C08

C07

C06

C05

C04

C03

C02

C01

Wildfire Location Type

Calculated

General

GPS

Dam

Refuge Boundary

Water

Rivers/Creeks

Roads

Modoc

National

Forest

Clear Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Wildfire History 1936 - 2005

0 0.5 1 1.5 Miles

Clear Lake NWR

Dorris

Canby

Klamath Falls

Tulelake

US 97

CA 139

OR 140

0 8 16 24 Miles

OREGON

CALIFORNIA

Wildfire Location Type Descriptions

Calculated: The wildfire is calculated to a central

point based upon reported legal location or

specific place description. Examples include 48N,

2E, Section 28 or middle of Unit C-4 at waters

edge.

General: The wildfire is location is based upon a

general area description. Examples include

Southwest Sump of Tule Lake NWR or Unit 4 of

Lower Klamath NWR.

GPS: The wildfire location was determined using

a geographic positioning system and supporting

software, providing a specific latitude and

longitude. An example is 41 degrees, 52 minutes,

54.33 seconds north by 121 degrees, 14 minutes,

12.98 seconds west, NAD 83.

Unknown: The wildfire location was recorded

only in relation to the refuge it occurred on.

Historical records and research did not provide

any additional information. An example would be

a wildfire listed as 1954, Tule Lake NWR.

Clear Lake Reservoir

Location:

East of Newell, CA

Acreage:

33,571

Established:

April 11, 1911

Total Wildfires:

8

Percentage of Zone Total:

5

Cause Type:

Natural 4

Camp Fire 0

Smoking 0

Fire Use 0

Incendiary 0

Equipment Use 1

Railroads 0

Juveniles 0

Miscellaneous 0

Unknown 3

The history of Clear Lake National Wildlife Refuge has much to do with the Klamath

Reclamation Project, initiated in the early 1900s. While the refuge was establish in April,

1911, work on the construction of Clear Lake Dam was completed a year earlier,

perpetuating the lakes status as a water storage and irrigation source reservoir.

Today, Clear Lake refuge remains much as it was almost a century ago, a vast expanse of

water and high mountain desert landscape. The areas surrounding the lake are covered

in a combination of western juniper, sagebrush and cheat grass. Warm summer

temperatures and breezy late afternoon weather situations have combined for a number of

wildfires over the refuges lifespan.

Clear Lake is host to one of only two remaining white pelican colonies in California and

also hosts a variety of wildlife such as antelope, mule deer and sage grouse. Since

wildfires can quickly consume vital habitat, fire suppression is mandated for the refuge.

The remoteness of the refuge has affected the types of wildfires experienced over the

years. Only one fire has been confirmed as being started by equipment usage, while most

wildfires were naturally started by lightning, and the three unknown are likely lightning fires

as well.

The fires of the 1930s (originating from the Modoc National Forest and burning onto the

refuge) along with more recent fires have large acreages, especially the Clear fire of 2001.

Again, the volatility of light, flashy fuels coupled with pattern winds often results in large

acreages being rapidly consumed.

Number Name Year Acreage

C01 Kilgore 1936

C02 Cornell 1936

C01 Goose Bay 1943

C02 Rockpile 1996 350

C01 Peninsula 1998 1

C02 Clear Lake 1999 192

C01 Clear 2001 4317

C02 Clear 2002 0.2