Klamath Communities Feel the Impacts of Drought
As we reach the end of summer, all of the communities along the Klamath river are feeling the impact of drought. New fires (Mill and Mountain) have erupted in Siskiyou county burning dozens of homes, water conflicts persist, and fish are experiencing disease outbreaks on the Klamath. Everyone who lives in the basin relies on a healthy ecosystem, and the current lack of balance is so extreme, that everyone is feeling the hurt.
Explore the articles below to learn more.
News
In the Pacific Northwest, Salmon Declines Upend a Way of Life | The Nation
Chinook salmon numbers in the Klamath River have fallen by more than 90 percent over the last century.
Farmers warn crops will die after water cutbacks in Klamath Basin - OPB
Federal agency reduced water for irrigators as region navigates third year of drought
A Waterfowl Oasis Ran Out of Water. These Hunters Bought Some More.
After a few years of extreme drought conditions, the Lower Klamath and Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuges on the California-Oregon border ran out of water this week. Sit back and chew on that for a minute.
Tribal fishery disasters declared in the West, more than $17 million allocated | National Fisherman
More than $17 million has been allocated to address fishery disasters that occurred in multiple tribal salmon fisheries on the West Coast from 2014 to 2019, reports the U.S. Department of Commerce and NOAA.
Containment up to 55% on Mill Fire; Mountain Fire over 11,000 acres
The wildland blaze has burned 4,263 acres since it started Friday afternoon in the city of Weed and Lake Shastina in Siskiyou County.
Dozens of salmon discovered dead in Klamath River – Times-Standard
Over the past weekend, roughly 35 dead Chinook salmon were observed on a 40-mile stretch of the Lower Klamath River.
Ranchers, tribes, state clash over Shasta River water - CalMatters
A standoff over shutting down ranchers’ pumps signals a flareup of water wars as California is gripped by seemingly endless drought. “To hell with it. We’re starting the pumps,” one Siskiyou County rancher said.
CDFW Announces Angling Closure for Lower Klamath River
Due to dramatically increased harvest rates of Chinook salmon, the recreational fishing quota for the Lower Klamath River will be imminently met.
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California winter weather predictions: Temperatures, rain | The Sacramento Bee
With temperatures in the triple digits Labor Day weekend, the idea of winter is either the light at the end of the tunnel or a faraway fantasy. Either way, winter is coming, and weather predictions for the season are here.
Local Tribes Demand Immediate Action After Upstream Farming Association Found to be Illegally Diverting Shasta River Water From Reaching the Klamath | Lost Coast Outpost | Humboldt County News
Days after a fire-induced mudslide killed all fish in a 60-mile reach of the Klamath River, ranchers defied state law by diverting flows from the Shasta River, one of the most important Klamath tributaries for imperiled salmon.
Padilla, Feinstein Announce $26 Million Headed to Klamath Basin from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law - Senator Alex Padilla
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein (both D-Calif.) announced the Department of the Interior will provide nearly $26 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for Klamath Basin restoration projects, including nearly $16 million for ecosystem restoration projects in the Basin and $10 million to expand the Klamath Falls National Fish Hatchery. […]
A 'Critical Milestone' | News | North Coast Journal
The Klamath River and the tribal communities that depend on it got some welcome news this week, as what would be the largest dam removal project in U.S. history took a significant step forward.