However, this past winter was extremely dry and due to this, there is simply not enough water to meet the life cycle needs of the salmon and sucker fish and operate the Klamath Project, too. In order to comply with provisions of the Endangered Species Act, the Bureau of Reclamation has shut off water supplies to the Klamath Project. Obviously, this will have serious consequences for Pacific Flyway waterfowl because they rely heavily on the area's grain fields and wetlands for food, resting and staging grounds. While others are busy trying to rectify this situation in the court system, DU is, as always, working at the ground level. In recent years, DU and a variety of partners have restored over 3,500 acres of wetlands in the Klamath Basin.
Wetlands are an important component in the plan to improve water quality.
In addition, several other wetland restoration projects are in the works today. Again, improved water quality, which is extremely important to all wildlife including the salmon and suckers, will be an important benefit of these projects. Since it s creation in 1908, the Lower Klamath NWR has been developed and expanded in an opportunistic fashion i.e. additions to the refuge have been acquired from willing sellers as they became available. While this is a necessary way to do business, it, along with simple old age, has resulted in a water delivery system that has a good deal of potential for improvement. In addition, this refuge which is so important to waterfowl, is at the mercy of the Klamath Project and all it s users.