KLAMATH BASIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES Tulelake, California Tule Lake, Lower Klamath, Clear Lake, Upper Klamath and Klamath Forest National Wildlife Refuges California and Oregon
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT Calendar Year 1976
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR s 1976~
PERMANMENT PERSONNEL
Robert C. Fields Refuge Manager Earl H. McCollum Refuge Manager Paul E. Benvenuti Refuge Manager Jeffrey W. Fleischer....E.O.D.8/2 Refuge Manager Michael T. Vivion Trans.4/10 Refuge Manager Edward J. O'Neill Wildlife Biologist Blake F. Chapman Engineering Equipment Mechanic Foreman Lowell D. Green Maintenance Foreman Samuel D. Merriman Maintenanceman Workleader Pauline R. Chapman Administrative Officer Mary K. Murphy E.O.D.1/12..Trans .5/21 Clerk-Typist Melissa J. Davis E.O.D.6/14 Clerk-Typist Earl M. Irvine, Jr Engineering Equipment .Mechanic Raymond H. Hanson Engineering Equipment Operator Billy E. Sellers Engineering Equipment Operator Donald C. Griffith Engineering Equipment Operator Ted Mann E.O.D.3/29 Maintenanceman Barry S. Ward Maintenanceman Lawrence F. Bigoni Maintenance Worker
TEMPORARY PERSONNEL
Geoffrey J. Pampush 6/7-12/3 Biological Technican Edward M. Piccolo 10/5-11/18 Biological Technican Jimmy W. McKoen Resigned 1/5 Maintenanceman Gilbert T. C. Johnson...9/13 Maintenanceman Mark H. McMahon 6/7-8/27 Laborer
Review and Approvals
Area Office Date
TULE LAKE Refuge Regional Office Date
KLAMATH BASIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES Front Row: (L-R): H. McCollum, B. Chapman, T. Mann, M. Davis, E. Irvine. Back Row: (L-R): R. Fields, B. Sellers, R. Hanson, R. Chapman, J. Fleischer, D. Griffith, B. Ward, S. Merriman, P. Benvenuti, L. Bigoni, D. Green, E. O'Neill. 1/77 O'Neill
The same crew after the close of the 93-day Hunting Season! 12/76 Fields TL 76
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1• GENERAL Page
A. Introduction 1 B. Climatic and Habitat Conditions .• 1 C. Land Acquisition 2 D. System Status 3
II. CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE
A. Construction 4 B. Maintenance 4 C. Wildfire 5
111• HABITAT MANAGEMENT
A. Croplands 5 B. Grasslands 7 C. Wetlands 7 D. Forest lands 7 E. Other Habitat F. Wilderness and Special Areas 7 G. Easements for Waterfowl Management 7
IV. WILDLIFE
A. Endangered and Threatened Species 8 B. Migratory Birds 8 C. Mammals and Non-Migratory Birds and Others 9
V. INTERPRETATION AND RECREATION
A. Information and Interpretation 10 B. Recreation H C. Enforcement '. 13
VI. OTHER ITEMS :
A. Field Investigations.... 13 B. Cooperative Programs 10 C. Items of Interest 19 D. Safety 20 TL 1 76
I. GENERAL
A. Introduction
Located in extreme Northern California in Modoc and Siskiyou Coun ties. Tule Lake Refuge was created by Executive Order no. 4975 of October 4, 1928 and ammended by Executive Order no. .5945 of Novem ber 1932 and no. 7341 of April 10, 1936. The refuge was superim posed on lands withdrawn by U. S. Bureau of Reclamation as part of the Modoc Unit of the Klamath Project. Lands were jointly admin istered by the Service and the Bureau under Agreements of January 8, 1942 and June 28, 1946.
The refuge is comprised mostly of lands reclaimed from under the lakebed of historic Tule Lake. There are approximately 20,000 acres of irrigated croplands, 14,000 acres of water and marsh, and 3,600 acres of uplands. Of this total, the Service farmed 2,400 acres of croplands as "buffer zones" between the water areas and irrigated lease croplands to minimize depredations. The remain ing croplands are cash-leased by Bureau of Reclamation. All irrigation functions are managed by Tulelake Irrigation District under a contract with the United States. The Service managed all public use and wildlife management programs.
In 1964 congress passed P.L. 88-567, commonly called the "Kuchel Act". This act assured the continuance of the refuge and spelled vc out certain broad management objectives and revenue sharing pro cedures. The Service and Bureau were negotiating a new management agreement persuant to this Act in 1976 when the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act was ammended by P.L. 94-223, the , "Game Range Bill". The ammendment directed that administration of all refuges would be accomplished by the Secretary of Interior through the Service.
At years end an agreement between the Service and Bureau reflect ing provisions of both P.L. 88-567 and P.L. 94-223 for managment of the refuge units in the Klamath Basin Complex was completed at the field and Regional Office levels and was to be submitted to the Directors of the Service and Bureau, then to the Secretary for approval. The agreement would not alter landruses on Tule Lake Refuge from the general patterns of recent years.
B. Climatic and Habitat Conditions
The report period covers one of the driest years on record since 1928, except for some most unusual rain storms received in August. There were numerous frosty nights every month -- June being the coldest on record. Early in the year Tule Lake water levels were quite low. Neither Tulelake Irrigation District nor Bureau of Reclamation moved to replenish the supplies and levels until quite late in the spring when objections were heard from the refuge and lease area farmers.
Some 107 acres of former grain fields (C-2, B-2, 7) have been con verted to nesting cover (yellow "clover) types to decrease the wild oats and rotate land use. Throughout the entire Klamath Basin it was a very late harvest year because of August rains and cool tem peratures.
Land Acquisition
1. Fee Title
Nothing to report.
2. Easements
Nothing to report.
3. Other
Progress is continuing to be made toward transfer of excess Bureau of Reclamation lands near Newell to the Service. The area commonly called "The Peninsula", comprises approximately 1,250 acres consisting of the main Peninsula area and some surrounding lands as a buffer. This area is being proposed for transfer to the Service because of its importance to birds of prey as nesting and migration habitat. Historically, pere grine falcons nested in the cliff faces. Currently it is nest ing habitat for prairie falcons, great-horned, barn, and bur rowing owls, golden eagles, red-tailed hawk, and American Kestrel.
Transfer of the land to the Service is part of a larger pro gram of Bureau of Reclamation to dispose of other scattered small tracts of land in the Tulelake Basin not needed for rec lamation purposes. The Bureau of Land Management expressed an interest in nearly all the tracts, necessitating public meetings to present alternative plans for the land. Two meetings were held on March 30 and April 1 in Tulelake and Redding respectively. Bureau of Reclamation and Bureau of Land Management presented alternative plans for all tracts designated for disposal with the exception of the Peninsula proposal. The Service at the meetings outlined the proposal for transfer to the Service and the area becoming a unit of Tule Lake Refuge.
Testimony received at both meetings was supportive of the Service acquiring the Peninsula as a birds of prey area. Most concern was expressed over restrictions which would be placed on public use and access, mainly from four-wheeled drive and motorcycle enthusiast?,
At years end. Reclamation and Bureau of Land Management had not ironed out their differences on the other land tracts. Until this is done no action can be taken to affect the transfer of the Peninsula area to the Service.
System Status
Objectives
As with most areas, emphasis has changed at Tule Lake Refuge from the objective setting phase of PPBE to operation phases under the new Service organizational structure and the PFMIS. Operation of refuge lands and facilities have essentially not changed in the past several years.
Major deficiencies in Tule Lake programs exist in both Migra tory Birds and Interpretation and Recreation. The most press ing need in MB is adequate funding to undertake some form of marsh rehabilitation on the upper sump. Since water manage ment is controlled to a great extent by agricultural needs it is not possible to apply some commonly used techniques. It will be necessary to mechanically open up sections of the marsh to provide more open and deep water. Siltation and natural eutrophication of the sumps, as well as dike settling are major concerns not only to the Service but also to Bureau of Reclamation and Tulelake Irrigation District.
In I § R, refuge operations are being brought into line with Service objectives, especially in management of public hunt ing. Needs still exist to upgrade facilities for non-consump tive visitors in providing better contact facilities and im proved tour routes and interpretative media. Considerable progress was made in the planning phases of this deficiency through cooperative efforts with the National Park Service (see Section VI. B - Cooperative Programs). TL 76 t 2. Funding
Following is a brief summary of funding over the past five years for the Klamath Basin Complex.
YEAR 0 & M FUNDS
1972 $334,000* 1973 386,000* 1974 413,500 1975 420,600 1976 450,000
* Includes $8,000 of Soil and Moisture funds.
This shows an average increase of 7% per year or less than the national rate of inflation. No construction funds have been available in this period, nor any rehab funds.
Staffing is essentially the same for the past five year period, with 18 permanent positions in 1972 and 17 in 1976. Four posi tions are, however currently filled by less than full time em ployees, reflecting a real loss of four full time positions from this station in five years.
II. CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE
A. Construction
Nothing to report.
B. Maintenance
Field B-7 was levelled, landplaned, plowed and seeded to sweet clover. Eight - 24" CMP turnouts were also installed to permit more efficient irrigation of this field.
Fields D-4 and 5 were levelled and landplaned, using excess dirt to fill abandoned drain between the two fields. :
YCC crews installed underground sprinkler systems in two head quarters lawns. YCC Enrollees installing a sprinkling system for the Headquarters lawns. 6/76 Benvenuti
Two offices located in the basement of the Headquarters building were finished using wood panelling for the walls and 5/8" fire proof sheet rock for the ceilings.
An outside fire exit has been provided from the basement for per sons using the basement area north of the furnace.
Wildfire
Nothing to report.
III. HABITAT MANAGEMENT
Croplands i
Refuge force account farming operations covered some 2,145 acres; 1,740 acres of small grain was seeded, consisting of 900 acres barley, 540 acres oats and 300 acres winter wheat. Yields were average for this area -- approximately 3,000 pounds of grain per acre. 55 acres were harvested for seed, the remainder left stand ing for wildlife food. 160 bushels of barley was transferred to Ridgefield and Willapa National Wildlife Refuges for seed. Sweet clover had been seeded on approximately 170 acres, both for soil improvement and as nesting cover. Although satisfactory stands were obtained the seeding year, and second year growth appeared normal, the crop did not reseed after the second year. Those fields which should have volunteer stands in the spring of 1976 showed no clover whatever. In addition, field mice (microtus) had consumed the tap roots of the mature plants during the fall and winter of 1975, leaving the old stalks free to lodge or blow like tumbleweeds. There was practically no nesting cover on these areas past the second year.
All the old clover land (approximately 100 acres) was worked up and seeded to winter wheat in the fall of 1976. Canada geese, particularly cacklers^ made extensive use of this green browse. The wheat fields were reduced to bare ground before the birds moved out.
Canada and Cackling Geese utilizing winter wheat in fall. Success had been good with winter wheat and it is heavily used, especially by cacklers. 11/75 Fields
Approximately 250 acres of land was summer fallowed and leveled. TL 7 76
The majority of the farm land on Tule Lake Refuge, approximately 15,000 acres, is leased on a cash basis by Bureau of Reclamation. Agreements between the two agencies stipulate that not over 25% of the area will be planted to row crops (onions or potatoes) and that not over 10% of the area may be fall plowed or burned.
B. Grasslands *r * ~ . . .
No grazing takes place on Tule Lake Refuge. One permittee harvests hay on 265 acres. This is the only grassland operation on this refuge, and is designed to provide spring and fall goose browse.
