Outdoors & Recreation

The gray wolf, an iconic species of the American West, had all but disappeared from landscape in the lower 48 states by the early 20th century. Now it roams free in nine states and is stable and healthy throughout its current range. This constitutes one of the greatest comebacks for an animal in U.S. conservation history. Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is re-affirming the success of this recovery with a proposal to remove all gray wolves from protection under Endangered Species Act (ESA).

An astronomy event to observe “earthshine” on the surface of the moon will be offered by the Klamath County Museum at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9.

The free event will be held in the parking lot of Foothills Christian Fellowship, at the north end of Patterson Street.

Highlights from this week’s Recreation Report include: Youth Turkey, Weekend Fishing, and more.

Highlights from this week’s Recreation Report include: Youth Turkey, Weekend Fishing, Winter Fishing, Glimpse of Spring, 2019 Big Game, and a New Phone Line.

When you visit Klamath Falls, you may be wondering about the variety of attractions that are offered there. While you may be going through Klamath Falls to help you get to Crater Lake National Park or the Lava Beds National Monument or to nearby waterfalls, you won’t want to miss what Klamath Falls attractions have.

In the face of uncertainty about their own irrigation supplies this summer, farmers in the Klamath Project’s Tulelake Irrigation District are funding water deliveries to Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, a key breeding and feeding ground in the Pacific Flyway.

Tuesday’s storm brought wet heavy snow to much of Southern Oregon and Northern California. Measurable snow was seen as far south as Cottonwood, California, 11 miles south of Redding.

For much of the Tuesday night into mid-day Wednesday, Interstate 5 was closed to semi trucks at the Oregon-California boarder to just north of Redding. Vehicles were allowed through if they met certain winter weather criteria (such as caring or using chains).

From Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning Klamath Falls officially received 7.5” of heavy wet snow. Unofficially many locations in town received higher snow totals. Levels were great enough that all schools, with the exception of Butte Valley and Tulelake, and many small businesses called in a ‘Snow Day’.

Washington, D.C. – Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today welcomed Senate passage of a bipartisan package of public lands legislation securing critical measures they achieved for Oregon, including improved flexibility for hazardous fuels reduction efforts and protections for wilderness and wild and scenic rivers in the state.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined more than 100 Democratic Members of Congress to introduce legislation protecting America’s treasured national monuments against the Trump administration’s relentless attacks on public lands. The America’s Natural Treasures of Immeasurable Quality Unite, Inspire, and Together Improve the Economies of States (ANTIQUITIES) Act of 2019 reinforces Congress’ clear intent in the Antiquities Act of 1906: Only Congress has the authority to modify a national monument designation. 

Klamath Falls, Ore. - Due to recent snow storms and more winter weather in the forecast, the Fremont-Winema National Forest Klamath Ranger District is opening the Great Meadow to over snow vehicles.

Great Meadow is located east of Lake of the Woods off Oregon State Highway 140 between Klamath Falls and Medford.

Over the weekend it is forecasted that Crater Lake National Park can receive up to 18 inches of new snow during the upcoming storm. The extended forecast from the National Weather Service Office in Medford, Ore. also shows that today may be the last day for sunshine for some time. With that info, I took advantage of an opportunity to get out of the newsroom and use my snowshoes.

ALTURAS, Calif.— Gwen Sanchez will be Acting Modoc National Forest Supervisor while Amanda McAdams serves a 120-day detail as Acting Deputy Director for Human Resources in Albuquerque.

On Sunday, February 3rd, a state public comment period closed after over 35,000 total comments were received by the Oregon Department of State Lands [DSL] in opposition to a “removal-fill” permit for Pembina’s proposed Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline.

The comments were submitted by impacted landowners, anglers, small business owners, tribal members, health professionals, and many more Oregonians concerned about the impacts the fossil fuel project would have on nearly 500 waterways.

Klamath Falls, Ore. – Ella Redkey Municipal Pool received a grant from Sky Lakes Medical Center to provide funding for the Everyone Swims program for the next three years.

The Everyone Swims program give all third graders from Klamath Fall and Klamath County a week’s with of swim lessons at no cost to student or family. The program includes five, 30-minute swim lessons where students develop skills, build confidence and have fun with their peers in the water.

