Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Since the mid 90’s the USFWS and cooperators have begun converting farm fields to wetlands and then back again. This rotation of farm to wetland/and back mimics the creation and destruction of wetlands that used to occur along the edges of a naturally fluctuating Tule Lake. Fields are typically flooded soon after harvest and by fall they become habitat for migrating waterfowl.  After 2 years, following the wetland cycling, fields are returned to agricultural production. Known as “walking wetlands”, this practice has dramatically increased wildlife use and enhanced crop production while eliminating the need for pesticides. This practice has also been adopted on neighbouring private farmland.