The klamath basin ecosystem has historically been one of the most important wetland complexes for waterfowl and wetland-associated birds in north america

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 8 awarded Ducks Unlimited Inc. a $2,668,147 Project Grant under the Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance program (CFDA 15.608). The grant will support improvements to wetland habitat and water management infrastructure on the Lower Klamath and Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuges in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Specifically, Ducks Unlimited will construct four pumping stations - two each on the Lower Klamath and Tule Lake Refuges. This will enhance water supply reliability and functionality for over 20,000 acres of wetland habitat on the refuges that provides important habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. The pumping stations will also improve irrigation efficiency for over 20,000 acres of agricultural land by increasing flexibility in water management and decreasing operational costs. The period of performance is from September 30, 2022 through September 30, 2027.

However, in the first half of the twentieth century, much of the historical wetland habitat was drained with the authorization of the klamath project, with much of the remaining habitat on the lower klamath national wildlife refuge lknwr and tule lake national wildlife refuge tlnwr . Presently, both refuges are nearly entirely dry and serve little functional value for waterfowl and other wetland-associated species. Wetland habitat on the refuges has been subject to chronic water shortages due to limited water supplies, which has been especially true on lknwr. Tlnwr, on the other hand, has generally avoided the impact of water shortages as irrigation return flows had historically provided the sumps with enough water. Ducks unlimited and partners, aim to improve wetland habitat on both lknwr and tlnwr for waterfowl, wetland-associated birds, and other fish and wildlife by improving access to an alternative source of water drainage and irrigation return flows and increasing capacity to manage and move water through different parts of the refuges. These operational improvements will be accomplished by the construction of four pumping stations, two each in both lknwr and tlnwr. Together, these pumping stations will improve water supply reliability and functionality on over 20,000 acres of wetland habitat on both refuges, while also improving irrigation efficiency, by providing flexibility in management and decreasing operational costs for over 20,000 acres of irrigated agriculture.