In one of the most difficult water years the Klamath Basin has faced, a broad coalition of partners has come together to provide critically needed water to Tule Lake and Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuges.

California Waterfowl and Ducks Unlimited are applauding the efforts of public agencies, irrigation districts, Tribal Nations, farmers, ranchers and conservation organizations that worked together to support the refuges during a period of extreme water scarcity.

The current water deliveries are helping sustain one of the most important waterfowl landscapes in the Pacific Flyway. By acting during a narrow window, the coalition helped reduce the threat of catastrophic losses from avian botulism and protect more than 100,000 ducklings and flightless molting waterfowl.

The effort also lays the groundwork for a process known as Flow-Through, which will move water through Tule Lake and Lower Klamath before returning it to the Klamath River. Along the way, that water can support refuge habitat, aquifer recharge and improved water quality, while ultimately returning to the river to help support salmon populations.

The collaboration is especially significant because it brought together groups with different responsibilities, histories and perspectives around a shared goal. Farmers and ranchers in the Klamath Project made water available for Flow-Through despite receiving just over half of their water supply, while Tribal Nations continued their longstanding stewardship responsibilities for fisheries, wildlife and the ecological health of their ancestral homelands.

While this year’s immediate threat has been reduced, the need for long-term solutions remains. Tule Lake and Lower Klamath will continue to require dependable water supplies, functioning infrastructure, active wetland management and sustained cooperation to prevent future wildlife emergencies.

This year’s response demonstrates what is possible when the Klamath Basin works together—and provides a foundation for a more durable approach that supports fish, farms, wildlife, Tribal communities and rural economies.

Click here to read the full joint letter from California Waterfowl and Ducks Unlimited to learn more about the partnership and the work ahead.