Federal lawmakers work on aid  

H&N Staff Writer

March 19, 2010

   Federal agencies on Thursday were beginning to respond.

   The U.S. Department of Interior announced that some water would be provided to the Klamath Reclamation Project. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it was providing $2 million to affected irrigators in Oregon and California to help address soil erosion problems.

   U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R - Ore., sent a letter Thursday requesting a federal drought declaration   for the area, as well as a public information campaign to let those impacted by the water shortage know what benefits are available.

   “I assure you the preparation and clarity I request here are key to the chances of successfully managing the extremely challenging drought reality in the Basin,” Walden said in his letter to the U.S. secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture.  

   U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., also encouraged the Senate to take action this week.

   “With spring planting season already upon us, it is critical that we take immediate action to respond to this crisis,” the junior senator said.

   Faced with extremely low water levels in Upper Klamath Lake and below average precipitation and inflows, many expect one of the worst droughts in decades, including 2001 when water was shut off to the Klamath Reclamation Project.

   State and federal officials have worked on the issue for the past few weeks. Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski visited the region last week and signed a state drought declaration Wednesday, opening some aid for the region as well as streamlining some state processes, including the granting of emergency groundwater well permits.

   Merkley and U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., also pushed for federal agencies to commit resources to the region to alleviate strain from the impending water shortage.       

   Andrew Whelan, Walden’s spokesman, said it was not yet known what type of emergency declaration the region could receive or what benefits it could include.

   While securing some form of a disaster or drought declaration is critical, he said, it’s equally important there be some effort to inform those impacted what that declaration provides.

   “Once you start making this emergency aid available, you have to let people know how to get it,” Whelan said.

   Water agreement

   Merkley said in his floor speech that those in the Basin have crafted and signed the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, a document aimed at resolving the region’s conflicts over water.

   The senator said the restoration agreement would provide tools for working in a drought   such as this, but it has not yet been funded or implemented. And, he said, that’s why the federal government has to act to help the Basin now.

   “The worst thing we can do is simply stand by, watch farmers plant their crops and then watch those crops fail,” Merkley said.

   Klamath County Commissioner Cheryl Hukill said Thursday she was pleased with the area’s representatives in Washington.

   “This is just great to have all three congressional representatives working on this,” she said.