Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge

Water flows into Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge through the Ady Canal on Friday.

 Staff photo by Arden Barnes / Report for America

After a summer spent drying up, Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge finally began receiving a measurable flow of water, thanks to the start of the winter irrigation season on December 1. The refuge can receive up to 11,000 acre-feet of water between December and February depending on how Upper Klamath Lake is filling.

Water began flowing into the refuge's Unit 2 wetland through the Ady Canal on Wednesday and was flowing at around 60 cubic feet per second at 5 p.m. Friday. It was the only significant inflow to the refuge since last winter other than roughly 750 acre-feet transferred from the Wood River Valley by the California Waterfowl Association in September.

Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge

Water flows into Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge through the Ady Canal on Dec. 3, 2021.
Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge

Water flows into Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge through the Ady Canal on Dec. 3, 2021.

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