During 1976, 967 tons of hay at $5.00/T were removed. 40 acres of old alfalfa was renovated and the irrigation systems reworked by the permittee.
C. Wetlands
All water management in Tule Lake is handled by Tulelake Irrigation District under contract with Bureau of Reclamation. Over the years, agreements between Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Reclama tion have set objective operating levels for the sump at times that are critical for waterfowl.
In general, operations have been reasonably close to those objective levels.
In August some 3.75 inches of rain fell in the basin. This unexpected precipitation, plus the decreased demand for irrigation water caused the sump level to rise rapidly. With "D" plant pumping to capacity, water rose to 4035.40 -- approximately 1 foot above objective and within one inch of the point where water would be released into the Southwest Sump, flooding several hundred acres of standing crops. "DM plant continued pumping well into December when winter objective levels were reached. No serious damage resulted, but there were a few tense days. :
D. Forest lands
Not applicable.
E. Other Habitat
Not applicable.
F. Wilderness and Special Areas
Not applicable.
G. Easements for Water Management
Not applicable. TL 8 76
IV. WILDLIFE
A. Endangered and Threatened Species
Status of the Bald Eagle, Southern Bald Eagle, Tule White-fronted Goose, and Lost River Sucker did not significantly change during the report period. The mid-winter inventory in January showed only 24 Bald Eagles, however 57 had been counted in December. The area-wide population of Balds has shown continuous increase the past 10 years, with good numbers of young, while Golden Eagles have remained in comparative low numbers.
There was no recovery team involvement during the year.
B. Migratory Birds
1. Waterfowl
Total estimated production for the year was 59% of the 1975 figure, a reflection of low spring water levels and resultant shifting of pairs from Tule Lake to other areas. Young and broods of all species were proportionately down. It was a poor production year.
Total waterfowl average population for the year was only 19,922 above that of 1975. There was actually little depar ture in spring and fall migration use compared to one year ago. Again mallards and canvasbacks were present in the fall in greater numbers than usual. Unusual was an apparent return migration of pintails and white geese in early December after the regular fall (November) exodus. We assumed the very dry situation and late season opener in Sacramento Valley caused these birds to attempt wintering here.
Fowl cholera, first detected November 8, among coots, snow, Ross' and white-fronted geese persisted throughout the year. Freezing conditions hampered clean up of dead on Sump 1-A. This was the heaviest cholera loss of birds during fall migra tion ever. We estimated at least 1,000 birds through December. Lead poisoning among ducks killed an estimated 100 mallards and pintails.
In June a cooperative banding effort with the State of Cali fornia resulted in drive-trapping and banding 493 Canada Geese (366 adults, 89 immatures). Meiss Lake banding also participated in where 1,105 geese were trapped and banded (no immatures). Unfortunately, 243 birds were lost to suffo cation at this drive.
December saw unusual high populations of both ducks and geese present in the Basin despite freeze-up. 2. Marsh and Water Birds
No significant change in status.
3. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species
No significant change is status.
4. Raptors
Prairie Falcons and Bald Eagles enjoyed about the same status as the previous year. An Oregon State University graduate student, Bruce Haak, studying prairie falcons on neighboring Lava Beds National Monument land traced tagged feeding birds to the Tule Lake Refuge units, substantiating the importance of our management to the species.
5. Other Migratory Birds
No significant change in status.
Mammals and Non-Migratory Birds and Others
1. Game Mammals
No significant change.
2. Other Mammals
Two fur trappers worked Tule Lake during the 1975-76 open season (H. Christensen, T. D. Marsh) removing 2,513 muskrats and 13 raccoons. The program was aimed mainly at protecting extensive surrounding agricultural facilities by confining populations to the marsh.
3. Resident Birds ;
Overwintering upland game species had no problems related to weather or food. Concentration area and route counts indicate lowest spring population tallies for pheasants, quail and chukars .in several years. Reproduction was good for pheasants during the very favorable spring - summer season, however quail and chukars remain relatively low in numbers.
4. Other Animal Life
Nothing to report. TL 10 76
V. INTERPRETATION AND RECREATION
A. Information and Interpretation
1. On-Refuge
The refuge staff continues to provide on-site interpretive programs for organized groups. Most of these programs are presented to school groups, but this year we had several requests from retirement clubs.
No new interpretive facilities were developed. We continued to work with the National Park Service on a plan that will provide improved and coordinated interpretive services for visitors to both the Lava Beds National Monument and the refuge. The plans are still tenative, but there is a good deal of interest in building an inter-agency visitor center near the boundary between the National Monument and the refuge.
Eight students from the University of California, Davis, used the refuge as a site to conduct undergraduate field studies as part of a summer biology class. These month-long studies dealt with such things as tern feeding habits and the behavior of refuges feral goat herd.
2. Off-Refuge
Newspapers throughout California and southern Oregon continue to give good coverage to refuge activities especially the hunting program. This year the editorial comments about our refuge hunt procedures seemed to be a bit more favorable than in past years.
Classroom programs represent an important part of our inter pretive activities. These programs are designed to introduce students to the natural and man-made forces at work around them and how these forces relate to their daily lives and the refuges. The classroom programs also give young people a chance to come face to face with the United States government in a friendly setting.
Public meetings were held in Tulelake and Dunsmuir, California, to discuss alternatives for land use planning encompassing the Tule Lake and Lower Klamath Refuges, Lava Beds National Monu ment, and Forest Service lands in the Medicine Lake Highlands. The concept of inter-agency land use planning sounds good, but in reality it is very hard to coordinate the varying objectives of the different agencies.
/ Recreation
1. Wildlife/Wildlands Oriented
Over 234,000 people visited the refuge in 1976, an increase of 22% over last year's total. All of this increase was in wildlife oriented recreation. Wildlife observation and sight seeing accounted for most of the increase. We anticipated this upward trend to continue as increasing numbers of people visit the refuge as part of their visits to Lava Beds National Monument.
2. Waterfowl Hunting
The hunting program was conducted essentially in the same manner as in 1975. Entry permits were required for the open ing weekend, and were issued, 200 for Tule Lake Marsh, 600 for Tule Lake Field, and 800 for Lower Klamath. Applications for permits were taken by mail, on postal cards August 1, through 15. 1,922 cards were received, requesting permits for 5,072 individuals, an increase of 33% over last year. A local judge presided at the drawing on August 23. All process ing was completed, and permits were in the mail on August 26.
The entire operation required 81 man hours, costing $334. Issue costs were 21 Although hunter number increased 21% over 1975, for a total of 19,200 visits, crowding was a problem for only a few days on the field unit, during and just preceeding the regular pheasant season opening. The spaced blind area was increased from 59 to 75 sites, and handled 9,237 hunter visits, or approximately 60% of the hunters using the field units. T On 30 days of the 93 day season, more hunters.registered for blinds than could be accommodated. 4,907 hunting parties, representing 11,650 visits by 4,432 individuals were processed through the blind area check sta tion. The processing included registration of all hunters, checking all licenses and stamps, drawing for blind assign ments, and issuing instructions and permits. This was accom plished each morning within 1^ hours after entry time by three refuge people during the heaviest use days, two people for the majority of the season. Typical blind site marker location and decoys are required of field hunters on Tule Lake. 10/76 Fields Only one minor incident, involving an individual who felt he should not be required to show a hunting license, occurred. Hunter use of the marsh, 4,265 visits, was practically identi cal with last year. Total duck harvest of 12,300 birds was up by 6%. Goose harvest, 19,900 birds showed an increase of 14% over the 1975 season, and was the second highest since 1965. Pheasant Hunting Pheasant season ran from November 13 through December 5. With the opening came the usual problems associated with attempting to handle too many people, doing too many things, on too small an area. j The area open to waterfowl and pheasant hunting in the field units, covers approximately 2,700 acres. On November 12, we recorded 260 goose hunters using this area. On November 13, 1,150 people were competing for a place to stand and something to shoot at. It was not one of the better days. We lost a measure of hunter control at this time. 68 of the 84 cita tions issued on Tule Lake were after November 12. TL 76 The special hunt took place December 2 through 5. The first day crowd of 1,300 dwindled rapidly to only 65 hunters on the last day. Season total of 4,090 pheasants hunters was up 17%, bag of 2,175 birds, down 11% from 1975. C. Enforcement1 . . As might be expected, most of the refuges law enforcement problems result from our large hunting program. Many of the violations in hunting would never occur if hunters would just read the regula tions rather than depending on what a "friend heard from a guy". A coordinated operation by personnel from the refuge, the National Monument, and California Fish and Game in late summer was success ful in greatly reducing deer poaching in the area. We found no sign of the deer being disturbed on the refuge. In past years deer have been driven off the refuge by poaching activity and we have found gut piles and other signs of illegal hunting. Assistant Manager Benvenuti attended the eight week police school at Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. The following is a list of violations issued on Tule Lake for 1976. VI. OTHER ITEMS A. Field Investigations 1. Meadow Mouse Rodentcide Microtus baits (zinc phosphide) and acceptance research by Behavorial Research - Mammal Damage Control, Pacific S W Forest and Range Exp. Station, Fresno, California continued in effect by biologist Jim Glahn under Bureau of Reclamation contract. : Mouse populations were againliow, with no localized eruptions reported. Preliminary phosphien toxicity data was gathered through field tests on refuge alfalfa/fescue crops (Freys Island Unit) and the SW Sump alfalfa Chapman, lease 36) in July. The refuge supported the project by supplying live-trapped coots, Canada and White-fronted geese. 76 VIOLATIONS RECORDED ON TULE LAKE REFUGE 1976 Cited by Warning by Cited by Tot? Refuge Refuge Non-refuge Type of Violation Personnel Personnel Personnel (Incomplete) Reckless Driving 1 1 Hunt without decoys (spaced blind area) 2 2 Hunt or trespass in a closed area 24 8 32 Possess firearms (loaded in retrieving zone, in vehicles, etc.) 6 1 7 No spaced blind permit 11 7 18 Use larger than #2 shot 1 V 1 No hunting license or stamp 6 3 1 10 No entry permit (opening weekend) 2 2 Shooting hours 5 2 7 Unauthorized aircraft 1 1 Take protected species 3 3 Take or possess T an over limit 16 16 Transportation or tagging 3 3 Unplugged shotgun 3 1 4 Shoot from access route 1 - 1 Camping and entry time 3 6 9 Off road vehicle use 2 10 122 Totals 87 41 1 129 TL 15 76 i Enclosure pens on Freys Island tract hay unit during replications zinc phosphide (.1 ppm to .3 ppm) Efficacy/Hazards by Biologist Jim Glahn under U. S. B. R. contract. 