ODFW will require catch-and-release fishing for native redband trout from June 15 through Oct. 31 on Upper Klamath Lake and several spring-fed creeks that feed into it. The temporary rule also limits anglers to flies and artificial lures only for all species in the affected waters.

Klamath Falls native and independent historian Karen Caverly-Molineaux discovered that Hollywood stars and a film crew spent weeks in the Basin producing the surviving 1926 silent feature “The Ice Flood.” Her research brings the nearly forgotten production—and the community that welcomed it—back into view.

A spring wildflower bloom is spreading across the former Iron Gate and Copco reservoir footprints, where the Yurok Tribe says crews have planted millions of native seeds since the removal of four Klamath River dams in 2024. The returning plants are helping stabilize soil, support wildlife and rebuild habitat along the river.

Klamath Project irrigators have an upcoming opportunity to learn more about 2026 drought relief programs during a Friday workshop at the Klamath Water Users Association office in Klamath Falls. Applications for the programs are due by 5 p.m. June 15.

Greater Klamath CityFest returns to Klamath Falls on Saturday, May 30, bringing free family activities, action sports demonstrations, live music, worship and a Ryan Stevenson concert to downtown Main Street and Veterans Park.

Benefit for the Basin returns Saturday, May 30, at the Klamath County Fairgrounds, bringing together a car show, vendors, family activities and dinner in support of youth, education, community programs and the fairgrounds.

Applications are now open for the 2026–2027 Leadership Klamath program through the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce. The long-running program connects emerging and established leaders with monthly sessions focused on government, education, economic development, healthcare, natural resources, public safety and community engagement.

A new used outdoor goods and consignment store is now open in Klamath Falls, offering a place for residents to sell, donate and shop for gently used outdoor gear. The store was created to make outdoor recreation more affordable while keeping usable equipment, clothing and bikes in circulation.

Linkville Playhouse will open A Changed Person, an original dramatic comedy written and directed by Erin Barker, on Friday, May 15. The production follows a group of people whose astral projection workshop goes wildly wrong, forcing them to learn what it really means to walk in someone else’s shoes.

Klamath County is now under a state drought emergency after Governor Tina Kotek declared emergency status for Klamath, Coos, and Wheeler counties. State officials say 70% of Klamath County is in moderate to severe drought, while the Klamath Basin’s snow water equivalent was reported at just 4% of normal in late April.

The Klamath River Renewal Project has received international recognition for its role in restoring fish passage and river connectivity following the removal of four hydroelectric dams. Project partners say the effort reopened more than 400 miles of historic habitat for salmon, steelhead and lamprey.

Federal agencies have awarded $6 million to help tribes and Oregon officials restore spring Chinook salmon in the Klamath Basin through hatchery expansion and remote stream incubation sites.

The Klamath Water Bank has opened its 2026 drought response program with up to $19.1 million available for irrigators as water shortages are expected to idle tens of thousands of acres this season.

CHP has recommended possible charges after a paraquat spill in Dorris shut down Highway 97 and triggered a shelter-in-place order. Investigators say the tank came loose from a truck headed to a spraying job in the Shasta Valley.

The Ross Ragland Theater has announced a full May lineup featuring Klamath Chorale, Blippi, the Klamath Symphony, Oregon Ballet Theatre, and a summer camp fundraiser supporting local youth programs.

United Way of the Klamath Basin Executive Director Christine Hess has announced her retirement after nearly four years of service. The nonprofit says it will begin an immediate search for new leadership as it continues programs supporting health, education, housing, and financial stability across the region.

A new federal bill introduced by Congressman Cliff Bentz aims to give local water users a stronger voice in decisions that impact water access across the West. The legislation focuses on increasing transparency and participation during Endangered Species Act consultations that often influence agricultural and community water supplies.

The Klamath Water Users Association is warning of reduced irrigation water deliveries for the 2026 season due to extremely low snowpack. Officials say up to 40,000 acres may need to remain unirrigated to preserve water later in the year. A community meeting is planned to discuss conditions and next steps.

A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for the Oregon Cascades with heavy snow and strong winds expected through Thursday. Forecasters say up to 30 inches of snow is possible in some higher elevations with difficult travel conditions. Additional watches, warnings, and advisories have been issued across Southern Oregon and Northern California.

KWUA says the 2026 Klamath Project Annual Operations Plan sets water management parameters but stops short of confirming irrigation allocations, which are expected by April 1.