Outdoors & Recreation

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.

Klamath Falls, Ore. – The Bureau of Reclamation completed the Final Biological Assessment on “The Effects of the Proposed Action to Operate the Klamath Project from April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2029 on Federally-Listed Threatened and Endangered Species.” The document was submitted Dec. 21, 2018 to the National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

A bonsai study group will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, in the Klamath County Museum’s meeting room, 1451 Main St. The group will discuss “Bonsai for Beginners,” with a focus on special challenges that bonsai gardeners face in the Klamath Basin’s cool climate.

It was a beautiful blue sky day at Crater Lake, but it was far from business as usual in the park. The junction of Highway 62 and Munson Valley Road inside Crater Lake National Park resembled more like a parking lot at a snow park than that of an entrance to one of the best parks of the National Parks System.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is issuing an air stagnation advisory for Klamath and Lake Counties through the morning of Thursday, January 3, 2019.

The air stagnation advisory predicts there will be little or no wind in the Klamath Basin. Smoke and other airborne pollution will increase in concentration, causing a build-up that will not be carried out of the basin. The increase in airborne pollution can be unhealthy for outdoor physical activity and may contribute to health problems including coughing or aggravated asthma.

SALEM, Ore.—Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, deer and elk struck by vehicles can be legally salvaged in Oregon using a free online permit that will be available at www.odfw.com/roadkill

The change in law was required after the passage of Senate Bill 372 during the 2017 Oregon State Legislative session.

Jackson County, Ore. – With the seasonal closure of many mountain roads comes a reminder to travelers:  don’t forget to use common sense when using driving directions from GPS or cell phone map apps!  Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) search and rescue (SAR) deputies have already responded to calls involving people who followed directions provided by their phone’s mapping system – and ended up stranded on closed or unmaintained roads.

The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is offering grants for up to $200,000 in matching funds for downtown revitalization efforts in communities participating in the Oregon Main Street Network. The Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant funds may be used to acquire, rehabilitate, and construct buildings on properties in designated downtown areas statewide. 

Gray whales are on the move south again this December and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is celebrating the migration with the annual Whale Watching Week Dec. 27-31.

SALEM, Ore – Right after a winter storm has passed it’s important for property owners to check if their trees were damaged. Knowing how badly wind, ice or snow has injured a tree can indicate what immediate or long-term steps might be needed.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative Greg Walden today applauded H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (Farm Bill), but said that more work remains to improve forest management to prevent catastrophic wildfires in Oregon. Speaking on the floor of the House of Representatives, Walden said that while he intends to vote in support of the 2018 Farm Bill, he is disappointed that the legislation did not include the sweeping improvements to federal forest policy that he helped secure in the House-passed version of the bill.

ASHLAND, Ore. – A Medford man who spent two nights in the elements on Mt. Ashland was found alive Tuesday morning.  Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) search and rescue (SAR) officials say snowboarder Eli Kepsel, 27, was cold but in good spirits when rescuers found him just before 10:30 a.m. on December 11, 2018.

Chiloquin OR – For the eighth year in a row, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is partnering with America’s State Parks to offer free guided First Day Hikes in state parks across Oregon on New Year’s Day. Information about the special hike hosted at Collier Memorial State Park is below.

With the increase chances of snow, freezing rain, and ice on the roadways it is more important than ever to #Knowbeforeyougo.

When roads are closed and your GPS navigation system directs you onto a detour route, keep in mind that the device you count on for guidance could instead guide you into trouble. Most navigation tools don’t take current road or weather conditions into consideration. They may direct you onto remote roads that are neither maintained nor passible in all weather conditions.

Yesterday afternoon (12/5/18) a column of smoke could be seen over the top of Hogback Mountain near Klamath Falls. Today, the Oregon Department of Forestry confirmed that the smoke and glow of the fire is due to a controlled burn of large slash piles related to a logging operation on the east side of Hogback Mountain.

Crater Lake, Ore. – Crater Lake National Park has announced that the popular ranger-guided snowshoe walks are about to begin for the 2018-19 winter season.

The walks will take place on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from December 8 through April 28. They will also be offered daily from December 15 through January 6, except on Christmas Day. Snowshoes are provided free of charge for these hikes, and no previous snowshoeing experience is necessary.

The Klamath County Museum’s 12th annual History Fitness hike has been rescheduled for Saturday, Dec. 8. Registration deadline for the event is Thursday, Dec. 6.  The hike was postponed from the past weekend due to weather. The event is designed to encourage outdoor exercise while exploring local history. The hike is free, but a donation is requested to defray expenses.

CRATER LAKE, OR – Beginning Saturday, December 1, Crater Lake National Park offers visitors an on-line option to pay park entrance fees with no additional costs. The seven-day vehicle, motorcycle or individual pass along with the $50 Crater Lake National park annual pass will be available for purchase any time before visiting the park.  

ASHLAND, Ore. – As the winter recreation season begins, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) search and rescue (SAR) officials are sharing tips to stay safe in the snow.  SAR personnel are gearing up to help when needed, but they urge people to do their part to prevent emergencies from happening in the first place.

SALEM, Ore. – Autumn rains may have ended Oregon’s wildfire season but not the risk of floods and debris flows following in their wake. That is why a working group of state and federal agencies have released a new playbook. The playbook will aid local officials in finding resources to help prevent or cope with potentially catastrophic wildfire after-effects.

Chiloquin, OR – The Klamath Tribes today announced the dismissal of its lawsuit against the Bureau of Reclamation. The Klamath Tribes maintain that the Bureau has failed–and continues to fail–to meet its obligations under the Endangered Species Act to prevent extinction of C’waam and Koptu (Lost River and Shortnose suckers, respectively).