A summer of drought

I am on Stateline Road. Oregon is shown in front of me, California behind. This section of the Wildlife Refuge is being drained due to demands of agriculture in the immediate area. The drought is so severe that it was decided by "powers that be" to allow ranchers to use this section of marsh for irrigation. The Klamath River to the WNW is unaffected, and water continues to flow toward the Pacific Ocean to benefit the salmon's lifecycle. (The water war between Native American salmon interests in California and Oregon cattle ranchers has been going on for years.)

The Klamath Wildlife Refuge consists of many large marshes. It is a major flyway for migratory birds of the Pacific west on their route through Canada and Mexico. It's also a destination of dedicated birdwatchers and photographers from around the country. This particular marsh will be drained, but the one across the highway, behind where I'm standing here, will not be. However, it is affected by severe drought and will perhaps lose enough water to endanger waterfowl.