Lake Ewauna Wing Watchers Tour

Upper Klamath Lake photo

Participate in a three hour tour to different points of interest in the Downtown Klamath Falls area, emphasizing birding and wetlands. The tour will include a short presentation about area wetlands, a hike for birding and views of Upper Klamath Lake, the largest freshwater body west of the Mississippi, and the Link River Canyon, one of the shortest rivers in the world.  Discussion will include the importance of this canyon for wildlife and people, and future decommissioning of the power houses down stream of the dam and its effects on the area.  The tour group will then head to the South Portal wetland area to learn about wetland and trail development plans, which include an interpretive center.  And finally a walk along the Wingwatcher Trail next to Lake Ewauna will present a snag for eagles and cormorants, and discuss expansion plans for this trail that encloses a wetland area.

Thursday's Project Tours

October 29th - 1:00pm - 6:00pm
(Conference participants will have the choice of attending one of two project tours happening concurently on Thursday afternoon.  See below for tour descriptions)

Tour 1:  Sustainable Ranching: Up Close & Personal (Goold's Ranch)

Take a bus ride along the beautiful Cascade Mountains and out into the high desert that makes up the vast majority of Klamath rangeland.  You'll meander alongside the Sprague River, the biggest tributary to Upper Klamath Lake, recently reopened to migratory fish with last year's removal of Chiloquin Dam.  We'll travel to Goold's 6G Ranch, where you'll see the results of 25 years of restoration efforts.  Participants will be able to view and learn about healthy riparian areas, managed grazing, irrigation efficiencies, and dryland grazing.  Dani Watson, Ranch and Range Consulting, LLC, will discuss her experience working with local landowners to develop sustainable ranching practices while improving riparian function.  Proud owner Jim Goold will discuss water savings achieved with irrigation efficiencies and dryland crops.

Tour 2:  Upper Klamath Lake

Enjoy a bus ride around Klamath Lake with stops at a restoration project in the beautiful Wood River Valley, the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife's fish hatchery, The Nature Conservancy's Williamson River Delta, and Barkley Springs where restoration of prime spawning habitat for the endangered suckers is underway.  We'll get out on the ground at each stop, and speak with people knowledgeable about the history of the area, restoration actions and results, and future plans.