8/76 O'Neill 2. Lead Poisoning Investigations California's research contract (14-16-0008-908) continued on Tule Lake and Lower Klamath with more soil samples (square meter 10 cm. deep) on the League and Frog Pond Units of Tule Lake and Units 1, 6, 7 and 8 on Lower Klamath. Participating in the 1975-76 lead shot ingestion region-wide studies Klamath Basin Refuges collected 114 gizzards from five species of ducks from Tule Lake, Lower Klamath, and Upper Klamath. This anal ysis showed the occurrence of ingested lead shot to be 8.7%. The state lab fluoroscoped 1,025 gizzards from 15 species. In addition 68 gizzards were gathered from whistling swans, 32 mallards/pintails, and 21 Ross' geese. Three-ducks and 19 swans had ingested shot. Ross' geese showed no ingested shot. One swan had 756 pellets, another had 374 in the gizzard. Two had ingested shotgun shell primers. Soil samples (11) from Tule Lake ranged from zero to four pellets per square meter following the first year of spaced blinds hunting in the area. TL 16 76 3. White Pelican Mortality Continued surveillance and collection of dead pelicans in the basin resulted in submitting 22 brain tissue samples, six whole birds and three eggs to the Patuxent Labratory through the Wisconsin Labratory. To date endrin and deil- drin_ have been detected'in sufficiently high-enough con centrations (0.13 ppm to 1.4 ppm) to have caused death. We have no knowledge of the chemicals being used in the basin since the 1960's. 4. Ruddy Duck Study (Adaptive Significance of Social Structure in the Ruddy Duck, Qxyura J.) The Phd. thesis study by Miss Betty Jean Gray, initiated in 1974, was continued during 1976 accomplishing more field observations, collections, banding and color marking. The unusually low nesting-summering population made this year one of the poorest yet for the study and much planned work had to be put off. B. Cooperative Programs 1. Youth Conservation Corps Klamath Basin Refuges based a 20 enrollee coeducational Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program in 1976. The program was an eight-week, seven-day residential facility operating between June 20 and August 13. Enrollees were housed, fed and super vised at Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) in Klamath Falls, Oregon under a contract in the amount of $24,443.00. Enroll ees and work leaders were transported to the refuge each day by GSA bus and then to work sites in GSA leased vehicles. The bus was also used for field trips and Environmental Education activities. Major work projects accomplished and their value are listed below: ^ Appraised Project Title Value Facility maintenance (including underground sprinkler systems, sign work, etc.) 8,165 Rip-rap 50 nesting islands - Lower Klamath 4,200 Construct fences - 6 miles - Lower Klamath 13,750 Help with topographic survey - Lower Klamath 2,000 Litter pick-up - roads 875 Nest searching 725 Maintenance and rehab-fences and buildings - . Klamath Forest 1,175 Maintenance and rehab-buildings and trails - Upper Klamath 680 Construct Fire breaks - Lava Beds National Monument 2,200 Community Service - rehab picnic tables 650 Total 34,420 The program generally went quite well except it was difficult to keep good lines of communication open and general super vision of the contract was complicated by the 30 miles between OIT and the refuge. No major accidents to enrollees or work leaders were noted, only the usual cuts, bruises, sprains, etc that go' along with any YCC camp. Temporary Biological Technician Geoffrey Pampush introduces YCC enrollee to an often neglected form of wildlife. 6/76 Benvenuti TL 18 76 2. Bald Eagles It has become increasingly apparent in recent years that the Klamath Basin is a major wintering area for Bald Eagles. Dis covery of a roosting site on Forest Service lands south of Lower Klamath prompted the Forest Service to initiate a study to determinedthe size and extent of use of the roost area. Since the major feeding area of the eagles is Tule Lake and Lower Klamath Refuges, the Service joined in the cooperative study both financially and with cooperative census work. At years end the FS had a Volunteer Service Person, Mr. Gary Krause conducting the investigation. The roost in Lava Beds National Monument showed counts of over 130 eagles at times as did a newly discovered roost west of Worden in Oregon. Greatly accelerated academic type "Research" ("Review all your good files; search out all the answers; fill in all the blank forms, etc") The past year demanded a lot of gratis staff time and effort. 12/76 O'Neill Items of Interest Federal Government payments to counties as a result of Klamath Basin Complex operations are made under P. L. 88-523 and P. L. 88-567 to two California counties and one Oregon county. 1976 payments to the counties total $146,187.77. Payments to the counties for the five years 1972 - 1976 totalled $666,794.21. This is in addition to the possessory interest tax assessed each cooperator and permittee in the California counties of Modoc and Siskiyou. Payments to Siskiyou County, California are derived from both Tule Lake and Lower Klamath Refuges. No breakdown is available for each unit separately. Following is a breakdown of the payments to the counties made during 1976. California Oregon COUNTIES: Siskiyou Modoc Klamath Total P.L. 88-523 $ 260.69 $12,891.51 $13,152.20 P.L. 88-567 103,525.31 16,165.61 13,344.65 133,035.57 $103,786.00 $16,165.61 $26,236.16 $146,187.77 The U. S. Bureau of Reclamation started a study of the feasibility of developing an irrigation project for Butte Valley. The study was to result in a comprehensive water management plan for the entire area and would undoubtedly have had some effect on the Klamath Basin Refuges. The study seems to have been shelved for the present. California Resource Agency objected to the plan because of irrigation return flows to the Klamath River adversely affecting the States designated Wild River status of the lower Klamath River. Seven refuge personnel helped local police search for a bomb in the Tulelake High School. The telephone call reporting the bomb proved to be a prank call and school reconvened the- following morning. ^ Lee Griffith, wife of Engineering Equipment Operator Don Griffith, passed away April 28, following a lengthy illness. Credits: Section I - A, C and D -- Fields Section I - B -- O'Neill Section II -- Green Section III -- McCollum Section IV -- O'Neill - - , , Section V - A and C -- Benvenuti Section V - B — Benvenuti and McCollum Section VI - A - O'Neill Section VI - B - Fields Section VI - C - R. Chapman Section VI - D - Green Typing - Davis Safety Monthly Staff and Station committee meetings were held as sched uled. Six accidents occurred during the reporting period. June 4: Ted Mann, Maintenanceman, while inserting pin in shaft on turn-off valve a 6" pipe dropped approximately 6" mashing thumb between pipe and water valve. Recommended that additional help be provided to prevent recurrence of this type of accident. June 17: Henry Ebinger, Maintenanceman, was lubricating circle gear while lying on his back beneath a dragline. He turned his head suddenly and hit the steel frame with his tooth, causing it to chip and crack. Sudden head turn was reflex action as a glop of grease fell in his face. July 7: Ted Mann, Maintenanceman, while assisting on a survey party on the Lower Klamath Refuge, was bitten by various insects Before the days end his hand had swollen. Horseflies, mosquitos hornets, and a variety of other insects were present. Mr. Mann was treated at Presbyterian Community Hospital and released. September 10: Barry Ward, Maintenanceman, stepped down off of a blade arm on a bulldozer into some soft dirt and sprained his right ankle. November 10: Robert Fields, Refuge Manager, was moving large rock slab and caught his finger between rock slab and rock wall. November 17: Jeffrey Fleischer, Assistant Refuge Manager, was travelling west on narrow dike road about 20 mph. The morning was very foggy and the one lane dirt dike was icy. The ice was not a visible type, but a clear type not able to be seen. Mr. Fleischer had just passed a turn off spot when he saw a vehicle approaching from the east. He attempted to stop to back up to let the other vehicle pass, but his pickup started sliding and before coming to a complete stop collided with the other vehicle (about 3-5 mph). The other driver had tried to stop his vehicle in the same manner but was unable to do so before colli ding; (about 2-4 mph). No bodily injuries occurred. Quarterly fire drills, and fire station checks were made as scheduled. SPECIAL SPACED BLIND AREAS: Blind sites in the spaced blind areas will be selected HUNTING REGULATIONS by lottery at the beginning of each day's hunt. The lottery will be held at the check station located on the County Line Road. Only those hunters receiving blind assignments from this check station may hunt in the spaced blind areas. Hunters Tule Lake - Lower Klamath may draw only one blind site and may not hunt from any other site. National Wildlife Refuges No more than four hunters may hunt at any one blind stake. Each blind must have a Route 1, Box 74 spread of at least one dozen goose decoys. Tulelake, California 96134 . In these spaced blind areas, hunters may not possess any loaded firearm further than 100 feet from their assigned blind stakes. LICENSES AND PERMITS: All hunters must have in their possession a valid State hunt ing license and all required State and Federal stamps and permits. ATTENTION: Dur Hunters may not shoot at birds that are beyond effective range. Those who persist ing the first two days of waterfowl season, all hunters 16 years of age and older in shooting at birds that are out of range will be subject to removal from the must have in their possession an entry permit for the controlled hunting unit in area. which they are hunting. Permits are issued well in advance of waterfowl season to applicants selected by lottery. SIGNS AND BOUNDARIES: Signs have been erected to help you find hunting area bound aries. These signs are described below. As you face a sign, the wording applies ENTRY: The public is allowed on the refuges only during the times posted at refuge to the area you are facing (behind the sign). Some posts have signs on two sides-- entrances. READ BOTH SIDES. Watch for boundary corners and check your location with this map. SHOOTING HOURS: Hunting is permitted 7 days weekly. Legal shooting hours shall be White. This is the refuge B1ue. Motor vehicles are al from one-half hour before sunrise to 1:00 p.m. on Tule Lake National Wildlife Ref NATIONAL uge and on the California portions of the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. WILDLIFE boundary sign. When alone lowed on these routes. Speed REFUGE Waterfowl shooting hours for those portions of the refuges within Oregon shall cor on a post, it means NO HUNT HUNTER limit 35 MPH except where respond to State regulations. Pheasant shooting hours in the California and Oregon ING. You may enter the area ACCESS otherwise posted. No shooting portions of the refuges shall correspond to State regulations. only on designated access ROUTE from or across the road. Some routes. of these roads will be closed RETRIEVING ZONES: Posted retrieving zones are established on certain hunting units during parts of the season. to promote safety and to reduce waterfowl crippling loss. Possession of firearms Green. Used alone or be Yellow. This area is open in these retrieving zones is prohibited except unloaded firearms may be taken SPECIAL through the zones when necessary to reach or leave hunting areas. Decoys may not neath a refuge boundary AREA only during the special phea be set in retrieving zones. Retrieving zones are closed to pheasant hunting. PUBLIC sign. The area behind HUNTING AREA PHEASANT sant hunt (the last four days this sign may be hunted as 4 DAY SEASON of pheasant season). Water restricted by refuge reg- (DATES) fowl hunting is prohibited. DECOYS AND OTHER PERSONAL PROPERTY: All decoys, boats, and other personal property CONSULT MANAGER must be removed from the refuges at the close of each day. FOR CURRENT lations. © Limit is two male pheasants REGULATIONS per day. LITTERING: Leaving any refuse (including, but not limited to, garbage, human waste, Red. You may enter this White. This area is closed animal entrails, shell casings and wastepaper) is prohibited, except when deposited area only on designated ac to ALL entry. No hunting or in designated containers. AREA i NO cess and tour routes. You sight-seeing is permitted. may not retrieve crippled BEYOND THIS SIGN No roads or trails are open HUNTING BLINDS: Temporary hunting blinds may be constructed of natural vegetative HUNTING birds. Loaded firearms are CLOSED to the public. material. Construction of such blinds, however, does not establish priority to the prohibi ted. blind or hunting area. The use of pit blinds is prohibited on the refugesi CAMPING: Camping and overnight parking are prohibited on all refuge lands. Black. You may pass through RETRIEVING BOATS: Boats may be used on all areas open to waterfowl hunting. Air-thrust and ZONE FOR this area to get to hunting 200 YDS units. You may retrieve inboard water-thrust (jet) boats are prohibited. Obey State boating regulations. BEHIND THIS SIGN downed birds. Loaded fire LOADED arms are prohibited. ACCESS ROUTES: It is illegal to shoot from or across any access route or parking FIREARMS area. Motor vehicles may be operated only on designated access routes, and these PROHIBITED roads may be closed when road conditions are unsatisfactory. EXCEPTION: Water fowl hunters may drive off from access routes to set out or pick up decoys in the REFUGE USE HOURS following field units--The League of Nations, The Panhandle, Sheepy West, Miller ENTER After : A.M. Signs similar to this show the hours the public Lake, the Straits Unit, and the field portion of unit four. EXIT Before : P.M. may be on the refuge. They do jiot show the No Overnight Parking shooting times. RETRIEVING BIRDS: No person shall hunt in any manner that significantly reduces the possibility of retrieving downed birds. