Ducks Unlimited Supports Vital Partnership in Klamath Basin
A positive step in addressing water challenges in the Pacific Flyway region
February 16, 2024 •
2
min read
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. – Feb. 15, 2024 – Ducks Unlimited (DU) strongly supports the vital partnership announced Wednesday between the Klamath Tribes, Yurok Tribe, Karuk Tribe and Klamath Water Users Association. This collaboration is a positive step to address the region’s water challenges, and develop and implement actions that benefit fowl, fish, farms and most importantly, people.
The historic agreement was cemented in a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of the Interior, agreeing to restore the Klamath Basin ecosystem and improve water supply to a region plagued by drought and other environmental factors.
The Klamath Basin, an essential part of the Pacific Flyway stretching across Southern Oregon and into Northern California, is one of DU’s highest priority areas.
“The Klamath Basin is one of the most important wetland systems in North America,” said Jeff McCreary, Ducks Unlimited director of operations in the Western Region. “This historic agreement encourages stakeholders to collaborate around a common purpose of improving the ecosystem and the water supply, and millions of migrating waterfowl will benefit. This effort supports DU’s long-term goals of protecting crucial wetland habitat while restoring fish populations and getting the most out of our water resources, and we fully support it.”
DU has a long history as an active partner in the Klamath Basin restoration efforts. This summer, DU will begin the building phase of the Barnes Agency Project, the largest wetlands restoration project in the region that will reconnect over 14,000 acres of wetlands with the northern arm of Upper Klamath Lake.
In addition to this work, DU is developing other multiple beneficial, wetland-based projects throughout the Basin in collaboration with the Tribes, agricultural community and public agencies.
To support DU’s unwavering commitment to the people and wildlife of this important region, please visit the Klamath Basin Initiative.
Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing wetlands, grasslands and other waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has restored or protected more than 18 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science, DU’s projects benefit waterfowl, wildlife and people in all 50 states. DU is growing its mission through a historic $3 billion Conservation For A Continent capital campaign. Learn more at www.ducks.org.
