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Managing Water for Birds—A Tool for the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Southeastern Oregon

Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5024
Prepared in cooperation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, High Desert Partnership, and Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board
By:
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20255024

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Abstract

The “Water for Birds Tool” is a spreadsheet-based tool (using Microsoft Excel) designed to help resource managers assess the spatial extent and types of bird habitats in the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, southeastern Oregon. The tool quantifies the areas of open water, partial water, and water depths on a monthly timescale during the irrigation season (April–July) from 2021 to 2024. This tool combines previously published datasets and models but also incorporates new measurements collected by partners. Results show that the relation between the amount of bird habitat and the extent (partial and open water) of Malheur Lake varies by bird guild. The Donner und Blitzen River supplied all or most of the surface water inflow to Malheur Lake during the analysis years, emphasizing the importance of informed management of the river. Additional gaging of inflows and diversions and better estimates of recharge and irrigated areas can help refine estimates of water use on the refuge.

Suggested Citation

Smith, C.D., 2025, Managing water for birds—A tool for the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, southeastern Oregon: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2025–5024, 21 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20255024. [Supersedes preprint https://doi.org/10.32942/X2N03N.]

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

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Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Methods and Approach
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • Conclusions
  • References Cited
  • Appendix 1. Calculating Wetted Area
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Managing water for birds—A tool for the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, southeastern Oregon
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2025-5024
DOI 10.3133/sir20255024
Publication Date May 16, 2025
Year Published 2025
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Oregon Water Science Center
Description Report: vii, 21 p.; Data Release
Country United States
State Oregon
Other Geospatial Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional publication details