Kulongoski vows to help Klamath farmers

Capital Press

March 9, 2010

Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski vowed to help Klamath Basin farmers and ranchers survive this year's looming drought after meeting in Klamath Falls March 9 with government officials, tribal leaders and farmers.

"Together we can minimize economic losses and impacts to endangered species," Kulongoski said in a prepared statement.

Drought-like conditions in the Klamath Basin are placing in jeopardy farmers' access to irrigation water this spring and summer.

Snowpack in the basin is 67 percent of normal, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Precipitation to date for the 2009-10 water year is just 3.81 inches, 4.17 inches below normal for this time of year.

The area is categorized as in a moderate drought under the National Weather Service's drought monitor.

"A good, hard rainfall could help fill reservoirs," said Ryan Sandler, a meteorologist for the weather service in Medford. But, he said, it's hard to play catch-up in the spring, given that 80 percent of the basin's snowpack typically has been established by March 1.

Kulongoski directed the Oregon Water Resources Department to prepare to issue emergency drought permits for the region and to approve emergency water transfers if Klamath County officials request a state drought declaration.

Emergency drought permits expedite water transfer and well drilling permit approvals.

"It gives us the green light to move very quickly to meet these water needs," OWRD Director Phil Ward said.

Kulongoski also instructed the Oregon Department of Agriculture to provide technical assistance to farmers and ranchers and to work with USDA officials on securing a federal disaster declaration if the governor requests it.

"We're making sure that if folks have questions (regarding drought program assistance) we can help them get answers," ODA Director Katy Coba said.

A disaster declaration would provide eligible farmers and ranchers with access to federal assistance programs.

"Based on what we know today, I suspect that both a state and federal disaster declaration will be needed," Kulongoski said. "The basin deserves help from the federal and state governments and I promise to do all I can in the coming months."

State officials from California and Oregon, federal officials, tribal leaders and others last month signed a Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement four years in the making. The agreement calls for the removal of four upper Klamath River dams and calls for farmers and ranchers to leave water in-stream for fish in exchange for some water delivery assurances.

Klamath water users were shut off from irrigation water in 2001, leading to severe crop and livestock losses.