Oregon farmer turns 70 acres into a wetland where endangered fish and 140 bird species thrive

When Karl Wenner looked across the flood-prone part of his southern Oregon barley farm, he saw more than difficult farmland. He saw a chance to build a wetland.

Wenner, a co-owner of Lakeside Farms near Klamath Falls, worked with conservation agencies and other partners to convert about 70 acres of the 400-acre property in 2021. The farm sits near Upper Klamath Lake, an important wetland and waterbird habitat.

The decision followed concerns about the quality of water leaving the farm. Tests found high concentrations of phosphorus, a nutrient that can contribute to harmful algal blooms in Upper Klamath Lake. The restored area was designed with shallow water, channels, dikes and islands, slowing the flow so vegetation and sediment can capture nutrients and suspended material.

The project did not remove the whole property from production. The remaining land continues to support farming, allowing restoration and agriculture to operate side by side.

Wildlife responded quickly. US Fish and Wildlife Service records documented more than 20,000 ducks on the property during October and November. Later reports recorded tens of thousands of ducks, geese and swans, as well as at least 140 bird species. Otters, beavers and muskrats also moved into the area.

The wetland has provided another important benefit: a place to raise federally endangered Lost River and shortnose suckers. In 2025, researchers found 50 adult-sized suckers after partially draining the wetland, a promising sign for species facing poor juvenile survival.