… As drought tightened its grip on the Klamath basin, wetlands at Lower Klamath and the neighboring Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge began drying rapidly. Many grebe nests were abandoned. Then avian botulism began killing waterbirds and hatchlings. … But as the outbreak worsened, groups often divided over the Klamath Basin’s scarce water began working together to get more water to the refuges. Water users, irrigation districts, conservation groups, tribes and government agencies helped make the deliveries possible. Since the water arrived in mid-August, bird deaths have declined. Now, some of those groups are asking whether the emergency collaboration can yield something more permanent.

Other wetland and watershed restoration news:

• Monterey County Now (Seaside, Calif.): A Pajaro River research project aims to benefit the local habitat in the long run
• KRCR (Redding, Calif.): Trinity River flows increase to help salmon migrate and curb disease
• Gov. Gavin Newsom: News release: Governor Newsom announces $44 million for tribal stewardship, salmon recovery and desert protection projects
• Stanford Law School Alumni: Blog: Every river needs a good lawyer
• California WaterBlog (UC Davis): Blog: Tidal restoration round-up: Insights from two studies in Suisun marsh and the Delta
• The Water Desk (University of Colorado, Boulder): Blog: In the drought-stricken West, birds of a feather flock to low reservoirs
• Sustainable Conservation: Blog: San Joaquin Valley watershed studies blog series: Ecosystem infrastructure