Upper Klamath Lake Area – Oregon Conservation Strategy

Includes Upper Klamath Lake, the largest freshwater lake west of the Rocky Mountains. Area includes surrounding habitat to the north and adjacent to the Sky Lakes area

COA ID: 138

Recommended Conservation Actions

Maintain emergent wetland habitats
Maintain or enhance in - channel watershed function, connection to riparian habitat, flow and hydrology
Maintain or restore riparian habitat and ecological function, ensuring sufficient habitat complexity for wildlife
Reconnect lakeside wetlands and Upper Klamath Lake where feasible and appropriate
Restore lake connections and more natural hydrology within Williamson River Delta

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Special Features

General

Area is one of the most important wetland complexes in the Pacific Flyway
Includes critical habitat for two ESA listed fish: the Lost River Sucker and Shortnose Sucker
Includes many rare and endemic molluscs
Provides important migratory and nesting habitat for shorebirds and waterfowl

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID EC-09 (Upper Klamath Lake area)
2006 COA ID WC-11 (Pelican Butte-Sky Lakes area)

Protected Areas

Crystal Creek
Forest Development Fund (Board Of Forestry)
Fremont-Winema National Forest
Jackson F. Kimball State Recreation Site
Klamath Wildlife Area
Upper Klamath National Wildlife Area
West Side Klamath Recreation Area
Wetlands Reserve Program
Williamson River Delta
Williamson River Delta - Goose Bay

Ecoregions

East Cascades

The East Cascade ecoregion extends from the Cascade Mountains’ summit east to the warmer, drier high desert and down the length of the state. This ecoregion varies dramatically from its cool, moist border with the West Cascades ecoregion to its dry eastern border, where it meets sagebrush desert landscapes.

West Cascades

The West Cascades ecoregion extends from east of the Cascade Mountains summit to the foothills of the Willamette, Umpqua, and Rogue Valleys, and spans the entire length of the state of Oregon. It is largely dominated by conifer forests, moving into alpine parklands and dwarf shrubs at higher elevations.

Strategy Habitats

Aspen Woodlands

Aspen woodlands are woodland or forest communities, dominated by aspen trees with a forb, grass, or shrub understory. Aspen woodlands can also occur within conifer forests.

Late Successional Mixed Conifer Forests

Late successional mixed conifer forests provide a multi-layered tree canopy, including large-diameter trees, shade-tolerant tree species in the understory, and a high volume of dead wood, such as snags and logs.

Natural Lakes

Natural lakes are relatively large bodies of freshwater surrounded by land. For the purposes of the Conservation Strategy, natural lakes are defined as standing water bodies larger than 20 acres, including some seasonal lakes.

Oak Woodlands

Oak woodlands are characterized by an open canopy dominated by Oregon white oak.

Ponderosa Pine Woodlands

Ponderosa pine woodlands are dominated by ponderosa pine, but may also have lodgepole pine, western juniper, aspen, western larch, grand fir, Douglas-fir, mountain mahogany, incense cedar, sugar pine, or white fir, depending on ecoregion and site conditions. Their understories are variable combinations of shrubs, herbaceous plants, and grasses.