Definitions

By Ty Beaver

H&N's Staff Writer

February 15, 2008
   
Acre-foot:

The amount of water required to cover one acre of land one foot deep. One acre-foot of water equals 325,851 gallons of water and is equal to about half the amount of water required to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
   
Biological assessment:

The report conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation of the effects on threatened and endangered species in the Klamath River watershed from operating the Klamath Reclamation Project. The assessment is one of the documents that determines biological opinions.
   
Biological opinion:

The decision made by the National Marine Fisheries Service regarding whether operation of the Klamath Reclamation Project will threaten or destroy endangered fish species in the Klamath River watershed. The document outlines flow requirements for fish and is partially based on the biological assessment compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
   
Diversion:

The point from which water is diverted from a primary source into an irrigation system. There are about 12 points of diversion into the Klamath Reclamation Project from water sources in the upper Klamath River watershed, including Upper Klamath Lake and the Klamath and Lost Rivers .
   
Endangered Species Act:

Federal legislation enacted in 1973 to protect endangered and threatened animals and plants and their environments in the United States . The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior maintains the list of applicable species, totaling more than 1,500 endangered species and 300 threatened species. The coho salmon and various species of suckers in the Klamath River watershed are on the list.
   
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or FERC:

The federal commission is responsible for regulation and monitoring of energy industries in the economic, environmental and safety interests of the American public. It is involved in the re-licensing process of four hydroelectric dams owned by Portland-based Pacifi-Corp on the Klamath River .
   
Klamath Basin :

This region includes any water sources that flow into the Klamath River , which flows into the Pacific Ocean at Klamath, Calif. The Basin’s northern and eastern limits are in Klamath County and begin with the headwaters of the Sprague, Williamson and other rivers that flow into Upper Klamath Lake , which flows into the Klamath River . The river then flows through Siskiyou and Humboldt counties in California connecting with tributaries before emptying into the ocean. It also includes the Lost River and Tule Lake basins.
   
Klamath Reclamation Project:

The federally constructed and operated area in the upper Klamath River watershed that provides irrigation water for 240,000 acres of farmland. It is located in southern Klamath County and northeastern Siskiyou County , Calif. , and is part of, or surrounds, the communities of Klamath Falls , Keno, Midland , Merrill, Malin and Tulelake. Water for the operation of the Project comes primarily from Upper Klamath Lake , but also the Klamath and Lost rivers.
   
Off-Project irrigator:

Any irrigator using water outside the physical bounds of the Klamath Reclamation Project. Off-Project irrigators primarily use groundwater or diversions from rivers that flow into Upper Klamath Lake to irrigate their crops and pastures.
   
On-Project irrigator:

Any irrigator that uses water for irrigation inside the physical bounds of the Klamath Reclamation Project. On-Project irrigators use water diverted through a federally constructed system of canals and ditches. They are organized into irrigation districts and companies and are represented by the Klamath Water Users Association.
   
Water Bank:

The program managed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to put additional water in the Klamath Reclamation Project through groundwater pumping or conservation of water by idling irrigable land. Property owners are compensated for either using a well on their property or letting a portion of their property not be farmed and irrigated.  

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