List of largest National Wildlife Refuges
* List of National Wildlife Refuges
* Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway
References
External links
*
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National Wildlife Refuges in Oregon
National Wildlife Refuges in California
National Historic Landmarks in Oregon
National Historic Landmarks in California
Protected areas of Siskiyou County, California
Wetlands of Oregon
National Register of Historic Places in Klamath County, Oregon
Protected areas of Klamath County, Oregon
1908 establishments in Oregon
Wetlands of California
Landforms of Siskiyou County, California
Landforms of Klamath County, Oregon
National Register of Historic Places in Siskiyou County, California
Protected areas established in 1908
1908 establishments in California