Hi Tweets:
Malheur has applied for new water rights to meet the needs of wildlife,
and support from birders and nature lovers has been requested. The
address to write to is at the end of this email. -Lauren Braden,
Seattle Audubon

--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Gary Ivey" <ivey at oregonvos.net>
To: "Timothy P. McGruder" <tmcgruder at juno.com>
Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2000 22:16:29 -0800
Subject: Re: Malheur
Message-ID: <001101bf5b32$f8047f80$034da8c0 at oemcomputer>

Birding Friends:
Malheur Wildlife Associates, a support group for Malheur National
Wildlife Refuge, would like you to be aware of an issue at Malheur.

Malheur Refuge has applied for new water rights to allow "legal"
diversions outside of the irrigation season to provide habitat for
wildlife (Oct. 1-Mar. 14). This right is critical to operation of the
refuge and fulfilling its mission in providing habitat for birds and
other wildlife during this period, and is especially important for
providing wetlands habitats soon
enough to meet the needs of early nesting birds such as Sandhill Cranes.

In addition and on a separate application for EXISTING water rights the
Refuge has applied for a change in use from irrigation to "wildlife
refuge management" to better reflect the refuge's mission and the
purpose of the use of the water. Harney County locals have written
letters in protest of the water rights applications. The primary issue
is that locals don't want the water rights changed from an agricultural
basis (i.e. cow grazing) to wildlife.

Friendly letters of support are needed to help convince the Oregon Water
Resource
Department to approve the applications.

Below are some main points of beneficial use of winter water:

The bottom line is that the current irrigation season does not match the
biological seasonal needs for wildlife. Malheur is nationally known as
prime birding destination and hosts over 60,000 visitors a year. It is
an intricate link in the chain of wetlands in the Pacific Flyway.
Migrating birds include waterfowl, shorebirds and neo-tropical migrants;
some of
which are listed as "sensitive" in Oregon. The Spring migration is from
February through May and the Fall migration starts in August and lasts
until
November. Trumpeter swans and other waterfowl depend on water throughout
thewinter period.

Benefits of October 1 through March 14 water use include:

*Maintenance of pond levels which is critically important for the
successful nesting of waterfowl.

*Applying water as available and as needed through the winter months
will
help reduce the immediate need for water at the beginning of the
irrigation season and will help ensure that marshes and meadows are wet
enough for
early nesting species such as cranes and Canada geese.

*This will allow the 8-mile-long East Canal to be maintained as a
redband
trout fishery.

*During high water and flood events, it will provide the ability to
manage
(divert) a portion of these high flows which will help protect refuge
facilities (e.g. fish passage and fish screening equipment) and
sensitive
wildlife habitat.

*Also, water diverted in the Blitzen Valley will help to alleviate
flooding on private lands around Malheur Lake.

It would be good if all of the local Audubon Chapters and birders chimed
in on this.
Letters should be sent by the end of this month. If you are interested
and willing, please write a letter to:

Laura Snedaker
Water Resource Department
158 12th Street NE
Salem, OR 97301-0210

and send a copy to:

Refuge Manager, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge,
HC72
Box 245, Princeton, OR 97721

Thanks for your support.
Gary Ivey
ivey at oregonvos.net


_______
>Tim McGruder
>Co-Chair Conservation Committee
>East Lake Washington Audubon Society
>Phone 425-828-4036
>FAX 425-828-6310
>


Lauren Braden
Advocate for Wildlife Habitat
Seattle Audubon Society
8050 35th Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98115
PHONE: 206 523-8243 x14
FAX: 206 528-7779
laurenb at seattleaudubon.org
www.seattleaudubon.org
Seattle Audubon Society protects birds and the natural environment by
involving volunteers and the community in education, advocacy,
preservation, science and enjoyment
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