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE TULE LAKE AND LOWER KLAMATH NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES PUBLIC HUNTING AREAS 1976-77 LEGEND •- Refuge Boundary — State and County Lines • Interior Retrieving Zone •• Hunter Access Route. Some Will be Closed for Part of the Season Trailer Park Parking Area No Hunting Pheasant Hunting Only, During Special Four Day Season. Limit 2 Male Pheasants Per Day Waterfowl and Pheasant Hunting Only, During Regular State Seasons (Entry Permit Required During SPECIAL REGULATION = Waterfowl Hunting Hours Shall Be From One-half First Two Days of Waterfowl Season) Hour Before Sunrise to 1-00PM. On All California Portions of Tule Lake and Lower Klamath National Waterfowl and Pheasant Hunting Only, During Regular State Seasons Wildlife Refuges [No Entry Permit Required) Restricted Blind Spac Permit Required During Entre Season (See regulations on ' r < ) LK 76 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. GENERAL Page A. Introduction 1 B. Climatic and Habitat Conditions 1 C. Land Acquisition 2 D. System Status 2 II. CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE A. Construction 4 B. Maintenance 5 C. Wildfire 6 m. HABITAT MANAGEMENT A. Croplands 6 B. Grasslands 7 C. Wetlands 7 D. Forest lands 8 E. Other Habitat 8 F. Wilderness and Special Areas 8 G. Easements for Waterfowl Management 8 IV- WILDLIFE A. Endangered and Threatened Species 9 B. Migratory Birds 9 C. Mammals and Non-Migratory Birds and Others 11 V. INTERPRETATION AND RECREATION A. Information and Interpretation 11 B. Recreation 12 C. Enforcement 13 VI. OTHER ITEMS A. Field Investigations 14 B. Cooperative Programs 14 C. Items of Interest 16 D. Safety 17 I. GENERAL Introduction Lying astride the California-Oregon border in Siskiyou County, California and Klamath County, Oregon, Lower Klamath Refuge was set aside in 1908 by Executive Oreder no. 924 by President Theodore Roosevelt. Subsequent executive Orders no. 2202 of May 14, 1915 and no. 3422 of March 28, 1921 reduced the original area to the present 47,000 acres. Originally the refuge was super imposed on lands ceeded to the U. S. for reclamation purposes by the states of Oregon and California as part of the Klamath Reclamation Project. Refuge lands have been jointly administered by the Service and Bureau of Reclamation under Agreements of January 8, 1942 and June 28, 1946. The refuge is comprised mostly of lands reclaimed from under the lakebed of historic Lower Klamath Lake. There are approximately 17,000 acres of irrigated lands, 22,000 acres of marsh and water, and 8,000 acres of uplands. Of this total the Service has admin istrative and management responsibilities on 36,000 acres in Cal ifornia referred to as the Intensive Use Area. Approximately 7,500 acres of irrigated pasture and croplands, mostly in the Straits Unit in Oregon, have been cash-leased by the Bureau of Reclamation as have approximately 5,000 acres of grazing lands. The Service has managed all wildlife programs as well as public use. In 1964 congress passed P.L. 88-567, commonly called the "Kuchel Act". This act assured the continuance of the refuge and spelled out certain broad management objectives and revenue sharing pro cedures. The Service and Bureau were negotiating a new management agreement pursuant to this Act in 1976 when the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act was ammended by P.L. 94-223, the "Game Range Bill". The ammendment directed that administration of all refuges would be accomplished by the Secretary of Interior through the Service. t At years end an agreement between the Service and Bureau reflect ing provisions of both P.L. 88-567 and P.L. 94-223 for management of the refuge units in the Klamath Basin Complex was completed at the field and Regional Office levels and was to be submitted to the Director of the Service and Bureau, then to the Secretary for approval. The agreement would not alter land uses on Lower Klamath Refuge from the general patterns of recent years. Climatic and Habitat Conditions Weather-climate conditions for Tule Lake Basin apply to Lower Klamath. There was a rather short supply of water in 1976 until the August precipitation resulted in high levels and the need to evacuate from Tule Lake. Most of the water to maintain summer levels had to be imported from Klamath River, 11 miles away, via LK 76 the Ady Canal. The west portion of Unit 12, impounded in 1975 for quackgrass control was drained and returned to grain pro duction. In 1976 F-9 was flooded to control quackgrass. These impoundments, though temporary, always attract adjacent nesting and duck brood use. Some 1,000 acres in the Klamath Straits Unit, held under water by Bureau of Reclamation for quackgrass control and conversion to grain/row crops proved to be an excel lent area producing a minimum of 1,200 gadwall and cinnamon teal ducklings. Water Unit 6, (north half) drained for a YCC island rip-rap job was out of production for 1976. These man-made earthen structures will be protected for years to come. 100 acres in the lower part of Unit 6 was plowed up for winter wheat to encourage goose use. Field F-4 along Highway 161 was converted to weed-quackgrass types for waterfowl and pheasant nesting cover. While disposing of old Canada thistle growth by fire several small peat fires were started in the F-10 field last year and persisted into the 1976 period. Test burning of field 6, 7, and 8 on Fairchild Island the first week in February to remove residual grass hay stems and encourage goose grazing proved only moderately successful for snow, white-fronted and Ross1 geese. We view with concern the activities north of Highway 161 which will eventually eliminate several thousand acres of Reclamation and private quackgrass pasture which geese have used historically during spring migration. C. Land Acquisition Nothing to report. D. System Status 1. Objectives During 1976 management of Lower Klamath Refuge progressed toward fulfillment of ultimate management objectives by continued adjustments of land use. No major construction or rehab projects were funded this year so management of existing facilities to better fulfill wildlife needs was stressed. Lower Klamath will continue to be a multi-value area for waterfowl and other wildlife. Great potential exist to^ increase waterfowl production by improvement of existing habitat. Construction of fencing on Unit 12, adjusting grazing season and intensities of use on Unit 5 and Sheepy West, conversion of Field F-l-4 to natural vegetation. elimination of grazing in Unit 6 and flexible management of irrigation and hay cutting on Fairchild Island unit are all geared to benefit waterfowl production. Production of cereal grain crops on Lower Klamath is not being emphasized or increased. Adequate food production of grain is present and future management will .be weighted toward production of natural foods for waterfowl rather than increasing grain production. Public use potentials are not being realized on Lower Klamath, especially non-consumptive uses. Waterfowl and pheasant hunt ing are being changed to conform to Service standards. Clo sure of White Lake (hunting adjacent to major highway), mid week opening and reduced bag on special pheasant hunt (to reduce crowding) and half-day hunting (to improve bird distri bution and hunting) were instituted to improve on a quality hunting program. Funding Following is a brief summary of funding over the past five years for the Klamath Basin Complex. YEAR 0 § M FUNDS 1972 $334,000* 1973 386,000* 1974 413,500 1975 420,600 1976 450,000 *Includes $8,000 of Soil and Moisture funds. This shows an average increase of 7% per year or less than the national rate of inflation. No construction funds have been available in this period nor any rehab funds. Staffing is essentially the same for the past-five year period with 18 permanent positions in 1972 and 17 in 1976. Four posi tions are, however currently filled by less than full time em ployees, reflecting a real loss of four full time positions from this station in five years. 4 II. CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE Construction 6,900 lineal feet of dike was constructed in Unit 12-F, dividing the unit into 700 acre parcelsr Smaller units will .allow faster evacuation of water in case of botulism outbreak during quack- grass control flooding. • Dirt blown into drain on west side of Unit 12. Area has since been fenced off from grazing by YCC. 5/76 Fields YCC Crews constructed three miles of exterior boundary fence along the south side of Units 12A and 12W, and three miles of interior fence along the west side of Unit 12W. Unit 12-W Fence constructed to protect eroding old peat burn soils from livestock disturbance. 9/76 O'Neill Maintenance The model 8 northwest dragline puddle trenched 7,000 lineal feet of the two primary canal dikes starting at Highway 161. Material was excavated to a depth of 14 feet, backfilled and compacted to control leaks and seepage from Unit 2 into the primary canal. 1 ^ Walkups were constructed on six water control structures to mini mize safety hazards and also provide water operator with addi tional working area when making adjustments to water levels. Earl Irvine with new safety cat-walk he designed and has been installing on water structures throughout Lower Klamath - past two years. 12/76 O'Neill South End of Straits Drain before widening project. 4/75 O'Neill Refuge crew and equipment completing portion of Straits Drain project from Oregon line to Highway 161 in California. 10/76 Fields u/ Straits Drain at the North End before widening. Showing pumping plant F, Southern Pacific Railroad Highway 97, Ady Canal. (Channel is remnant stream bed which flowed to Lower Klamath before 1900's) 9/76 O'Neill Straits Drain at the South End showing excavation from Oregon line north. 9/76 O'Neill 1 LK 6 76 # Cat-walk safety structure installed on Central Canal Unit 12 inlet. Boards were formally removed from atop the structure. 12/76 O'Neill D. Wildfire Nothing to report. III. HABITAT AND MANAGEMENT A. Croplands Nine permittees farmed 5,500 acres of small grain on a share basis, leaving 1/3 of the crop in the field. In spite of late frosts, production was somewhat above normal, averaging 3,500 pounds of grain per acre. . Mallards and pintails started into the standing grain in mid- August. By early September approximately 100,000 ducks were using the fields in Unit 12. We received requests for herding permits from the involved permittees, but none were issued. The birds were allowed to continue feeding, and we received no depredation complaints from other operators, on or off the refuge. LK 7 76 After some measuring and calculations prior to harvest it was determined that only one permittee had lost more than 1/3 of his crop. He was authorized to harvest 70 acres from the refuge share of another permittee. Approximately 100 acres in Unit 6 was seeded to winter wheat by refuge personnel. Canada geese made good use of-the browse during the fall. Plans are to seed the area to tall wheatgrass in 1977. B. Grasslands Approximately 4,600 acres were covered under grazing permits by 3 permittees. 3,100 Animal Use Months were authorized § $1.50 per AUM. In addition Bureau of Reclamation issues grazing permits for Sheepy West, Miller Lake and portions of the Straits Unit. Permits are issued for the period October 1 through January 31. Winter feeding, at a reduced AUM rate, which had been the prac tice for several proceeding years, was discontinued in the 1975- 76 grazing season. A strip along the west side of Unit 12W has been subject to sev ere wind erosion for many years. This area was fenced off by Youth Conservation Corps crews and cattle are excluded. Hope fully, water can be developed here and the area revegetated. 