Klamath Basin
Latest Stories
Oregon Field Guide
Salmon return to the Klamath’s Oregon waters, but the river’s headwaters are still blocked
After decades of conflict, farmers and tribes say they’re working in concert to restore salmon habitat in the Klamath Basin. But two dams remain - one that blocks fish passage another that plays a key role for agriculture.
Klamath Tribes push to restore wetlands and wocus in Southern Oregon
For thousands of years, the Klamath Tribes have harvested a highly nutritious first food called wocus from the wetlands of Southern Oregon. As wetlands were drained for agriculture, the tribes lost a huge portion of the habitat supporting the wocus plant. Now, there’s hope that farmers can help bring that habitat back.
Watch: Klamath River reemerges after the removal of four dams
OPB video captures four Klamath River dam sites and Copco Lake reservoir before and after a $500 million removal operation.
Salmon return to Klamath Basin in Oregon after more than a century
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife spotted the fish on a tributary above the former J.C. Boyle Dam site, just north of the California border. Several more soon followed it.
Wildlife rehabilitators treat birds one by one, as botulism outbreak at a Klamath Basin refuge drags on
A nonprofit group fights an uphill battle to save the victims of a massive outbreak of avian botulism that continues to ravage waterfowl at one of the Klamath National Wildlife Refuges.
Up to 55,000 birds have died in the Klamath Basin botulism outbreak
The outbreak of avian botulism at the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge has killed tens of thousands of migratory birds this summer. Conservation groups are waiting for cold weather to stop it.
Science & Environment
A botulism outbreak in the Klamath Basin has killed about 20,000 migratory birds this summer
Increased water allocation to the Klamath Basin wildlife refuges is helping mitigate a summer botulism outbreak that has resulted in the deaths of thousands of migratory birds.
Klamath Basin wildlife refuges battle suspected botulism and bird flu outbreak
A combination of botulism and bird flu has led to estimates of thousands of birds dying in the Klamath National Wildlife Refuge Complex this summer.
Federal water managers announce 2024 allocations for Klamath Basin agriculture
The federal Bureau of Reclamation announced its initial water supply allocation for Klamath Basin farmers Monday. Despite average snowpack in the region, the projected supply still isn’t enough to meet agricultural demands.
Klamath farmers say new Fish and Wildlife rule would threaten agriculture on refuges
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing new rules requiring national wildlife refuge managers to promote biological diversity and environmental health. Some Southern Oregon farmers worry that could stop activities like farming on refuge land.