Date: 8/2/26 8:25 pm From: Kevin Spencer <rriparia01...> Subject: [KlamathBasinBirdNews] Action needed Water release to reduce botulism at Klamath refuges
To those concerned about Klamath Basin wildlife,
Botulism is again active and spreading quickly at Tule Lake and Lower
Klamath NWR. The conditions are similar to the time of July through October
2024 when over 150,000 waterfowl and shorebirds perished from botulism. The
greatest potential for botulism is with shallow stagnant or very
slow-moving water. Those are the current conditions at Tule Lake and Lower
Klamath NWRs. If those conditions do not change then the consequences will
be catastrophic.
Waterfowl on the Pacific Flyway will be heading to the Klamath Basin, and
many will stop at Tule Lake and Lower Klamath. This year’s local waterfowl,
ducks and geese that were born this summer are the first ones to be
impacted. Later, and now in August, the first of Greater White-fronted
Geese coming from the northern latitudes where they nested will be stopping
at these refuges, along with ducks and shorebirds that nested further
north. The numbers of waterfowl and shorebirds stopping at these refuges is
rising exponentially and they will be exposed to the botulism already
present and they in turn will become infected. If this is not stopped soon,
or now, the momentum of this outbreak will kill a large number of birds,
and it is difficult to stop as it will be widespread with many sick birds
that continue to spread botulism as they die.
It is imperative that water be sent to the Tule Lake and Lower Klamath NWRs
immediately. That water can be circulated to raise the levels in those
areas and to also create movement in the water. This can alleviate spread
of botulism and reduce this catastrophe that is looming. This current
botulism event will likely equal, and very well could surpass the 2024
die-off, unless water is allowed to flow into the refuges.
Since the refuges do not have water rights, it is up to the Bureau of
Reclamation (BOR) to make the decision to get water to the refuges. There
are ways to deliver water to the refuges. It is up to the BOR to coordinate
the necessary water to the refuges, and still meet Upper Klamath Lake
levels, agriculture needs, and down river flows. It can be accomplished.
Call your representatives and declare your interest in avoiding this
predictable and coming botulism disaster that has occurred previously under
nearly exact conditions, and to do something about it by directing the BOR
to release adequate water to solve this issue, or to have water flow
through the refuges. It is imperative that substantial water amounts get to
the refuges immediately. If not, the news about our waterfowl and
shorebirds will be grim. This cannot be a yearly death trap at THE most
important stop on the Pacific Flyway. The Pacific Flyway is the artery of
the west coast avian migration. Don’t let the avian artery collapse. Call
your representatives now.
Kevin Spencer
As an individual concerned advocate for wildlife and,
Klamath Basin Audubon Society
<rriparia...>
Klamath Falls, OR
*REPRESENTATIVE PHONE NUMBERS:*
*OREGON:*
Sen Merkley (Medford office: 541-608-9102; DC office: (202) 224-3753
Sen Wyden (Medford office: (541) 858-5122; DC office: (202) 224-5244
Rep Bentz (Medford office: (541) 776-4646; DC office: (202) 225-6730
*CALIFORNIA:*
Sen Schiff (San Francisco office: (415) 393-0707; DC office: (202) 224-3841
Sen Padilla (Sacramento office: (916) 448-2787; DC office: (202) 224-3553
*I am deeply concerned about the botulism outbreak occurring right now in
Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge. I urge you to please release sufficient
water into both Tule Lake and Lower Klamath Refuges to stave off a
potentially catastrophic bird die-off. Specifically, please provide 15,000
acre-feet to Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge as soon as possible, to
fill Wetlands 1A and 1B and start Flow Through. 5,000-10,000 acre-feet
should also be delivered to Lower Klamath NWR. Thank you.*
*Key Talking Points*
- In early July 2026, a botulism outbreak was discovered at Tule Lake
National Wildlife Refuge. If water is not sent to the refuge, there could
be a repeat of 2020 and 2024, where 60,000 and 140,000 (respectively) birds
died from botulism at the refuges.
- Simultaneously the rapid drying of wetlands at Lower Klamath National
Wildlife Refuge has left broods and molting waterfowl and waterbirds
susceptible to predation as mudflats are exposed and birds are stranded.
- In the short term, we ask the Bureau to provide 15,000 acre-feet to
Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge as soon as possible, to fill Wetlands 1A
and 1B and start Flow Through. 5,000-10,000 acre-feet should also be
delivered to Lower Klamath NWR. This will go a long way to help minimize
the impact of the current botulism outbreak.
- The Klamath National Wildlife Refuge Complex is one of the most
important stopover and breeding sites for waterfowl and waterbirds in the
Pacific Flyway. Yet, these refuges rarely receive enough water to fulfill
their mission to protect what remains of the region’s once vast wetlands,
and to support fish, waterfowl and other wildlife.
- In the long term, we urge the Bureau of Reclamation and Department of
the Interior to support the “Flow Through” concept and the Lower Klamath
Reconnection effort to ensure that nesting and migrating birds have the
water they depend on to survive.
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