A deadly botulism outbreak has killed at least 13,730 birds in the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge near the Oregon-California border. The refuge, part of the Klamath National Wildlife Refuge Complex, is one of the most important stopover and breeding sites for waterfowl and waterbirds migrating along the Pacific Flyway. … [Biologist Teresa] Wicks said the scale of outbreaks in recent years is unnatural, driven by human-caused changes to the wetlands. … In early August, 14 conservation groups, including Bird Alliance of Oregon, urged the Bureau of Reclamation to quickly deliver water to the refuge to slow the spread of the botulism outbreak. They requested the release of 15,000 acre-feet of water, enough to flood one acre of land one foot deep. [Biologist Teresa] Wicks said this wouldn’t stop the outbreak, but could significantly slow it down and give refuge staff a chance to catch up on collecting dead birds.

Other public land and water news:

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