599 tons of hay @$5.00 per ton was removed from Fairchild Island. Another 144 tons was cut, baled, but lost due to August rains. The permittee removed the hay, but was charged only his partial payment of $130. In the spring of 1975, some 60 acres in the west portion of lower Unit 6 was seeded to a mixture of sweet clover and tall wheatgrass. The sweet clover did not catch, but the wheatgrass developed into a reasonably good stand. However, during the hot, dry June and July of 1976, the wheatgrass went into a dor mant state, and did not revive significantly with the August rains. It will be spring of 1977 before we know if this grass survived. C. Wetlands The north portion of Unit 7, approximately 460 acres was taken out of crop production, and is being developed into a marsh unit. Alkali bulrush seed was flown on in June, but the seeding did not appear to be successful. Seeding may be repeated in 1977. LK 8 76 This marsh is being developed partially in anticipation of drying up and renovating water Unit 4, which lies just to the north and partially on the belief that much more can be done in the way of moist soil food production than has been done in the past. For example: with our present share crop division of 1/3 - 2/3 and with an average grain yield of 3,000 pounds per acre, we are providing approximately 1,000 pounds of available food for each acre involved in the farming program. Considering moist soil seed production, useable vegetative material, and inverterbrates associated with this type of wetland, it does not take an excep tionally good marsh to produce 1,000 pounds of waterfowl food per acre. Alkali bulrush (Scirpus robustus) is the plant best suited to operations in this area. Unfortunately, bulrush production suffered some setbacks in 1976. Unit 12W has for years served as a sump for spring runoff which was in excess of the capacity of the Straits Drain to evacuate. Normally this area is flooded each spring and produces an excel lent bulrush crop. However, in the spring of 1976, there was capacity in the Straits Drain to handle all excess water, and 12W was not filled. The food produced in 1975 was not available to spring migrants, and with the unit dry, no bulrush was pro duced in 1976. For the past 2 years. White Lake has been dewatered somewhat ear lier than in prior years, to reduce erosion on nesting islands. Bulrush production has been insignificant on White Lake for the past two years. Summer grazing was eliminated in Unit 6, with the cattle gone, the lower part of the unit produced an excellent stand of bulrush which was well utilized when the area was reflooded in early September. D. Forestlands Not applicable. : F. Other Habitat : Not applicable. G. Easements for Waterfowl Management Not applicable. LK 9 76 IV. WILDLIFE All census data/trends were continued as in previous years. Aerial census of waterfowl, as for Tule Lake, followed established patterns Governing 80 to 90% of all flocks in the Basin. Other species were estimated on a route-sample basis. 1 As at Tule Lake special weekly census trends were made for white- fronted geese from September through December. During the same period cooperative census of all waterfowl on the California side was conducted for California Fish and Game Department to be used in their weekly waterfowl census reports. Fowl cholera in the spring, botulism in the summer, and lead poi soning in the fall took a toll of an estimated 6,500 ducks, geese, coots and swans. Cholera losses (2,000) were mainly in flooded fields and pasture lands. Botulism losses (1,000) occurred in the Reclamation K-Tract flooded fields, and lead poisoning (3,500) resulted from use by ducks of the grain stubble being flood-irri gated during December. Refuge and share crop yields were light comparatively and lacked much of their usual fall season attraction for geese. (See Tule Lake section for banding activities. v' A. Endanagered and Threatened Species Species under this heading include Bald and Southern Eagles and Lost River Suckers. No change in status noted for the report period. No Endangered Species Recovery Team activities. B. Migratory Birds 1. Waterfowl Population data and trends for Lower Klamath reflect that sta tus noted under the Tule Lake section. Total waterfowl use was close to last years (-1%). Production of ducks, geese, and coots, came back considerably over 1975 (up 7%). This may have been due primarily to low unfavorable water conditions on Tule Lake as well as near dry range land potholes and reservoirs adja cent to the refuge. The higher than usual mallard population during the fall and lower than usual spring concentrations and pasture use by white geese were the most significant changes during the year. Canada Geese and Sandhill Cranes on Unit 6 in August showing good stand of Alkali bulrush in background. 8/76 Fields Marsh and Water Birds No significant change in status. At least four common egrets overwintered for the first time on record. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species No significant change in status. ; Raptors No significant change in status. Other Migratory Birds No significant change in status. LK 11 76 C. Mammals and Non-Migratory Birds and Others 1. Game Mammals Fur management included muskrat harvest by two permit trappers (J. Fabianek and P. Collins) who removed 2,217 rats and nine raccoons from Units 2, 3, '4, 8 and 9 where roads, impoundment dikes, structures and nesting islands were receiving consider able damage. 2. Other Mammals Nothing to report. 3. Resident Birds Since Lower Klamath is adjacent to Tule Lake the population trends hold true for this area as well. 4. Other Animal Life No significant changes to report. V. INTERPRETATION AND RECREATION A. Information and Interpretation 1. Qn-Refuge The refuge staff continues to provide on-site interpretive programs to schools and other organized groups. There was a decline in the number of group programs presented, because of staff shortages in April and May. On the first day of National Wildlife week 215 people made self-guided tours of the refuge. Interpretive leaflets were produced for the occasion and members of the staff were posted at various spots along the tour route. The leaflets proved so popular that we continued to use them throughout the spring. An early summer edition of the leaflet was also printed and in 1977,we plan to have leaflets available through out the year. Use of the leaflets increased our self-guided auto tour outputs by 537%. Most of this increase reflects a shift from general observation rather than an actual increase in visitors. Three students from the University of California, Davis, con ducted month long undergraduate studies of the refuge as part of a summer biology class. Two studies were on nesting behav ior of coots and grebes. The other student observed the feed ing habits of avocets. Classroom programs represent an important part of our inter pretive activities. These programs are designed to intro duce students to the natural and man-made forces at work around them and how these forces relate to their daily lives and the refuges. The classroom programs also give young people a chance to come face to face with the United States government in a friendly setting.. Public meetings were held in Tulelake and Dunsmuir, California, to discuss alternatives for land use planning encompassing the Tule Lake and Lower Klamath Refuges, Lava Beds National Monu ment, and Forest Service lands in the Medicine Lake Highlands. The concept of inter-agency land use planning is good, but in reality it is difficult to coordinate the varying objectives of different agencies. Recreation 1. Wildlife/Wildlands Oriented Over 99,000 people visited the refuge, a 33% increase over the 1975 total. Most of the increase was in wildlife observation and sightseeing. It is likely that visitor use will continue to increase at least for the next few years. Audubon group from Bend, Oregon birdwatching at White Lake. An excellent birding area adjacent to State Highway 161. 10/75 Fields 2. Waterfowl Hunting Opening day saw 670 hunters on Lower Klamath. Except for opening day of. pheasant season, this was the largest number of hunters on the area on any one day. The first week of the season accounted for 21% of the total visits, and 41% of the total harvest. 13,500 hunters visits were recorded, an increase of 36% over 1975. Goose harvest of 1,800 birds was down 41% while duck kill of 26,400 was up 77%, compared to last years records. Although the number of hunters was not excessive in relation to the size of the hunting area, considerable crowding occur red, as hunters tend to congregate around 'the hot spots'. As with Tule Lake, opening of pheasant season brought hunter numbers up from 250 on November 12, to 1,400 on the 13th, opening day. However, we did not see the large increase in violations at this time as occurred at Tule Lake. We feel this is partially due to poorer hunter control on Lower Klamath, resulting in a higher violation rate throughout the season. Citations were written on Lower Klamath at the ratio of 1 for 132 visits, while on Tule Lake the ratio was 1 for 234 visits. 3. Pheasant Hunting Pheasant season opened with approximately 1,200 hunters tak ing to the fields. The hunt followed what appears to be the normal pattern in this area -- hunter numbers dropped to around 700 the second day, 200 the third day, and for the rest of the regular season only a handful of hunters made the attempt. T Hunter use during the special four-day hunt seemed more to our liking. Hunter numbers were 560, 350, 340, and 140 on the respective four days. Season totals show 4,050 hunters taking 2,370 birds compared with 3,380 hunters with 2,480 birds in 1975. Enforcement As might be expected most of the refuges law enforcement problems result from our large hunting program. Many of the violations in hunting would never occur if hunters would read the printed regu lations rather than depending on what "a friend heard from a guy". LK 14 76 A party of three Klamath Indians were found hunting in a closed area of the California portion of the refuge. Current legal opinion is that Indians must obey refuge regulations, and Klamath Tribal officials assure us that they will honor the refuges. At this time most people agree that Klamath Indians only have ances tral hunting rights in Oregon. The party was observed in the closed area three times before we managed to put a firm halt to their activities. They were cited for 19 violations of refuge regulations. In addition the owner of the vehicle, twice convicted of homicide, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for interstate transportation of firearms in connection with this incident. Assistant Manager Benvenuti attended the eight week police school at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. The following is a list of violations issued on Lower Klamath for 1976. VI. OTHER ITEMS A. Field Investigations See Tule Lake section. B. Cooperative Programs 1. Powerline Study Pacific Power and Light Company proposed to construct a 500 K. V. Transmission line from Midpoint, Idaho to Medford, Ore gon which would cross the Lower Klamath Lake area one mile north of Lower Klamath Refuge boundary. Opposition to the line was presented at two public hearings by refuge staff speaking for the Service, opposing it primarily on its poten tial impact as a collision barrier to the large flocks of waterfowl which feed in the Lower Lake area. As a result of testimony at its hearing, the Oregon Public Utilities Commis sion authorized a study to determine the extent of waterfowl use along the proposed basin crossing route. Refuge person nel cooperated with the PUC study team by providing orienta tion, census data and general background information. At years end the study was still underway. After completion the PUC will make a determination of a specific route across, or around the basin. LK ^6- 15 r VIOLATIONS RECORDED ON LOWER KLAMATH REFUGE 1976 Type of Violation Cited by Warning by Cited by Total Refuge Refuge Non-refuge Personnel Personnel Personnel (Incomplete) Disturb an authorized user (shoot) Hunt or trespass in 39 48 a closed area Possess firearms 13 16 (loaded in retrieving zone, in vehicles, etc.) No hunting license or stamp 14 2 20 Shooting hours 28 19 52 Take protected species 8 1 9 Unplugged shotgun 2 6 Shoot from access route 3 3 Shoot from motor vehicle 1 1 Shoot from moving powerboat 2 2 Camping and entry time 2 3 Off road vehicle use 5 7 Unregistered motor boat 1 8 Disturb wildlife 2 2 TOTAL 120 31 27 178 Birds on flooded field on proposed route of 500 KV line one mile north of refuge boundary. 2/76 Fields For information on Youth Conservation Corps and cooperative eagle study see 1976 Tule Lake Refuge unit. C. Items of Interest Federal Government payments to counties as a result of Klamath Basin Complex operations are made under P. L. 88-523 and P. L. 88-567 to two California counties and one Oregon County. 1976 payments to the counties total $146,187.77. Payments to the counties for the five years 1972 - 1976 totalled $666,794.21. This is in addition to the possessory interest tax assessed each cooperator and permittee in the California counties of Modoc and Siskiyou. Payments to Siskiyou County, California are derived from both Lower Klamath and Tule Lake Refuges. Likewise payments are made to Klamath County, Oregon from Lower Klamath, Klamath Forest, and Upper Klamath Refuge receipts. No breakdown is avail able for each unit separately. Following is a breakdown of the payments to counties made during 1976. California Oregon COUNTIES: Siskiyou Modoc Klamath Total P.L. 88-523 $ 260.69 $12,891.51 $ 13,152.20 P.LI 88-567 105,525.51 $16,165.61 15,544.65 155,055.57 $103,786.00 $16,165.61 $26,236.16 $146,187.77 Credits: Section I - A, C and D -- Fields Section I ^ B -- O'Neill Section II -- Green Section III -- McCollum Section IV -- O'Neill Section V - A and C -- Benvenuti Section V - B -- Benvenuti and McCollum Section VI - A -- O'Neill Section VI - B — Fields Section VI - C -- R. Chapman Section VI - D -- Green Typing -- Davis Safety See Tule Lake Refuge unit. