Outdoors & Recreation

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).

When Akimi King found monarch butterfly eggs in her garden near Klamath Falls, Oregon, in August 2017, she had no idea one would make western monarch history as the first Pacific Northwest migrant observed reproducing in California.

Since monarch survival in the wild is less than two percent, King, a biologist in the Klamath Falls Fish and Wildlife Office, raised the larvae indoors for the next month.

Crater Lake National Park, OR - Crater Lake National Park will conduct a prescribed pile burning along North Entrance Road and Highway 62 West in the coming days. Fire crews will ignite the piles when conditions such as weather, fuel moisture, and smoke dispersal are favorable.  

The Oregon Department of Transportation encourages drivers to consider other types of traction tires or chains. If you must travel when weather conditions present difficulties, use other types of traction tires or chains, or postpone your travel until conditions change for the better. Our latest study (2014) concluded studded tires cause about $8.5 million in damage each year on state highways.

DIAMOND LAKE, Ore. - On Tuesday, October 30, 2018, at 8:52 AM, Douglas County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue (SAR) was notified by Klamath County regarding a SPOT Personal Tracker device sending an SOS distress signal. Klamath County had been trying to locate the hiker since Monday evening within their county. New information obtained from the distress signal indicated the hiker was on the Pacific Crest Trail near Tipso Peak located within Douglas County. The parents of the distressed hiker also contacted law enforcement. It was determined that the lost person was 36 year-old Anat Taher Leb, a citizen of Israel.

SALEM — The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), which protects roughly 16 million acres of private, state and federal lands, officially declared the end of fire season statewide yesterday, Oct. 29.

Taking turns, second-graders from Ferguson Elementary School carefully filled their test tubes with water and mud from an outdoor wetlands classroom at Mazama High School. Their next step: Look at the water and mud under a microscope.

Sixty-seven students from 11 schools throughout Klamath County participated in the second annual KCSD Kids K-8th X-Country Race Thursday at Stearns Elementary School.

CRATER LAKE, OR – On November 1st, the park will begin charging its winter entrance fee.  The fee is $15 per car or motorcycle and $10 per person. It is good for 7 days, and will be collected at the Annie Creek Entrance Station or the backcountry office at park headquarters. 

JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. - Life jackets and a Good Samaritan saved the lives of a local couple whose canoe capsized on Fish Lake Thursday. JCSO marine patrol deputies and volunteers from Rocky Point Fire responded just after noon. 

JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. – Following two rescue missions on Mt. McLoughlin in the last week, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office search and rescue (SAR) officials are offering safety reminders to hikers.  The change of seasons means unpredictable weather, colder nights, and an earlier sunset.  Hikers who have planned ahead and have adequate supplies are more likely to have a safe outcome.  

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – A guided history hike in the Klamath River Canyon on Saturday, Nov. 3, will explore early wagon roads that were among the earliest transportation routes in Klamath County.

The hike, rated as difficult, is cosponsored by the Klamath County Museum, the Bureau of Land Management Klamath Falls Resource Area, and the Klamath River Four Wheel Drive Association.

Highlights from this week’s Recreation Report include: New ELS launches Dec. 1, Steelhead fishing 101, Take a friend hunting, Best best for weekend fishing, If you didn’t apply for a tag…, Give us a wind and a tail.

Klamath Falls, OR - The Klamath County Fair Board, along with Deupree Auctioneers, announces its fall 2018 Auction on October 27, 2018 beginning at 10:00 AM. A partial list of the October auction items is currently available on line at www.deupreeauctioneers.com, with pictures, descriptions, terms of sale and other information.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Klamath County Public Health (KCPH) has announced the 2018 Fall open burning window within the Klamath County Air Quality Zone will start 8 a.m. Saturday, October 27, and end 5 p.m. Sunday, November 11.

Mazama High School FBLA students pilot group of Leadership Klamath Youth program

“I’ve got a question for you guys,” rancher Jason Chapman said as 12 Mazama High School students looked around his Poe Valley ranch.

“What percentage of the U.S. population is involved in agriculture?”

The students, who had spent the morning learning about agriculture in the Klamath Basin, responded thoughtfully. “Eighteen?” “Twelve?” But they weren’t even close.

The cause of the Stukel Fire, which began in Klamath Falls Sunday afternoon, has been identified. A Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Law Enforcement investigation determined the fire started in an area being used for target shooting and evidence of exploding targets was collected.  

A program on the history of highway construction in the Klamath Basin will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, during a meeting of the Klamath County Historical Society.

KLAMATH FALLS OR. – Hard work by firefighters on the ground combined with air resources has resulted in 90 percent containment of the 518 acre Stukel Fire. Fire crews will continue mop up operations today while addressing rehabilitation needs from dozer line created during suppression of the fire.

KLAMATH FALLS OR. – With assistance from air support, firefighters made great progress on the fire, increasing the containment to 70 percent by connecting lines on the north side of the Stukel fire from the west to the east. The line on the east side of the fire, to protect infrastructure, is in place keeping the fire from moving towards communications towers and private property.

Klamath Falls, Ore. – Firefighters continue to work on establishing control lines on the south end of Stukel Mountain. Priority is to keep the fire east of Hill Road, and south and west of Stukel Road.

Suppression priority today will be protection of private property, and the communications site on the summit of Stukel Mountain.

On Saturday October 13th, 2018, the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office was informed that two teenaged boys had fallen in the remote area of Middle Rosary Lake in Northern Klamath County while on a camping trip with a Boy Scout Troop from Corvallis, Oregon. Initial reports indicted two boys had been seriously injured in a fall from a peak near the lake and rescue efforts were underway.

Highlights from this week’s Recreation Report include: Hunting is for the birds, Take a friend hunting, Wish for rain and fish for trout, If you didn’t apply for a tag, Give us a wing and a tail.

CRATER LAKE, OREGON – The fire danger level within Crater Lake National Park has dropped from high to moderate due to recent moisture and predicted cooler temperatures. Klamath-Lake District Oregon Department of Forestry is also declaring an end to fire season in this area. Effective October 12, 2018 at 12:01 am, Crater Lake National Park will lift the fire restrictions implemented on July 13, 2018.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – A walking history tour of Link River will be offered at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, by the Klamath County Museum.

The walk will focus on river bed features exposed by the low water level of Upper Klamath Lake at this time of year.

The Commission will be asked to adopt administrative rules to allow the salvage of roadkilled deer and elk beginning Jan. 1, 2019. The new rules are due to the passage of SB 372 by the 2017 Oregon State Legislature.

The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office responded on Thursday, October 4 to the report of a missing 56-year-old man who went mushroom picking in an area near the base of the eastern slope of Mt. Scott. The man, identified as Marty Holloway, was reported by family members after he failed to check in with them. The family had located Mr. Holloway’s vehicle and discovered that he left his phone and jacket in it, and worried that he was not prepared to stay out in the elements.

Highlights from this week’s Recreation Report include: Give us a wing and a tail, Best best for weekend fishing, Hunter orange isn’t just for hunters, Take a friend hunting.

SALEM, Ore. - A new program will provide big game preference points in lieu of a cash reward to people who turn in poachers.

The program builds on the long standing Turn in Poachers Program (TIP), a successful collaboration between the Oregon Hunters Association and Oregon State Police which until now only provided cash rewards for information about poaching.