One of the most rewarding aspects of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Directorate Fellowship Program (DFP), aside from the exposure to professional USFWS careers and employees, is the opportunity to connect with our fellow cohorts who are all working on vastly different projects across the country. My fellow Western Pond Turtle DFP and I have been conducting river surveys along the Klamath River in Northern California and have had the honor of working closely with another cohort of three DFP’s who have been assigned the task of conducting bumblebee surveys in Southern Oregon. Our two different cohorts have grown close as fellow interns and friends beyond our projects in our free time after work and on weekends. Eventually our friendship worked its way into the professional setting when we were granted the opportunity to work together on each of our two different projects as one DFP cohort.

July 12^th to July 16^th was dedicated to the Bumblebee Blitz where professionals and volunteers work together to conduct a mass survey of the bumblebee community in the mountain meadows of Southern Oregon in search for two rare species of bumblebee – the Western Bumblebee and Franklin’s Bumblebee. Western Bumblebees are a species of special conservation concern in the region of Southern Oregon and few individuals are found annually in the meadows of Mount Ashland and Grizzly Peaks. Franklin’s Bumblebees have not been seen in over 14 years, begging the question of whether or not the species is extinct. Since few surveys for bumblebees are conducted in Southern Oregon, Bumblebee Blitz acts as a dedicated week to search for Franklin’s and Western Bumblebees. On the final day of the blitz, I had found the first of three Western Bumblebees found at Grizzly Peaks and had the honor of collecting the DNA sample from the live specimen and releasing the bee with the help of my fellow DFP’s. The week was both a success in the sense of collecting invaluable data and connecting with our fellow DFP’s and distinguished professionals across various government and conservation agencies.

Western Bumblebee collected at Grizzly Peaks during the Bumblebee Blitz.

Our friendship in the field continued the final field day of my Western Pond Turtle survey project when the bumblebee cohorts joined us on the Klamath River through class II and class III rapids near Tree of Heaven River Access. Our surveys take us on an average of 5 river miles through forested mountain valleys on inflatable kayaks, but for this special occasion we borrowed a whitewater raft to tackle the various classes of rapids along this reach. After a day of finding many turtles, conquering countless rapids, and sharing even more laughs, our time working in the field together during our time as DFP’s had concluded. The collaborative river day was the perfect end to an amazing summer of learning a plethora of new knowledge and skills, connecting with outstanding people, and making everlasting memories. One day perhaps we will all meet again working out in the field, but the one thing that is certain is our friendship will always persist on despite our different paths.

The Western Pond Turtle and the Bumblebee cohorts rafting on the Klamath River conducting turtle surveys.

Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Program: US Fish & Wildlife Service - DFP

Location: Yreka Fish and Wildlife Office

The story of two women working for the Department of the Interior - set out to explore the Klamath River in one of the most remote locations in the United States. Travelling from a home in New Jersey and starting their journey from Eureka to Yreka, California. Speaking with locals and the native Karuk tribe to learn about the natural and cultural history of the region. This is my story working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Directorate Fellowship Program in 2021 surveying for Western Pond Turtles along the Klamath River with my fellow cohort. And yet, another very different story begins the exact same way. Change the setting back 113 years to 1908 and you now have the story of Mary Ellicott Arnold and Mabel Reed working as field matrons with the Karuk tribe along the Klamath River.

As my fellow cohort, Stephanie, and I were wandering about the town of Ashland, Oregon, we stumbled upon a little book store and were drawn to the “Women in the West” section. There, Stephanie saw a book titled “In the Land of the Grasshopper Song: Two Women in the Klamath River Indian Country in 1908-1909” by Mary Ellicott Arnold and Mabel Reed. We each acquired a copy of the book and upon reading, we soon realized how similar our story was with this novel from 113 years ago. Some parallels were significant such as the course of our journey taking us to Happy Camp, California to speak with the native Karuk tribe. Other parallels were such small intricacies that were too wild to believe, such as a fascination with cowboy hats. Of course with the difference of a century comes many differences in technology, and we are certainly grateful to have the luxury of travelling via car rather than by horse.

Cover image of the novel "In the Land of the Grasshopper Song" by Mary Ellicott Arnold and Mabel Reed.

