Critically needed water is beginning to reach Tule Lake and Lower Klamath national wildlife refuges after weeks of concern over drying wetlands, avian botulism, and migratory bird losses. The deliveries follow months of coordination among agriculture, Tribes, conservation groups, and federal agencies.

Thousands of migratory birds have died at Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge as avian botulism spreads through warm, stagnant wetlands. Bird Alliance of Oregon is seeking emergency water, while local leaders, irrigators, and the Klamath Tribes debate how to respond without worsening risks elsewhere in the Basin.