March 2, 2010
If we have learned anything during our stay with Bill, it is that Environmental Education encompasses much more than just teaching children about appreciating our environment. Today we drove to Chiloquin, a small town east of Agency Lake on the Upper Klamath, and had a social hour learning about the struggles associated with water rights in and around the Klamath Basin. An excellent book to read about the controversial water war that has been occuring here over the past 100 years is Water Wars in Klamath Basin by Holly D. Doremus and A. Dan Tarlock. We met with Oregon native Jim Litts, a botanist and biologist researching and protecting the Klamath Water Shed. Our conversation revolved around the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement and ideas for curriculum to teach students about this fascinating area. Jim works with the Klamath Wingwatcher Program and shared with us about his Chiloquin website. He was excited about our PCT adventure and spoke about his fond memories of hiking 50 mile sections for 4 consecutive years in the Boy Scouts. Jim is an outdoor enthusiast and showed us his excellent map of hiking trails in Southern Oregon.
We thoroughly enjoyed the stories Jim and Bill shared. A major highlight for two hungry naturalists training for the PCT was the homemade sweet bread his wife made from an old Finland recipe. I must have eaten 6 slices with butter and honey as I watched the quail and other birds eat from feeders outside.
I feel like I have a much better understanding about the issues surrounding the Klamath Basin, arguably the largest freshwater lake by surface area west of the Mississippi. We look forward to more learning opportunities like these to share stories and ideas for protecting our precious resources.
~Justin
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