Our goals for exploring the region were entirely different, with myself and Stephanie conducting research on the Western Pond Turtle for a species status assessment versus Mary and Mabel working to teach the Karuk tribe the ways of civilization. Despite our professional goals contrasting, in the end all four of us learned the same lessons from our time here. We’ve learned how sacred the Klamath River is, including all of its amazing creatures like the Western Pond Turtle, a beloved symbol of the Karuk tribe. We’ve learned the importance of diversity and how special it is to preserve unique cultures. We’ve learned how to navigate the professional field as women. And most importantly, we’ve learned the importance of friendship and making connections with people from all walks of life. We have many more lessons to learn with the program only halfway complete, and I look forward to completing both my journey and this inspirational novel.

Street flags in Happy Camp, California displaying native Klamath River species with Karuk translations.

Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Program: US Fish & Wildlife Service - DFP

Location: Yreka Fish and Wildlife Office

Surveying for Western Pond Turtles along the Klamath River in Northern California as part of a species status assessment under the Endangered Species Act sounds like a dream field project. While kayaking down the river all summer equipped with an inflatable kayak, an iPad, and a pair of binoculars collecting data on turtle occupancy and habitat composition, the most prominent obstacles one would expect to face during the project are the apparent and abundant rapids of varying classes. The last problem one would expect on a river with swiftly flowing water? A lack of water.

The Upper Klamath Lake Reservoir in Southern Oregon caches the water supply for the entirety of the Klamath River. Water levels on the river are under government regulation and levels are controlled to provide sufficient water for farmers along the reach of the Klamath via a canal. The government must also provide “flushing flows” of quick, increased water levels in order to help prevent concentrations of a deadly parasite from accumulating and killing the native Chinook Salmon. These fish are a key cultural component to three local Native American tribes: the Yurok, the Karuk, and the Hoopa Valley. On a normal year with regular rainfall during the spring rainy season, providing enough water to farmers while conserving enough water for the salmon flushes is unproblematic. Unfortunately, recent years have not proven to be normal.

Consecutive years of decreasing rainfall have led to a drought in Upper Klamath Lake, making 2021 one of the worst drought years in this region since 2001. The canal that transports the water from the reservoir to the farmers will be completely dry for the first time in 114 years in an effort from the government to conserve what little water there is in order to protect the salmon. These circumstances have instigated political unrest in the area and threaten protests and anti-government attacks – common occurrences in historical drought years.

Navigating political turmoil and dangerously low water levels during my fellowship with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) surveying the Western Pond Turtles along the Klamath River was not an issue I anticipated having to face. As I begin my surveys upriver, the quantity of water appears normal; however, the quality of the water itself is depreciating at earlier and faster rates and deceased salmon are already ending up in USFWS traps. As the weeks progress and I work my way downstream, the low water levels will be more apparent in side channels and backwaters of the river and may even render some reaches impassible by kayak as the water level will be too shallow to allow the kayaks to flow through. Part of this project is to survey for the turtles in adjacent ponds to the Klamath River. Pond surveys have been nearly impossible as most accessible ponds are completely evaporated.

Fire risk is increased with the drought conditions and in conjunction with the rest of the circumstances, the success of this project is at the mercy of the elements and the public. With the project deadline approaching in August and many reaches left to cover, it is a fight against the clock to collect enough data to be useful for the future species status assessment of the Western Pond Turtle. I am optimistic that this project will be seen to completion with the dedication of myself, my fellow cohort, and the outstanding FWS team and its partners. We will persevere through these stacked odds against us and march forth in the effort to protect these beloved native aquatic turtles of the Klamath River basin.

Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Program: US Fish & Wildlife Service - DFP

Location: Yreka Fish and Wildlife Office

Courtney Randik is studying Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources at Rutgers University - New Brunswick with a certificate in Environmental Geomatics in the class of January 2023. She has been employed with the New Jersey State Park Service at Bass River State Forest since 2019 as a Visitor Services Assistant. Courtney is involved in research on urban populations of DeKay's Brown Snake at Rutgers under Dr. Peter Morin. She volunteers with field research by seining for American Shad and River Herring and banding songbirds along the Delaware Water Gap. She serves as the Vice President to both the Rutgers Chapter of the Wildlife Society and Rutgers University Forestry Club. Her skills include knowledge of natural resources and ecological processes, field identification of flora and fauna, field techniques and research, and performing hands-on and labor-intensive tasks.