On this first-ever Foundation water tour we examined water issues along the 263-mile Klamath River, from its spring-fed headwaters in south-central Oregon to its redwood-lined estuary on the Pacific Ocean in California.

One of the West’s most important and contentious watersheds, the Klamath River does not originate in snowcapped mountains, but rather on a volcanic plateau, and courses through the steep Cascade Range along the rugged Siskiyou Mountains and on to the Pacific Ocean, draining some 10 million acres of land.

A bounty of resources – water, salmon, timber and minerals – and a wide range of users turned the remote region into a hotspot for economic development and multiparty water disputes. Among the planned stops was the former site of Iron Gate Dam & Reservoir for a firsthand look at restoration efforts following the structure’s removal.

Other planned topics included one of the Bureau of Reclamation’s earliest projects located in the Upper Basin, the recent removal of four obsolete dams and more.

This 4-night tour began the evening of Sept. 8 in Klamath Falls, Oregon, with an opening dinner and presentation. The tour ended on the morning of Sept. 12 at the mouth of the river in the coastal town of Klamath, California.

Planned Stops Included:

• Upper Klamath Lake
• Link Dam
• Agricultural operations in the basin
• Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge
• Iron Gate Dam removal & channel restoration sites
• Off-channel ponds restored for rearing salmon

Planned Topics Included:

• Geology & natural history of the Klamath Basin
• History & operations of the federal Klamath Project
• History & status of the Klamath Dam removal project
• Tribal water rights
• Shasta River Valley
• Scott River Valley
• Habitat restoration for migratory species

Tour Start & End Points:

The tour began with an opening dinner and presentation on the evening of Monday, September 8, at the Running Y Resort near Klamath Falls, Oregon. The bus portion began the next morning and ended in Klamath, California on the morning of Friday, September 12.

A ”California Option” ticket was available which started and/or ended the tour for participants in Sacramento, California. 

The tour included overnight stays in Klamath Falls, Oregon on Sept. 8 & 9, Yreka, California on Sept. 10, and Klamath, California on Sept. 11 which were all arranged by the Foundation and covered by the registration fee.

Pricing Details:

General – $1,699 (one person, single-occupancy room)

Fee included all tour meals, transportation, materials, snacks and hotel accommodations once the tour began Monday evening near Klamath Falls. Meals covered by the registration fee included dinner on Monday through breakfast on Friday. With this ticket, participants were responsible for their own transportation to and from the tour’s beginning and end points noted above.

California Option – $1,849

This ticket option was available to anyone who wanted to include transportation aboard the tour bus from and/or back to the Foundation’s office in Sacramento. The bus departed at 10 a.m. on the morning of Monday, September 8, and returned at approximately 6 p.m. on Friday, September 12. Lunch on both days was included. 

Cancellation & Refund Policy:

The deadline to cancel and receive a refund was four weeks prior to the first day of the tour due to lodging, meal and transportation commitments. Substitutions were allowed up to five business days before the tour. Credit card processing fees were nonrefundable and the remaining refund amount may be subject to additional fees.

We recognize that unexpected conflicts with our tours may occur. The Water Education Foundation recommends you consider arranging travel insurance from a provider of your choice soon after tour registration to protect against such unfortunate events.

MCLE Credit Hours:

Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) credit hours were available only to California attorneys for an additional fee.