| Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
Winter scene at Lower Klamath NWR | |
| Location | Siskiyou County, California /Klamath County, Oregon,United States |
| Nearest city | Klamath Falls, OR |
| Coordinates | 41°56′56″N121°41′48″W / 41.9487624°N 121.6966630°W /41.9487624; -121.6966630[1] |
| Area | 50,913 acres (206.04 km2)[2] |
| Established | 1908 |
| Governing body | United States Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Lower Klamath NWR |
| Reference no. | 66000238[3] |
| Designated | January 12, 1965[3] |
TheLower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge is aNational Wildlife Refuge of theUnited States on the border betweenCalifornia andOregon. It is operated by theUnited States Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge was designated aNational Historic Landmark on October 16, 1965.[3]
Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, established by PresidentTheodore Roosevelt in 1908, was the first waterfowl refuge in the United States. It is located in theKlamath Basin nearKlamath Falls, Oregon. It has a total area of 50,912.68 acres (206.04 km2), of which 44,294.55 acres (179.25 km2) are in California and 6,618.13 acres (26.78 km2) are in Oregon.[2] The refuge includes shallowfreshwater 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.[4]
Refuge objectives include the protection of habitat for flora and fauna, including migrating waterfowl, and preserving thebiodiversity of the Klamath Basin. It works to integratewetlands andsustainable agriculture and promoteintegrated pest management. The refuge provides wildlife-related public services, including education, hunting, and viewing andphotography opportunities.
Avian species on the refuge include thebald eagle,golden eagle,American white pelican,white-faced ibis,snow goose,Ross's goose,greater white-fronted goose,Canada goose,peregrine falcon,northern pintail,mallard,gadwall,canvasback,western grebe,eared grebe,black tern, andtricolored 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, andwater rights.
This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theUnited States Fish and Wildlife Service.