The Bureau of Reclamation's Klamath Basin Area Office (KBAO) has released the Final Appraisal and Optimization Study for a proposed off-stream storage project to be located at Long Lake Valley.  Reclamation used study criteria which met objectives in the 2000 Klamath Basin Water Supply Enhancement Act to evaluate the possibility of constructing the project.

The study considered possible benefits to Klamath Project irrigators and fish species in the Klamath River.  Additionally, the fishery restoration benefits of the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement were taken into consideration.  The study findings indicate that the return on investment of the project is extremely low and does not warrant additional study.  Estimates developed in 2009 indicate the cost of the project to be between $550 million and $2.3 billion.  The range in costs is due to various options in the study, which include different sizes and combinations of storage, pumping and power generation facilities and different levels of lining for the lake bottom to prevent water loss from seepage.  The study also considered the availability of water to pump into the facility.  Based on historical inflow data and assuming current legally-mandated requirements are met, water would only be available for storage in the facility in 1 out of every 7 to 10 years.

"Reclamation will continue to evaluate other opportunities to provide additional water supplies for the Klamath Project.  Plans are to examine smaller off-stream and on-stream storage options in the Upper Klamath Basin as well as groundwater utilization options that make sense for the entire Klamath watershed," said Sue Fry, KBAO Area Manager.

The study may be viewed at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/kbao/.  For additional information or to request a copy of the study, please contact Kevin Moore at klmoore@usbr.gov or 541-880-2557 (TTY 541-883-6935).       

• Appraisal Study 31MB  
• Optimization Study 40MB