Crater Lake, OR – Crater Lake Hospitality announced today that it will resume operations at the Rim Village Café and Gift Shop on Saturday, February 2, 2019.  The Rim Café has been closed since December 23, 2018 when winter weather required the closure of park roads during the recent lapse in appropriations.  Crater Lake National Park has now resumed normal operations and the road to Rim Village has reopened.

A program on efforts to restore populations of wocus plants in the Klamath Basin will be presented next week during a meeting of the Klamath Basin Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Oregon.

The program is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4, at the Klamath County Museum, 1451 Main St. in Klamath Falls. The meeting is open to anyone interested. Presenters will be Megan Skinner, acting water operations chief at the Bureau of Reclamation’s Klamath Basin Area Office, and Christie Nichols, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Over this past weekend, Klamath County Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers conducted an annual training at the Annie Creek Snow-Park. The exercise culminated in eleven volunteers participating by setting up a snow camp, with only what they could carry on their person, and surviving overnight (24 hours).

Crater Lake, Ore. – With the enactment of the continuing resolution, staff at Crater Lake National Park will resume regular operations on Monday, January 28, 2019. After 35 days of closure, time is needed to clear roadways, repair leaks, open restrooms and other facilities, check fire alarm systems, and ensure that the park is safe for visitors.

Klamath Falls is a wonderful playground for numerous outdoor adventures – such as Upper Klamath Lake – as well as being a truly scenic location. If you’re choosing to visit this superb location in the winter, you may be wondering what the best things to do in Klamath Falls in winter are. To help you narrow down your search and be prepared for fun in the snow, consider doing one of these 6 things to do in Klamath Falls in winter. With these helpful ideas, you will be sure to make the most of winter in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Let’s get started!

WASHINGTON – Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman today named Ernest A. Conant director of the Mid-Pacific Region. Conant has nearly 40 years of water law experience and previously served as senior partner of Young Wooldridge, LLP.

Highlights from this week’s Recreation Report include: 2019 Trout stocking schedule, Hunters have until April 15 to report 2018 hunts, Best best for weekend fishing, Spring bear tags, Buy your 2019 license.

A fire has ignited on Stukel mountain along Chalet Drive off Hill Road. Crews and multiple engines from Fire Klamath County Fire District No. 1 are on scene.

The moon will turn red over the United States on Sunday night during the last total lunar eclipse of the decade.

A total lunar eclipse occurs during a full moon when the moon passes directly through the Earth’s shadow, causing it to turn rusty orange or dark red in color.

On February 6, 2019, a geographical area around downtown will become an, "Enhanced Law Enforcement Area" as defined by council. People convicted of three (3) separate violations of law within a twelve (12) month period within the Downtown Enhanced Law Enforcement Area (ELEA) will be excluded from the zone for a period of 90 - 365 days by the Klamath Falls Municipal Judge.

SALEM, Ore.— After completing the last scheduled facilitated meeting with stakeholder representatives on Monday, Jan. 8, ODFW staff are working to finalize a revised Wolf Conservation and Management Plan. That Plan will be presented to the Commission at its March 15 meeting in Salem for final adoption.

Washington, D.C. – Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week co-sponsored legislation that would expand federal background checks to all gun sales. The Background Check Expansion Act would fix federal law that unlicensed or private sellers are not required to conduct a background check prior to transferring a firearm.

Over 300 people attended a standing room only hearing on the Jordan Cove Energy Project at Klamath Community College Monday night. For two and a half hours, supporters and opponents of the project were able to voice opinions. The hearing was held as an opportunity for the public to specifically voice opinions on the removal-fill permit application. A process required by the State of Oregon for the proposed Jordan Cove Energy Project.

Simple Skiing is the name of Klamath Falls adventurer Paul Kenney's YouTube Channel where he has created a show named, A Simple Skiing Review. Kenney has completed videos on Warner Canon Ski Area near Lakeview and Mt Ashland along the Oregon-California border. Where he asks is it really steeper here?

A gathering to view a total lunar eclipse on Sunday, Jan. 20, will be held at the Klamath County Museum, 1451 Main Street.

Amateur astronomers will have telescopes set up by the time the earth’s shadow, known as the umbra, makes first contact with the full moon around 7:30 p.m.