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. GENERAL Introduction 1 Climatic and Habitat Conditions 1 Land Acquisition 7 1 System Status 1 II. CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE Construction 2 Maintenance 2 Wildfire 2 III. HABITAT MANAGEMENT Croplands 2 Grasslands 2 Wetlands 2 Forestlands 2 Other Habitat 3 Wilderness and Special Areas 3 Easements for Waterfowl Management 3 IV- ^ldlife Endangered and Threatened Species 3 Migratory Birds 3 Mammals and Non-Migratory Birds and Others.. 4 V. INTERPRETATION AND RECREATION Information and Interpretation 4 Recreation 4 Enforcement 5 VI. OTHER ITEMS Field Investigations Cooperative Programs Items of Interest Safety CL 1 76 I. GENERAL A. Introduction Clear Lake Refuge is located about 15 miles east of Tulelake and serves as a major water source for the Klamath Reclamation Project operated by the Bureau of Reclamation. The area is sparsely popu lated and receives the least visitation of the five Klamath Basin Refuges. B. Climatic and Habitat Conditions Weather and data for the refuge is recorded in Tulelake, temperatures were normal throughout the year, however, precipitation was very erratic. A total of 9.22 inches fell for the year. This represents 90% of the average annual precipitation. January - July precipita tion was 23% below the average (1967-75). In August a record 4.00 inch rain fell (August average is 0.43 inches), thus compensating for the earlier lack of precipitation. Hopes for normal fall and winter precipitation were shattered as one of the driest September- December periods in history hit the area. Precipitation for this period was 18% of normal as only 0.73 inches was recorded. Water levels were also below average this year. Levels are con trolled by the Bureau of Reclamation as part of the Klamath Rec lamation Project. For the entire year the lake level was 1.6 feet below the 1968-75 average (4533.72' mean sea"level). Greatest deviation occurred in MayT - July when the level averaged 2.65 feet below the normal (4535.08' msl) for this period. By December 31, the lake had dropped to 4530.00' msl, nearly two feet below the year end average. Not since 1968 has the lake started out the following year below this level. The low level coupled with the smallest snow pack on record indicates a probable low water year for 1977. Habitat conditions followed the precipitation pattern for the year. Spring forage production was only fair following the dry spring, however, the record August rains produced lush growths of range bunch grass which had never been seen locally in .late summer. C. Land Acquisition Nothing to report. D. System Status \ " The main objectives of the refuge are to provide for waterfowl migration habitat and to a lesser extent waterfowl, marsh, and shorebird production habitat. Because the refuge is part of the Klamath Basin Complex, the area is treated as part of the whole complex for annual work planning and program scheduling purposes. No particular plans or packages were submitted for Clear Lake. CL 2 Refuge funding is treated as part of the entire complex. See te the Tule Lake Refuge narrative for funding of the complex. II. CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE A. Construction Nothing to report. B. Maintenance Nothing to report. C. Wildfire Nothing to report. III. HABITAT MANAGEMENT A. Croplands Not applicable. B. Grasslands Approximately 32% of the refuge is classified as native grasslands (5,110 acres), seasonally flooded basin (3,310 acres), and brush- land (2,500 acres). The entire refuge with the exception of the "U" unit (6,837 acres), is unfenced, thus allowing cattle access from adjacent Forest Service land. Bureauobf Reclamation pre sently has the responsibility of issuing the grazing permit for the "U" unit and receiving the receipts for Animal Use Months harvested. Under recently passed Public Law 94-223, the Service will assume responsibility for the issuance of the "U" permit but receipts will still be collected by the Bureau of Reclamation. Because Clear Lake is the only water source for cattle grazing on adjacent Forest Service land, cattle are permitted access to the lake under a joint agreement with the Forest Service. C. Wetlands > Bureau of Reclamation has sole jurisdiction over manipulation of water levels on Clear Lake. As a result, refuge management of water is non existent. Only approximately 60 acres of the total 22,500 acre lake has aquatic vegetation and it is totally affected by Bureau of Reclamation water management. D. Forestlands Not applicable. CL 3 76 E. Other Habitat Not applicable. F. Wilderness and Special Areas Not applicable. - - „ . , G. Easements for Waterfowl Management Not applicable. IV. WILDLIFE A. Endangered and Threatened Species Bald and Southern Bald Eagles were present in similar numbers to recent years. The status of the Lost River and Short-nosed Suckers was believed unchanged from last year and no Endangered Species Recovery Team activity of participation on Clear Lake occurred in 1976 to our knowledge. B. Migratory Birds 1. Waterfowl Goose production dropped some 50% below last years confirm-^ ing here too 1976 was a poor Canada Goose brood year. Duck broods showed up in slightly more numbers (12) than last year with gadwall being the main nesting species noted. No disease, banding or collections activity during the year. 2. Marsh and Water Birds Colonial nesters used the same locations as last year with varying degrees of success. There was evidence of at least two visitations by curious people on the pelican colony both early and late in the season. - 3. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species No change in status noted. 4. Raptors No change to report. 5. Other Migratory Birds No change to report. 4 CL 76 C. Mammals and Non-Migratory Birds and Others 1. Game Mammals Antelope use of the U-Peninsula during the summer season was the lowest in 10 years only 44 total were present when cen- sused in July. This year five kids were tallied-on the "U". After the hunting season CSeptember) a total of 206 antelope were counted on the "U". We have never seen antelope remain on the U-Tract after the first of November. This year a band of 73 pronghorns stayed throughout November and December. 2. Other Mammals Nothing to report. 3. Resident Birds Apparently the combination of dry range and cool weather caused sage grouse to shift somewhat from usual haunts and ground transects turned up only two birds during production census. (State men however, stated 1976 was a good produc tion year for the species)! 4. Other Animal Life Nothing to report. V. INTERPRETATION AND RECREATION A. Information and Interpretation Clear Lake is covered in the Klamath Basin Complex general infor mation leaflet which is distributed at Tule Lake Refuge headquarters. No information or interpretive displays exist on the refuge. B. Recreation 1. Wildlife Oriented * A total of 735 visits,were made on the refuge this year. Pri mary use was Wildlife/Wildlands Observation - land (66%) fol lowed by waterfowl hunting (30%). When considering total ref uge activity hours (2,082) waterfowl hunting accounted for 63% while Wildlife/Wildlands totalled 25%. The refuge has a pronghorn antelope hunt every year in the "U" unit. The hunt is administered by California Fish and Game personnel as part of the state's Clear Lake Unit. Last year the Clear Lake Unit antelope quota was 100. Of this, 5 ante lope were allowed to be taken from the "U" unit on the refuge. CL 5 76 No more than five hunters were allowed on the "U" at any one time, with access strictly controlled by a California Fish and Game employee at the lone entrance on the south boundary of the unit. . Five days (two weekends) were set aside in late August and early September for the hunt, however, the quota of five buck antelope was harvested the first day. A total of 160 activity hours (7% *of total) were recorded for the hunt. 2. Non-Wildlife Oriented An estimated 25 activity hours were spent by picnickers on the refuge this year. Lack of snow this winter did not dis courage snowmobilers because they drove on the frozen lake instead. Unfortunately no apprehensions were made. C. Enforcement Distance from and higher priorities at the Tule Lake and Lower Klamath Refuges allowed only marginal enforcement effort by ref uge personnel. The previously mentioned snowmobile use was the only problem noted during visits to the refuge. VI. OTHER ITEMS ^ A. Field Investigations Nothing to report. B. Cooperative Programs Nothing to report. C. Items of Interest Credits: ; Section IV -- O'Neill All other sections -- Fleischer : Typing -- Davis * D. Safety Safety is stressed during refuge activities. For information concerning safety as it relates to the entire Klamath Basin Complex see the Tule Lake Refuge narrative. i . TABLE OF CONTENTS UIC I. GENERAL Page 76 A. Introduction 1 B. Climatic and Habitat Conditions 1 C. Land Acquisition ; .' 1 D. System Status 3 II, CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE A. Construction 3 B. Maintenance 3 C. Wildfire 3 III. HABITAT MANAGEMENT A. Croplands 3 B. Grasslands 3 C. Wetlands 4 D. Forest lands 4 E. Other Habitat 4 F. Wilderness and Special Areas 4 G. Easements for Waterfowl Management 4 IV. WILDLIFE A. Endangered and Threatened Species 4 B. Migratory Birds 4 C. Mammals and Non-Migratory Birds and Others 6 V. INTERPRETATION AND RECREATION A. Information and Interpretation ^ B. Recreation C. Enforcement 8 V!. OTHER ITEMS A. Field Investigations 8 B. Cooperative Programs , 8 C. Items of Interest 8 D. Safety 10 UK 1 76 I. GENERAL A. Introduction Upper Klamath Refuge is situated on Upper Klamath Lake 25 miles northwest of Klamath Falls, Oregon. All of its 12,457 acres is marsh and open water, accessible only by boat. Included in this refuge is Hanks Marsh, approximately 1,100 acreas of marsh sit- utated on the east side of Upper Klamath Lake five miles north of Klamath Falls. Both areas are of prime importance as breeding and migration stopover areas for Pacific Flyway waterfowl and other marsh and water birds. B. Climatic and Habitat Conditions Weather data is collected at the Pacific Power and Light Company installation in Klamath Falls. Temperatures for the year followed average patterns, however, precipitation was anything but normal. Annual precipitation totaled 7.93 inches, 40% below the average. Data collected by other Klamath Falls sources indicated as much as 70% below normal precipitation. Except for February and August, below normal precipitation was received throughout the year. August rains totaled 2.73 inches. This represented 34% of the annual total and compares with a normal August total of .21 inches. This year will go down as one of the driest on record. Despite low precipitation, lake water levels didn't vary enough to significantly effect marsh conditions. This years peak level was reached in May, one month earlier than normal and approximately 0.3 feet below average. Summer levels averaged 1/2 to 1 foot below normal until the previously mentioned August rains raised the level back to normal again. Lack of fall and winter precipi tation resulted in the lake finishing this year approximately 0.3 foot below normal. C. Land Acquisition Efforts continued this year with the U. S. Forest Service and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to acquire approximately 2,400 acres of Forest Service owned marsh located adjacent to the west side of the refuge.. The Forest Service decided in December 1975, and the Service agreed, that this marsh area would be best managed as part of the refuge. A Memorandum of Understanding was drafted and agreed upon by all parties this spring concerning this transfer of management for the marsh. A determination of policy was, however, made by the Forest Service that included this pro posal in the Unit Management Plan for the adjacent Mc Loughlin- Klamath Planning Units for the Forest Service. This necessitated making the transfer subject after Environmental Impact Statement requirements are satisfied. No problems are anticipated and it is hoped that the Service will assume management of this valuable UK 76 X Q piece o£ marsh sometime in 1977. Transfer of title will follow at a later date. This action will bring virtually all marsh areas on Upper Klamath Lake under refuge management. • * - v-.- •mmmmrmm- • v • • - . - v.ttv Upper Klamath Refuge, Unit I showing proposed Forest Service land exchange tract. 4/76 O'Neill Upper Klamath Refuge, Unit I showing proposed Forest Service land exchange tract. 