Klamath Basin Chapter, 
Native Plant Society of Oregon

Flora and Fauna of Playa Lakes and Vernal Pools by Ron Larson,

  • November 06, 2017
  • 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Klamath County Museum, 1451 Main St, Klamath Falls

The Klamath Basin Chapter of NPSO will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6, at the Klamath County Museum.  Please join us for a presentation by Ron Larson on a bioblitz-like effort to inventory nearly 100 lakes in Klamath, Lake, and Harney counties and adjacent areas of CA and NV. 

Playa lakes and smaller vernal pools are rarely sampled for biological and physical data, because they are normally dry from early summer into fall and rarely filled except in years with above-normal precipitation. Wet conditions in the winter and spring of 2016-2017 provided a rare opportunity to learn about these aquatic systems. 

Numerous species of plants and animals were found around the lakes and pools, ranging from water ferns and beautiful Downingia to fresh water sponges and fairy shrimp.  Several petroglyphs were also noted.  The results suggest these areas are under-appreciated sites of biodiversity and may have been important camping and hunting sites for native Americans.

Clam shrimp Cyzicus sp.                        Downingia insignis

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