Action needed Water release to reduce botulism at Klamath refuges
Kevin Spencer
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
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
Rep Huffman (DC office: (202) 225-5161
PHONE SCRIPT:
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.