The Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife preserve operated by the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 Fish and Wildlife Service

United States Fish and Wildlife Service

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...

 located in the Klamath Basin

Klamath Basin

The Klamath Basin is the region in the U.S. states of Oregon and California drained by the Klamath River. It contains most of Klamath County and parts of Lake and Jackson counties in Oregon, and parts of Del Norte, Humboldt, Modoc, Siskiyou, and Trinity counties in California. The drainage basin...

 in northern California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

 near the Oregon

Oregon

Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...

 border south of Klamath Falls, Oregon

Klamath Falls, Oregon

Klamath Falls is a city in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. Originally called Linkville when George Nurse founded the town in 1867, after the Link River on whose falls this city sat, although no falls currently exist; the name was changed to Klamath Falls in 1892...

.

Tule Lake NWR, established in 1928, consists of 39,116 acres (158 km²) of mostly open water and croplands. Approximately 17,000 acres (69 km²) are leased by farmers under a program administered by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Refuge permit holders farm another 1,900 acres (8 km²) of cereal grain and alfalfa. These crops, together with the waste grain and potatoes from the lease program are a major food source for migrating and wintering waterfowl. A ten mile (16 km) auto tour route allows for wildlife observation throughout the year.

Refuge Objectives:

• Maintain habitat for endangered, threatened and sensitive species.
• Provide and enhance habitat for fall and spring migrant waterfowl.
• Protect native habitats and wildlife representative of the natural biological diversity of the Klamath Basin.
• Integrate the maintenance of productive wetland habitats and sustainable agriculture.
• Ensure that the refuge agricultural practices conform to the principles of integrated pest management.
• Provide high quality wildlife-dependent visitor services.

Significant Species:

• American bald eagle
• Golden eagle
• American white pelican
• White-faced ibis
• Snow, Ross’, white-fronted, & Canada geese.
• Peregrine falcon
• Pintail, mallard, gadwall, canvasback
• Western & eared grebes
• Black tern
• Tri-colored blackbird

Current Issues of Concern:

• Loss of wetlands. The Klamath Basin has lost 80% of its original wetlands
• Degraded water quality.
• Water quantity during drought years (balancing wildlife needs with basin agricultural demands). Water rights adjudication.

Public Uses:

• Wildlife viewing areas
• Wildlife Auto Routes
• Waterfowl Hunting
• Visitor Center
• Environmental Education
• Photography Blinds
• Canoe Trail
• Refuge Virtual Tour

Ongoing Management Activities:

• Extensive wetland/cropland rotation scheme.
• Implementation of a comprehensive Integrated Pest Management Program on commercial lease lands.
• Maintenance of an extensive water conveyance infrastructure.

External links

• Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge website