All six of the Klamath Basin's National Wildlife Refuges are important to wildlife. They all provide resting and feeding areas for dozens of bird species, including migratory waterfowl, songbirds, and eagles.  But up until now, none of the six National Wildlife Refuges in the Klamath Basin has had a detailed, conservation-based management plan.

That is about to change. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is initiating the first ever Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for the Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The 40,885-acre Klamath Marsh NWR, located east of Crater Lake National Park, is comprised of wetland marshes, meadows and ringed with pine forest habitats.

As the first comprehensive plan for any of the six refuges, this is a tremendous opportunity to ensure that these spectacular wildlands, and the wildlife they sustain, are protected for generations to come.

Klamath Marsh NWR is the most pristine of the six Klamath Basin refuges, and Oregon Wild is urging the USFWS manage this refuge to maintain and enhance its outstanding wildlife values--which include sand hill cranes, yellow rails, bald eagles, owls, elk, pronghorn antelope, and numerous species of migratory waterfowl. Continued and proposed developments such as logging, haying, grazing, and pesticide use should be restricted, with refuge mangers focusing instead on activities with a clear benefit to wildlife.

Join Oregon Wild's email list for regular updates on the Klamath Marsh NWR planning process, and information on how you can help protect this special place.