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Lower Klamath Lake, Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge

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Lake name:
Lower Klamath Lake, Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge
Location:
California
Latitude:
41.9908483
Longitude:
-121.7431632
Surface area (km2):
807
Basin type:
reservoir
Primary emergent vegetation:
tule hardstem bulrush (Scirpus acutus)
Primary vegetation for nesting:
tule bulrush sago pondweed
Management agency:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Region associations:
Lower Klamath Basin; Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex; Klamath River
Comments:
Combined records for Lower Klamath Lake and just Lower Klamath NWR because the lake comprises a big part of the refuge and assuming these records are regarding same approximate locations. At California-Oregon border, this lake became dry and is facing a water crisis at what is a major migratory bird stopover. It also has major water quality issues.

Summary of Surveys (2)

Survey Citation:
Ivey, G. L. 2004. Conservation assessment and management plan for breeding Western and Clark’s Grebes in California. Unpublished technical report. American Trader Trustee Council, California. . Accessed 15 January 2020.; Finley, W. L. 1907. The grebes of southern Oregon. The Condor, 9(4), 97–101.

  • Time period
    early 1900s
  • Source
    Conservation Assessment, Management Plan
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N/A
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults >1000 thousands early 1900s
Most Recent Adults >1000 thousands early 1900s
Max Nests >1000 thousands early 1900s
Most Recent Nests >1000 thousands early 1900s
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

This entry to capture historical record of breeding grebes in CA prior to 2002. There were thousands of breeding grebes and noted as colony site in Lower Klamath Lake, no numbers, years, or other details. Source is Finley (1907) so estimating year as early 1900s.

Survey Citation:
Finley, W. L. 1907. The grebes of southern Oregon. The Condor, 9(4), 97–101.

  • Type
    boat
  • Time period
    1906
  • Source
    Notes
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults >1000 several thousands 1905
Most Recent Adults 1 to 100 scarce 1906
Max Nests >1000 several thousands 1905
Most Recent Nests 1 to 100 scarce 1906
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

This entry to capture historical record of a large colony of breeding Western grebes that was not decimated by hunters (unlike Tule Lake) in 1905. However, in 1906, Mr. Frank Chapman found hardly any and there were hunters camped nearby.

Sources of Information

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