Oregon farmer turned 70 acres into a wetland; endangered fish and 140 birds thrive

A farmer in southern Oregon transformed 70 acres of his 400-acre barley farm into a wetland in 2021, creating an unexpected refuge for wildlife while helping address agricultural water pollution. Karl Wenner, a co-owner of Lakeside Farms near Klamath Falls, worked with conservation agencies and other partners to convert flood-prone farmland into a managed wetland. The area now attracts tens of thousands of ducks, geese and swans and supports at least 140 bird species, along with otters, beavers and muskrats. More significantly, the wetland has been used to raise federally endangered Lost River and shortnose suckers. In 2025, researchers found 50 adult-sized suckers after partially draining the wetland, offering a promising sign for species struggling with poor juvenile survival.Why an Oregon farmer turned 70 acres of his barley farm into a wetlandWenner became a co-owner of Lakeside Farms in 2017. The roughly 400-acre property had traditionally been used to grow barley and sits near Upper Klamath Lake, an important wetland and waterbird habitat in southern Oregon. Wenner initially appreciated the farm because its abundant water attracted ducks, but he later became concerned about t...