Samuel A. Clarke, New York Times, 1870s

"Ten million birds once darkened the sky above the crown jewel of America's wildlife refuges, a little-known but vital tract of lakes, rivers and marshes on the California-Oregon border. Now that reserve - the largest wetlands west of the Mississippi River - has been reduced to a shriveled ghost of itself, fighting with farmers for each drop of its own water."

Richard Cole, AP, Denver Post, 1997

"..perhaps the most extensive breeding ground in the West for all kinds of inland water birds."

Future State Biologist of Ore. William Finley, on first exploring L. Klamath Lake, 1904

"More than five million ducks alone may be found here during the height of fall migration, with most of these individuals utilizing either Lower Klamath or the adjacent Tule Lakes."

U.S. Dept. Interior 1955, 1958

"...during the past 30 years, the lake (Tule) has degenerated into a stagnant sump, a giant drainage pit for the silty water that runs off nearby farm fields. The lake is so overloaded with nitrogen, ammonia, phosphorous and other nutrients that alkalinity levels sometimes approach that of dish soap."

The Oregonian, 1997

"The National Wildlife Refuge System encompasses nearly 100 million acres and 545 national wildlife refuges. Priority uses of the National Wildlife Refuge System are hunting, fishing, photography, wildlife observation, environmental education, and interpretation.

USFWS