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Lake Abert Dries Up

<p>A thick crust of salt remains after most of Lake Abert dried up in 2014.</p>

A thick crust of salt remains after most of Lake Abert dried up in 2014.

Oregon's third largest lake, Lake Abert dried up in 2014 for the first time since the 1930s. 3 million migrating shorebirds depend on it for food. Drought has hit that region of the state but some people wonder whether human use of Abert's only water source made things worse. Under Oregon law, Lake Abert has no legal right to any water at all. In March, 2015, the Oregon Water Resources Department recommended approving the extension of the permit of the Rivers End Ranch dam, which frequently blocks the flow to Lake Abert.

MORE INFORMATION

Lake Abert Described

Rivers End Ranch 1991 Permit

1991 DEQ Rivers End Conditions

Critical Lake Level Report – 1994 Report for ODFW

Ecology of Lake Abert – 1992 Report for ODFW

Audubon Bird Significance Report

Brine Shrimp in Lake Abert

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Producer - Vince Patton

Videographers - Todd Sonflieth, Tom Shrider, Frank Swanson

Editor - Todd Sonflieth

Additional Video & Photos - Ron Larson, Keith Kreuz, ODFW-Crystal McMahon,

USGS Landsat, USFS-Jim Walls

Animations - Todd Sonflieth

Data Analysis - Tony Schick

Special Thanks - Julie Keoberle-NRCS

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Vince Patton