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Tribal leaders press Klamath County for rapid habitat fixes at Hagelstein Park
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Summary
Tribal leaders and county officials discussed short-term gating, an MOU and longer-term legal options — including locating heirs or pursuing a quiet-title action — to protect spawning habitat at Hagelstein Park and Barclay Springs amid a steep native-fish decline.
Tribal leaders urged Klamath County commissioners on April 15 to move quickly on restoration and access controls at Hagelstein Park and Barclay Springs to protect dwindling native spawners.
"The fish are really on a dive decline right now," said Chairman Wade, describing a recent collapse in counts and urging immediate, low-cost measures such as a gate and altered hours to reduce overnight camping and human impacts. County staff said they could draft a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to let tribal staff open and close a gate daily as a stopgap while longer-term legal and restoration work proceeds.
Speakers said the original deed from the Hagelstein family to Klamath County contains a reversionary clause that would require the land remain a park while the county holds title. Vice Chairman (Clam Tribes) and county counsel described two legal pathways if a change of ownership or use were sought: locating heirs to the Hagelstein family or, if no heirs are found, bringing a quiet-title action. "That'd be another option," a tribal attorney said, referring to a quiet-title process advocated by tribal counsel.
Tribal and county participants also discussed on-the-ground restoration measures: reconfiguring small ponds to improve freshwater connectivity, adding plantings to reduce predation by water birds, and installing drainage to reduce highway runoff that carries fertilizer and oils into the springs. Duane Sherman Hoopa noted past COVID-era delays that stalled earlier gating plans and suggested a renewed partnership for installation and daily gate management.
County staff offered to coordinate a site tour with parks staff and to draft the MOU if the tribes identify who will manage the daily opening and closing. Participants agreed to pursue locating family heirs as the cleanest legal fix while the MOU could provide near-term protection.
The parties set follow-up steps: county and tribal counsel will confer, parks staff will plan a site visit, and tribal representatives will provide proposed MOU language and staffing plans for gate management. No formal motion or vote was recorded at the meeting.
