Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge


	Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge
	HC 63, Box 303 Chiloquin, OR 97624 - 9616 E-mail: Ron_Cole@fws.gov Phone Number: 541-783-3380
	Visit the Refuge's Web Site: http://klamathbasinrefuges.fws.gov/klamathmarsh/klamathmarsh.html

Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge
The Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1958 "... as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds." The refuge primarily consists of 40,000 acres of wet meadows and open water wetlands. This large natural marsh, with a backdrop of the Cascade Mountain Range in central Oregon, encompasses the upper reaches of the Williamson River and provides important nesting, feeding, and staging habitat for waterfowl and sandhill crane.

The refuge also appears to be one of the last remaining strongholds of the spotted frog, a candidate for the endangered species list. This refuge along with the 15,000 acres of wetlands on the nearby Upper Klamath Refuge has a rich cultural heritage. It includes part of the historic lands and former reservation used by the Klamath tribes.

The initial tract of 16,400 acres was purchased from the Klamath Indians with Federal Duck Stamp funds in 1958. Additional acquisitions from private landowners over the last 10 years have boosted the refuge to its current size. The Tribes have a keen interest in ongoing management activities due to their historic ties to the marshlands.

Getting There . . .
From Klamath Falls, Oregon: travel north on Highway 97 approximately 45 miles. Turn right onto Silver Lake Road and travel east 9.5 miles to Forest Service Road 690.

Travel south 4 miles on this gravel road to the canoe launch. To travel to the refuge headquarters, stay on the Silver Lake Road until milepost 17.

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Klamath Marsh Refuge was established in 1958 when approximately 16,400 acres were purchased from the Klamath Indians with Federal Duck Stamp Funds. In 1990 and 1998, additional acquisitions boosted Refuge acreage to 40,646. Originally designated as Klamath Forest National Wildlife Refuge, the refuge was recently renamed as virtually all of the historic Klamath Marsh now lies within refuge boundaries.

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The Klamath Marsh Refuge wetlands are primarily wet meadows with some open water wetlands. This natural plant community is maintained by a program of cattle grazing, haying and prescribed fire. Approximately 1,100 Animal Unit Months of permitted cattle grazing occurs on 3 refuge units.

Haying and burning of native grasses is used as a management technique to create fall and spring feeding habitat for waterfowl and sandhill cranes. Waterfowl use is monitored aerially during the fall and spring.

Waterfowl production is monitored in the spring, with mallard, cinnamon teal, redhead, scaup, gadwall, ringneck duck and Canada geese the main nesting species. The nesting sandhill crane population averages 50-60 pair.

Yellow rails and spotted frogs which are species of special concern are also surveyed annually. This refuge has a rich cultural heritage, as it includes part of the historic lands used by the Klamath Tribes. Consultation with the Klamath Tribes on refuge management activities is a regular activity.