Elements of the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement

Klamath Falls Herald and News

February 15, 2008

   Stakeholders released the agreement Jan. 15. These are the major items: 

   n Migratory fish species will be re-established throughout the watershed, achieved by removal of four hydroelectric dams, and reintroduction and monitoring programs. 

   n Irrigators on the Klamath Reclamation Project will limit surface water use to between 330,000 and 385,000 acre-feet per year, depending on the type of water year. More water will be available in wetter years. In drier years, the Project will utilize groundwater or field idling to cover shortages. 

   n Irrigators outside Project boundaries can participate in voluntary retirement of water rights to add another 30,000 acre-feet of water to Upper Klamath Lake for which they’d be compensated. 

   n More than 100,000 acre feet of storage capacity will be added to Upper Klamath Lake by breaching several levees. 

   n All irrigators will benefit from a program to secure affordable power rates. Using investments and other ventures, the irrigators could potentially receive power for irrigation at 3 cents per kilowatt-hour. 

   n Water adjudication disputes between the Klamath Tribes and Project irrigators will be settled. Adjudication proceedings will continue between the Tribes and off-Project irrigators with the possibility of continued settlement talks. 

   n Those involved in the agreement will support the Klamath Tribes’ purchase of more than 90,000 acres of private forest land located within their former reservation. Two thirds of the funding for the $30 million purchase would come from the federal government. 

   n Counties through which the Klamath River flows will receive financial assistance for economic development and compensation for loss of property tax revenue from removal of the dams.

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