4/76 O'Neill UK 3 76 D. System Status Major objectives of the refuge deal with its importance as a water fowl production and migration resting area. Importance of the marsh as an entirely natural system, with no water manipulation other than that conducted by the Bureau of Reclamation as part of the entire Upper Klamath Lake, is stressed. As a result little is programmed to alter the natural arrangement of the marsh. The refuge is funded as part of the Klamath Basin Complex and there fore receives funding out of the total complex budget. See the Tule Lake Refuge narrative for funding and manpower allocations for the complex. II. CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE A. Construction Nothing to report. B. Maintenance General maintenance completed this year included upkeep of the ref uge cabin, updating or replacing refuge hunting signs as needed, and clearing trees and brush from the front of the cabin for a better view of the marsh. Members of a YCC spike camp were responsible for the cabin cleanup jobs (see Tule Lake Refuge narrative concerning information on the 1976 Klamath Basin YCC camp). C. Wildfire Nothing to report. III. HABITAT MANAGEMENT A. Croplands Not applicable. B. Grasslands . One grazing permittee paid $726.00 for his cows harvest of 204 Animal Use Months. The permit and receipts were handled by the Bureau of Reclamation. Grazing is accomplished, depending on water levels, on the northern most 400 - 700 acres of the refuge which is predominately shallow marsh with some meadow and small upland areas. Grazing did not adversely affect vegetation con ditions. UK 4 S6i C. Wetlands The refuge is basically a natural marsh and as a result no phys ical management of water or vegetation is accomplished. Water levels are controlled by Bureau of Reclamation irrigation activ ities and Pacific Power and Light power generation. Upper Klamath Lake levels and Klamath River-flows downstream from the Link River dam are regulated by Pacific Power and Light via contract with the Bureau of Reclamation. No refuge water control facilities exist. Water levels fluctuate only a few feet during the course of a nor mal year and then usually in a constant pattern, lowest levels in November-January and highest levels in May-early July with gradual increases and decreases between these periods. (See section I-B for 1976 levels). Vegetation density and distribution varies little from year to year. D. Forest lands Not applicable. E. Other Habitat Not applicable. F. Wilderness and Special Areas Not applicable. G. Easements for Waterfowl Management Not applicable. IV. WILDLIFE A. Endangered and Threatened Species Status of Bald, Southern Bald Eagles and Lost River Sucker appar ently unchanged based on 1976 observations and reports. B. Migratory Birds 1. Waterfowl Duck, goose, swan and coot use for the report period was almost a duplication of population trends for 1975 (up about 1%) but production among ducks was decidedly lower (30%). Canada Goose production was 10% above last years and we noted a definite preference for and shift to the pasture land/grain fields of Tulana Farms as soon as broods could move out. UK 5 76 Apparently there was no incidence of cholera on either Hank's Marsh or Upper Klamath proper, however, adjacent Agency Lake had a high increase among Ruddy Ducks (3,200) where twice- weekly pickups along the shoreline were made. Agency Lake, Duck losses to fowl cholera during March and April 1976. Estimated 3,200 Ruddy Ducks lost here. 4/76 O'Neill Red-Necked Grebe and brood. This species is commonly seen near Rocky Point Resort on west side of refuge. 7/76 Fields No banding activities during the year. 2. Marsh and Water Birds No significant change in status. 3. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species No significant change in status. 4. Raptors : Mammals and Non-Migratory Nothing to report. UK 7 76 V. INTERPRETATION AND RECREATION A. Information and Interpretation Information boards displaying refuge regulations and providing refuge brochures for distribution are available at two Forest Service marsh access points adjacent to the refuge, Rocky Point and Malone Springs boat launch areas at the two major access points to the marsh for hunters and fishermen. B. Recreation 1. Wildlife Oriented A total of 14,711 visits were made this year. Primary use of the area by output was Wildlife/Wildlands Observation- boating (40%), coldwater fishing (32%), and waterfowl hunt ing (25%). When considering total activity hours spent on the refuge (47,278) the order changed: waterfowl hunting (41%), coldwater fishing (39%), and Wildlife/Wildlands Observation-boating (17%). Fishing for trout and perch was very good with both large fish and good stringers common during the right time of the season. Rainbow trout up to 11 pounds and averaging 3-4 pounds are commonly caught in Pelican Bay, and Lower Recreation Creek near Rocky Point. Best fishing was in May, June and August. Waterfowl hunting increased over last year (up 900 visits and 5,000 AH) despite bluebird weather during the first four weeks of the season. The season bird/hunter visit averaged around 1.0, up from last years 0.5. A total of 2,625 muskrats and one mink were harvested by two refuge permittees. Receipts totaled $844.61. In addition, an unknown number of muskrats were taken from the edges of Upper Klamath and Agency Lakes by one other trapper. This particular trapper harvests refuge rats that.utilize float traps that are set just off the refuge edge. An additional permit was issued, by the Bureau of Reclamation, for the trapping of Hanks Marsh. A total of 2,030 muskrats were harvested there. All three permits were renewed for the 1976-77 season. Results will be discussed in the 1977 narrative. UK 8 76 2. Non-Wildlife Oriented Water skiing continued to be the only activity of this cat egory of any. magnitude. The limited area of use has only marginal effects on wildlife. An estimated 650 hours of this activity were recorded on the refuge. ^ - - C. Enforcement Distance from and higher priorities at the Tule Lake and Lower Klamath Refuges allows only marginal enforcement effort by refuge personnel. The area is also patrolled by Oregon State Police game enforcement personnel. A total of five refuge and seven state citations were issued on the refuge during the waterfowl hunting season, shooting hour violations and taking protected species accounting for ten cases. VI. OTHER ITEMS A. Field Investigations Nothing to report. B. Cooperative Programs Nothing to report. C. Items of Interest Interest continued in what Pelican Butte, and 8,036' peak just west of Upper Klamath Lake, will be used for in future years. Under the Unit Management Planning Program of the U. S. Forest Service, future classification of land uses will be determined, including Pelican Butte. The area is recognized as one of the best remaining areas for potential downhill ski area develop ment in the northwest. Under the Unit Management Planning process the Forest Service will develop an Environmental Impact Statement and show alter native uses proposed for Pelican Butte as part of its Klamath- Mc Loughlin Planning Unit. There have been proposals to include it in the adjacent Sky Lakes Wilderness Area, zone it as a road less area, and develop it as a ski area. Pro-development inter ests point to the financial and recreational benefits to be derived from a large ski area. Opponents cite the detrimental impacts that could accompany a large recreational development, including impacts to the adjacent marshes of Upper Klamath Refuge and the transformation of the small Rocky Point area from its current small community cultural setting to just another tour ist area for the ski enthusiast. UK 9 76 Pelican Butte viewed from Upper Klamath. The Butte is subject to much controversy as to whether or not U. S. Forest Service will zone it available for ski area development. 6/76 Fields In the EIS, the Forest Service will have a recommended alter native for Pelican Butte. Refuge personnel have been working closely with the Forest Service in helping them understand potential impacts of a large development adjacent to the refuge. The draft EIS is scheduled (again) to be released in late spring of 1977. Federal Government payments to counties as a result of Klamath Basin Complex operations are made under P. L. 88-523 and P. L. 88-567 to two California counties and one Oregon county. 1976 payments to the counties total $146,187.77. Payments to the counties for the five years 1972 - 1976 totalled $666,794.21. This is in addition to the possessory interest tax assessed each cooperator and permittee in the California counties of Modoc and Siskiyou. Payments to Klamath County, Oregon are derived from Upper Klamath, Lower Klamath, and Klamath Forest Refuges. No breakdown is available for each unit separately. Following is a breakdown of payments to counties made during 1976. m - California Oregon COUNTIES: Siskiyou Modoc Klamath Total P.L. 88-523 $ 260.69 $12,891.51 $ 13,152.20 P.L. 88-567 103,525.31 I6;i65.61? 13,344.65 133,055.57 $103,786.00 $16,165.61 $26,236.16 $146,187.77 Credits: Section IV -- O'Neill Section I - C -- Fields Section VI - C -- Fields and R. Chapman All other sections -- Fleischer Typing -- Davis Safety Safety was stressed on all refuge activities. For more informa tion concerning the entire safety program as it relates to the Klamath Basin Complex see the Tule Lake Refuge narrative. KF 76 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 • ^'F.NERAL Page A. Introduction 1 B. Climatic and Habitat Conditions 1 C. Land Acquisition...... " . .* 3 D. System Status 3 II. CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE A. Construction 4 B. Maintenance 4 C. Wildfire 4 III. HABITAT MANAGEMENT A. Croplands 4 B. Grasslands 5 C. Wetlands 5 D. Forestlands 6 E. Other Habitat 5 F. Wilderness and Special Areas 6 G. Easements for Waterfowl Management 7 IV. WILDLIFE A. Endangered and Threatened Species 7 B. Migratory Birds 7 C. Mammals and Non-Migratory Birds and Others 8 V. INTERPRETATION AND RECREATION A. Information and Interpretation 8 B. Recreation 8 C. Enforcement 9 V!. OTHER ITEMS A. Field Investigations 9 B. Cooperative Programs....- 9 C. Items of Interest 9 D. Safety 10 KF 76 I. GENERAL A. Introduction Klamath Forest Refuge, made up of marsh (13,291 acres), open water (940 acres), meadow (670 acres), and timber (526 acres) is situated ill the pine forest Of south central Oregon and plays an important role as a waterfowl production and migra tion area of the Pacific Flyway. The refuge lies in the for mer Klamath Indian Reservation and was established in 1958 after land was purchased from the Klamath Indians upon termi nation of the Reservation the same year. Highlights for the year included high water levels despite below average precipitation, ajudication proceedings for water rights, a YCC spike camp, and finalizing a land exchange with an adjacent land owner. B. Climatic and Habitat Conditions Temperatures for the year followed normal patterns, with the high (90) occurring in July and the low (-5) in February. Freezing temperatures were recorded every month of the year, a normal occurrence. Precipitation was another story altogether. Low snowfall in late 1975 (48% below the 1962-71 average) carried into 1976 as January-April snowfall was 27% below the average. Rain from April-October totaled 4.53 inches, 24% below the average for this seven month period. This was despite a record rainfall of 2.74 inches in August (average-0.67 inches). To finish the bad picture, only 2.2 inches of snowfall (last few days of December) was recorded for the October-December period. This period normally averages 68.9 inches. This year will go down as the driest year on record, with the 1977 outlook appearing just as bad. Despite previously discussed precipitation problems the marsh enjoyed another high water year. Water levels did not reach the 1960-69 average level (see following graph) until May, but from then on levels were higher than average. It appeared that haying could be accomplished this year because of the gradual water level decline from June through mid-August but the record August rains raised the level high enough to all but eliminate refuge haying for the second straight year. Prior to 1975 late summer water levels were always lower than 4513.20' mean sea level, a critical level for haying opera tions. 