Drought being discussed 

Commissioners meeting with state officials

By TY BEAVER 

H&N Staff Writer

November 26, 2009

   Commissioners said the requirements for a drought declaration are unfairly biased against larger counties that may have many sub-basins. Dave Cassel, chairman of the council, said whether a declaration is provided depends on various factors.

   “It sounds like we’re going to have a good meeting,” Cassel said.

   The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in early July shut off irrigation water to about 40 irrigators in the Langell Valley Irrigation District supplied by Clear Lake. Federal officials said the shutoff was necessary because of a water shortage at the lake. Irrigators were told the shutoff would occur earlier that spring.

   Impact on irrigators

   Commissioners John Elliott and Cheryl Hukill said they attempted to receive a drought declaration so the impacted irrigators could access groundwater for irrigation.  

   Elliott said eight of the state’s northwestern counties would fit into Klamath County, and yet it appears easier for smaller counties to receive drought declarations. Hukill said she hopes the meeting will give the council a better understanding about how the drought impacted the region.

   “I want to give a human viewpoint of this, not just statistics,” she said.

   Drought requirements

   Cassel said there are no specific benchmark requirements, such as a percentage of affected population, for the state to declare a drought, but the Drought Council looks at impacts to the affected drainage basin and what is being sought through the declaration.

   “There’s a lot of things to look at,” he said.

   The commissioners said they weren’t anticipating receiving a retroactive declaration for the affected portion of Langell Valley, but want to have a discussion about how similar situations could be addressed in the future.  

   A drought declaration by the Oregon Drought Council can allow a county to qualify for state financial assistance. It also can help expedite permits to drill more wells.