Tule Lake NWR visitor center NEW

[rrip...@charter.net]

Hello All,

I was down at the new Tule Lake NWR (Klamath Basin Refuges Complex) Visitor Center, and was amazed at not only the building, but the potential for bringing an understanding and knowledge that the Klamath Basin has an amazing wetland system. The building has an incredible education lab that can connect users to the nearby Discovery Wetland. The users I'm excited about using would be students in the three surrounding counties, Siskiyou, Modoc, and Klamath. This building will be a valueable resource, and will be an incredible resource when water again activates the wetlands.

 

The new visitor center is set to open soon. 

 

Kevin Spencer

Klamath Falls, Oregon

rrip...@charter.net

 

Below is a letter from

John Fitroy, Visitor Services Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Klamath Basin NWR Complex

 

Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex Gets a New Visitor Center                                                  

 By John Fitzroy, Visitor Services Manager, Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex

When I hear the question, “Why should we build a visitor center?”, I think that’s like asking why should we care about our mission?  Out loud I respond that a visitor center can offer many things to those who choose to visit. To new and returning visitors it can deliver an orientation with practical advice; up-to-date information on wildlife sightings, delivered personally by volunteers and refuge staff, in a context that is often lost in the information overload of the internet.  

The newly built Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center at Tule Lake will offer these and many more benefits that are not visible at first glance. It’s construction was made possible by funding from the Great American Outdoors Act of 2020, and it’s set to open to the public in December 2023, designed to generate awareness and understanding of the tremendous value the Basin’s wetlands provide and recognition that they are a vital component of our watershed, and that all things living in the basin, wildlife and people, are united by and dependent on its water.

The building’s unique architectural structure blends the built and the natural environment, while establishing a modern sense of place and community for all visitors. Once inside visitors will soon be able to explore the rich cultural and natural history of the area through hands on exhibits that deliver heightened awareness of our refuge and its mission, while in the same space school groups can learn and share a sense of community and connection with the natural world.

Although refuges are places where wildlife comes first, refuge visitor centers add real value to local economies by attracting recreational users. Some visitors take part in hunting and fishing, others enjoy hiking, paddling, wildlife viewing or nature photography. These visitors pay for lodging, meals, and other purchases from local businesses to sustain the pursuit of their recreational experience. In fact, in 2017, the combined economic contribution to communities nationwide from National Wildlife Refuges was more than six times the amount appropriated by congress to the entire refuge system.

Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges are places where visitors can participate in world-renowned wildlife-related recreation activities. Making the visitor center your first stop will ensure that you have a more fulfilling experience, maybe even one that generates the respect, support, and defense necessary to ensure that they will be here to inspire future generations.