4 WATER LEVELS - KLAMATH FQREST REFUGE KF 76 C. Land Acquisition Efforts continued this year to finalize the exchange of 40 acres of refuge land a tract that is isolated from the remainder of the refuge, for 40 acres of Nichol Land and Cattle Company land that lies adjacent to the present refuge boundary. Unit G-7 is presently unfeneed and completely surrounded by Nichol land, creating management problems for both parties. A Certificate of Occupancy was completed in December. Estimated final exchange approval will probably be in early 1977. Another acquisition project developed this year. It was learned in May the Big Wocus Bay tract, 1,176 acres of freshwater marsh and upland owned by remaining members of the former Klamath Indian Tribe and held in trust for them by the U. S. National Bank of Oregon in Klamath Falls, would be available for purchase late in the year. This tract which contains some of the best open water areas of the entire Klamath Marsh, is of major impor tance for future marsh development, and falls within approved refuge land acquisition boundaries, was last offered for sale in 1971 at an appraised value of $145,000. At that time, the Fish and Wildlife Service submitted the only bid, $105,000, which was too low. A formal Regional Office acquisition recommendation was sub mitted in late June to the Central Office. The proposal noted the tracts' importance to waterfowl but also recognized the uncertain availability of migratory bird acquisition money and realized the tracts' low rating under the new national acquisi tion catagories and regional acquisition priorities. It was determined that a bid could not be submitted by the Service. Before the October 26th sealed bid deadline arrived, a last minute effort was pursued in October with the Nature Conservancy for them to submit a bid with the possibility of future reim bursement by the Service. The Conservancy submitted a bid but it was lower than the $176,226 submitted by the successful bidder John Horton, a Klamath Falls rancher. The minimum accept able bid this year was $168,000. • D. System Status ^ 1. Objectives The two major objectives of the Klamath Forest Refuges con cern waterfowl migration and production habitat. Because it is a refuge under the Klamath Basin Complex, the area is treated as part of the whole complex for annual work planning and program scheduling purposes. On planning \ r KF 4 76 package has been submitted and approved concerning extensive diking of the marsh to maintain more productive water levels. The marsh is presently choking itself out, hardstem bulrush and cattail growth responding quite favorably to fluctuat ing marsh levels especially lower summer levels. The two major objectives cannot seriously be considered until the present Williamson River water rights situation* (see III C) is resolved. Only after this occurs can dike construc tion funding be justified. If sufficient water rights are not obtained to justify the expenditures, refuge objectives will have to be realigned to better reflect the marsh's succession and potential of the area. 2. Funding Funding is treated as part of the entire Klamath Basin Complex. See the Tule Lake Refuge narrative for general information. II. CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE A. Construction No significant construction projects were planned or completed for the year. The only major construction project planned for the refuge is that of dike construction as discussed in I. D. B. Maintenance Minor maintenance accomplishments this year included repair to fence and fence braces along the east boundary north of Silver Lake Road and clean up of the cabin site including dismantling of both latrine facilities in favor of a new portable unit and painting the cabin exterior. These jobs were completed by two YCC spike camp crews during July. Also accomplished was an updating of waterfowl hunting sign conditions, with signs added or replaced as necessary. C. Wildfire Nothing to report. III. HABITAT MANAGEMENT A. Croplands Not applicable. KF 5 76 B. Grasslands Because of high water levels saturating the haying units, only one permittee was successful in harvesting hay this year. He was very restricted within his unit and even then the majority of bales harvested were damp. A total of 52.41 tons were har vested, revenue being $272.53. ~ . . Three grazing permittees paid $8,657.56 for their cows harvest of 4,328.78 Animal Use Months. Total authorized AUM harvest was 4,800. In addition to the regular permits, a two week permit for 70 AUM's was issued to Mr. Cameron Cliff in late August to cover trespass grazing by his cattle. His cows were leaving leased land adjacent to the refuge and entering refuge Unit G-l through downed refuge fence or an area of dense bulrush that did not have a previous boundary fence. This year normal grazing permits for Units G-l, 2, 3, and W-l and 3 were not issued because the usual permitee, Ora Summers, sold his private cattle interests. He did lease his prop erty adjacent to the refuge to Cameron Cliff with the previ ously discussed problem one of the results. Except for Unit G-l, all the other units normally assigned to Summers received a much needed rest. Upland areas in those units grazed received higher than normal grazing pressure for the second year in a row. High water levels prevented cattle from grazing deeper into the marsh, thus creating more pressure on the uplands. A grazing fee survey was conducted in September to determine current AUM charges on ranches in the vicinity of the refuge. An effort was made to determine charges on areas with vegeta tion similar to that found on the refuge. The current refuge fee is $2.00/AUM. Survey results indicated that $6.52/AUM would be more in line with private rates. Regional Office approval was received in December for the soliciting of sealed bids for grazing permits in the future. Because of inadquate lead time this procedure will be initiated during the 1978 season. The method should generate more comparable receipts for refuge products. : C. Wetlands Physical management of the marsh remains non existent. No water control structures or dikes exist therefore marsh pro duction is dependant on natural as well as man induced water fluctuations. As mentioned in previous narratives, natural _ — ^ KF 6 76 marsh succession is occurring at a very steady rate. Vegetation growth continues to be quite responsive to the up and down water levels created by fluctuating base water supplies and increasing upstream usage of Williamson River water for irriation projects on private land. Until water rights are ajudicated, the marsh will continue to fill up with hardstem bulrush and cattail. If the refuge receives substantial "rights to water, approval could be obtained to construct water control facilities to better man age the marsh toward waterfowl maintenance and production obj ectives. If these rights are not received, refuge objectives changes will be necessary. During the year the State of Oregon tried to get ajudication proceedings transferred to state court, claiming state juris diction over Williamson River water. However, U. S. District Court Judge Gus Solomon delcared the case to be tried in fed eral court because of the major impact the water has on fed eral land, both refuge and National Forest lands of the Winema National Forest. D. Forestlands Nothing to report. E. Other Habitat Not applicable. F. Wilderness and Special Areas Final touches were put on the nomination of the Klamath Indian Cremation Site to the National Register of Historic Places. The nomination was submitted to the Regional Office by the end of the year and subsequently forwarded to Washington D. C. for final approval. KF 7 76 Klamath Marsh viewed from near cremation site showing denseness of marsh vegetation. 8/76 ' Fields G. Easements for Waterfowl Management Not applicable. IV. WILDLIFE A. Endangered and Threatened Species Bald Eagles and Southern Bald Eagles used the refuge during the year but no significant change in status was noted in 1976. There was no recovery team activity or participation. B. Migratory Birds * 1. Waterfowl Waterfowl production dropped off slightly (7%) compared to 1975, a better water year. The mallard production was surprising, showing three times the broods tallied last year. We attributed this to the fact many outside areas were either low in water or dry this year. KF 8 76 2. Marsh and Water Birds Sandhill Crane use was up slightly during the spring (18 adults), however we noted a production of only three chicks this year. For the first time in some ten years Cormorants (30 pairs) nested in the hardstem bulrush marsh north of Big Wocus. V - - , 3. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species Nothing to report. 4. Raptors Nothing to report. 5. Other Migratory Birds Nothing to report. V. INTERPRETATION AND RECREATION A. Information and Interpretation Refuge leaflets and regulations were distributed to the visit ing public via the self distribution display board located at the cabin site on the refuge. This is the refuges only inter pretive setup. B. Recreation A total of 5,657 visits were estimated for the refuge this year. Primary use, as in all years, involves Wildlife/Wildlands Obser vation. Viewing is primarily from the Silver Lake Road which bisects the marsh. This activity accounted for 85% of this years total visits. Waterfowl hunting accounted for 7% of the visits to rank second while cold and warmwater fishing forTtrout and catfish accounted for 4% to rank third. It is interesting to note that when considering total recorded activity hours, 4,977 waterfowl hunting ranked first (43%), Wildlife/Wildlands Obser vation second (26%), and fishing third (24%). This reflects the short time, pass-through nature of Wildlife/Wildlands Obser vation on the refuge. A total of 430 visits totaling 2,150 hours were recorded for the 1976 waterfowl hunt. Average hunter success was down from last year, averaging close to one bird/hunter visit. Major factors contributing to the decline included "bluebird" weather most of the season and a later than usual migration which occurred after peak hunting activity. KF 9 76 Final results of the 1976-76 muskrat trapping season were in line with issued quotas. Two permittees harvested a combined total of 1,618 muskrats, revenue collected being $530.94. Per mits were not issued for the 1976-77 season (see VI. C). Fishing which is limited to the borrow ditches along the Silver Lake Road gtade, was about par as some catches of trout and catfish were made. Although no longer refuge objectives, picnicking and camping did occur in insignificant amounts this year, mainly in con junction with hunting and vacationing trips. No adverse results occurred. C. Enforcement Distance from and higher priorities at Tule Lake and Lower Klamath Refuges resulted in only minimal refuge enforcement time. Five cases were made this year, two involving antiq uity act violations and the other three involving waterfowl hunting violations. Convictions were obtained on four of the cases. The refuge is also patrolled by Oregon State Police game wardens and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service law enforce ment agents. * VI. OTHER ITEMS A. Field Investigations Not applicable. B. Cooperative Programs As previously mentioned (see II. B) the refuge was host to a spike camp stay by two YCC work groups of the 1976 Klamath Basin Refuges YCC camp. Work was accomplished and a good experience was had by all that participated during the week long stay. See Tule Lake Refuge narrative for a complete history of the 1976 YCC camp, the first camp held-at this refuge complex. C. Items of Interest Federal Government payments to counties as a result of Klamath Basin Complex operations are made under P. L. 88-523 and P. L. 88-567 to two California counties and one Oregon county. 1976 payments to the counties total $146,187.77. Payments to the counties for the five years 1972 - 1976 totalled $666,794.21. This is in addition to the possessory interest tax assessed each cooperator and permittee in the California counties of Modoc and Siskiyou. Payments to Klamath County, Oregon are ICF 10 76 derived from Klamath Forest, Lower Klamath, and Upper Klamath Refuges. No breakdown is available for each unit separately. Following is a breakdown of the payments to counties made during 1976. California Oregon i 4^' COUNTIES: Siskiyou Modoc Klamath Total P.L. 88-523 $ 260.69 $12,891.51 $ 13,152.20 P.L. 88-567 105,525.31 $16,165.61 15,544.65 133,035.57 $103,786.00 $16,165.61 $26,236.16 $146,187.77 In September, descendents of Klamath Indians listed on the 1957 final tribal roll received the same hunting, fishing, and trapping rights as the roll members. This decision was handed down by U. S. District Court Judge Gus Solomon who remarked that "If Congress intended the Klamath Termination Act to terminate all of the treaty rights of the Klamath Indians on the death of the last survivor whose name appeared on the final tribal roll. Congress could have so provided in clear and unambiguous language". At present these rights are free from state regulation which means that game law enforcement on former Klamath Indian Reservation land is diffi cult . Klamath Forest Crater Lake Nat'l WL Refuge Summer Lake Nat1 Park Map of area (1.9 million acres) showing lands on which Klajnath Indians claim hunting, fishing, trapping rights, includes Crater Lake National Park, Klamath Forest Refuge, and a couple of towns. 12/76 O'Neill The only problem that has existed on the refuge, when consider ing the Indian harvest rights, is that of Indians trapping musk- rats. This year muskrats were trapped by an Indian into April despite poor pelt quality. Goose nesting activity was hindered by trapper movement. An effort was made late this summer to con tact the Klamath Indian Game Council concerning Indian use of the refuge. A copy of the refuge fur management plan was given to Council members in hopes of soliciting cooperation from any Indians that might be interested in trapping the refuge. No feedback from the Council was received by the end of the year. Because of the potential problems that might occur between Indians and regular refuge trappers under proper permit, trapping permits were not issued for the refuge for the 1976 - 77 season. Credits: Section IV -- O'Neill Section VI - C -- Chapman and Fleischer All other sections - Fleischer Typing - Davis Safety Safety was stressed during refuge activities. See the Tule Lake Refuge narrative for all safety matters pertaining to the Klamath Basin Complex.