The Klamath Basin’s wetlands historically provided an abundance of important year-round habitat for waterfowl and waterbirds. Those same wetlands—and the water that feeds them—also sustain fisheries and people, from farmers and ranchers to the tribes who have called this place home for time immemorial. Wetlands were and remain a vital part of the ecosystem; a key link in the chain that holds the Klamath Basin together.
From 2021-2026, the Klamath Basin Farming and Wetland Collaborative proved a shining example of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) at work. The program provided funding for Klamath Basin farmers to either create wetland habitat on their private land or to flood grain fields seasonally for migratory birds and waterfowl use.
Over 1,324 acres of wetlands have been conserved through this RCPP, and agreements with landowners stretch out to 2029. Ed Contreras, the IWJV’s Southern Oregon Northeastern California Conservation Delivery Coordinator, said these private land acres provide high-quality wetland habitat for migratory birds that helps supplement the Klamath Basin’s public wildlife refuges while providing flexibility for local farmers to keep their lands in production.
Gadwalls and Coots at Lowland Farms. 
Canada geese use the fields at Lakeside Farms. 
Dikes seperate wetland unites and cropped fields at Lakeside Farms. 
Caspian and Forster’s Terns with Pelicans at Lakeside Farms. 
A pair of Northern Pintails in courtship flight at Lakeside Farm 
Row crops grow at Lakeside Farms.
“We’re essentially providing a pop-up refuge for ten years while supporting local agriculture.”
Ed Contreras, IWJV SONEC Conservation Delivery Coordinator
Partners in this RCPP included Ducks Unlimited, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, and, of course, the participating landowners.
One RCPP, Five Years, Multiple benefits
The Klamath Basin Farming and Wetland Collaborative RCPP continues to serve the agricultural economy in the Klamath Basin, as well as the millions of waterbirds who use this important Pacific Flyway stopover site.
11
Producers Served
and Klamath Basin farming families who benefited from this program.
1324
Wetland Acres
provided by the RCPP.
4551
Total Wetland Acres x Years Enrolled
When producers continue to participate in this program, the benefits start stacking up.
1.1 Billion
Kilocalories of Food
provided to birds by RCPP wetlands each year.
25
Percent of the Fall-Food Energy Value Provided by RCPP Wetlands
compared to those lost by Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge due to reduced water deliveries since 2005.
68
Unique Species of Birds
monitored on or near enrolled fields in 2025.
“The contract provided managers with certainty about revenue from enrolled fields for multiple years. As a result, we observed that enrolled farmers tested new crop types, management strategies, and even supported additional habitat on farmable acres without financial assistance.”
From the final report
Learn more about the Regional Conservation Partnership Program
One Minute of Migratory Bird Zen
Klamath Basin Farming and Ranching Coalesce in New RCPP
Series: Telling the Story of the Klamath Basin
beyond the iwjv
In the News
In 2021, an Oregon farmer turned 70 acres of his barley field into a wetland.
Four years later, it attracts thousands of birds and helps endangered fish survive.
A Win for Farmers and Tribes Brings New Hope
What happens when you turn a barley field into a wetland?
Klamath Tribes push to restore wetlands and wocus in Southern Oregon
Restoration projects on farms and federal lands support a prized first food.
“This Place Wanted to Be a Wetland”
How Karl Wenner turned his fields into a wildlife sanctuary in the Klamath Basin.
Wetlands, Waterbirds, and Water
A visual journey through a century of change in this storymap documenting the history of the Klamath Basin.
One Farm, Many Benefits
A 2021 “Herald and News” article looks at how agricultural land can be part of the Klamath Basin water solution.
