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Upper Klamath Lake, Upper Klamath Basin

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Lake name:
Upper Klamath Lake, Upper Klamath Basin
Location:
Oregon
HydroLAKE ID:
777
GRanD ID:
110
Latitude:
42.238815
Longitude:
-121.811463
Surface area (km2):
276.6
Basin type:
non-reservoir
Dam completion date:
1921
Management agency:
Bureau of Reclamation; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Region associations:
Klamath Basin, Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges, Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, Upper Klamath Basin
Comments:
Upper Klamath Lake is a major site for waterfowl and waterbirds but has suffered from low water levels in recent years due to overallocation of water and drought. Upper Klamath Lake, in general, is the most important site for Western and Clark's grebes in the Klamath Basin, supporting >60% of these grebes for all seasons. It is part of the Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. There are six national wildlife refuges in the Klamath Basin and the area is a significant stopover site for birds migrating on the Pacific Flyway. There has been major issues with water availability, water rights, and overallocation of water in the basin. Drought has also reduced water levels to dramatic lows in recent years. See Klamath Basin entry for more information on this region. See individual entries for more details. Individual entries compiled for Upper Klamath Lake area as a total for indexing purposes. Includes Upper Klamath Marsh, Williamson River Delta Preserve, and Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge which are all part of the lake.

Summary of Surveys (4)

Survey Citation:
Spencer, K. 2003. Western Grebe. Pp. 34-37 in Birds of Oregon: A General Reference. D.B.Marshall, M.G. Hunter, and A.L. Contreras, Eds. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, OR. (cites Littlefield 1990a) for nest # in 1983.

  • Type
    boat
  • Time period
    14 June 2002
  • Source
    Book (species account)
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    Y
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults >1000 1490 2002
Most Recent Adults >1000 1490 2002
Max Nests N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Nests N/A N/A N/A
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

Counted on a boat trip from Howard Bay to Shoalwater Bay on 14 Jun 2002. Extrapolated estimated population for whole lake would be approximately 5,000 Western grebes and 1,500 Clark's grebes.

Survey Citation:
Gabrielson, I. N., Jewett, S. G., & Jewett, S. G. Stanley G. 1970. Birds of the Pacific Northwest; with special reference to Oregon. Dover Publications.

  • Time period
    N/A
  • Source
    Book (species account)
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 101 to 500 several historical
Most Recent Adults 101 to 500 several historical
Max Nests 101 to 500 several historical
Most Recent Nests 101 to 500 several historical
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

Historical record (no year) of "thriving" colony on this lake after protections from hunting. Probably early 1900s.

Survey Citation:
Ratti, J. T. 1985. A test of water depth niche partitioning by Western Grebe color morphs. Auk 102:635-637.

  • Type
    shore
  • Time period
    1981
  • Source
    Communications
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    Y
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 101 to 500 440 1981
Most Recent Adults 101 to 500 440 1981
Max Nests N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Nests N/A N/A N/A
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

Totals calculated from Table 1. This paper tested water-depth and distance from shore niches between light and dark phased Western grebes. Light-phased Western grebes fed farther from the shore than dark-phased Western grebes but were not found feed at greater water depths.

Survey Citation:
Vradenburg, J., 2021. Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Email communication.

  • Time period
    N/A
  • Source
    Personal communication (email)
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N/A
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Adults N/A N/A N/A
Max Nests N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Nests N/A N/A N/A
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

Not a survey but just an entry of threats conveyed by John Vradenburg, Supervisory Wildlife Biologist for the Kilamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex. He responded to our outreach to him that Upper Klamath Lake was impacted by different challenges from the other sites of the Klamath Basin NWR Complex. There was a lack of recruitment of juvenile endangered suckers which alters water management. Water was held higher and at a more stable level than previous years. However, this negatively impacts submergent and emergent vegetation and reduces nesting habitat. Remaining stands of emergent vegetation become dislodged and floats away. Unfortunately, the focus on fish does not consider wetlands, waterbirds, nor the ecological drivers of species declines. He expressed the need to address these issues at the forefront before additional species are listed, prompting recovery actions.

Sources of Information

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