|
Become a friend of the Klamath Bucket Brigade All donations are tax deductible |
|
This Website is Dedicated to Alvin Alexander Cheyne January 10, 1921 - June 17, 2005 |
GovTrack.us is an independent tool to help the public research and track the activities in the U.S. Congress, promoting government transparency and civic education through novel uses of technology.
Oregon
Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed a drought
declaration for Klamath County and the
surrounding area Wednesday as irrigators
prepare for what is expected to be one of
the worst droughts in decades.
The
drought declaration will make aid available
to the area and speed up ways the state can
Kulongoski also requested a federal natural
resource disaster declaration that could
bring further assistance.
“The
water situation presents a real threat of
economic loss to those who live and work in
the Klamath Basin — and the state is going
to do everything in its power to help,” the
governor said in a press release.
Leaders
in the county welcomed news that aid efforts
were on track.
“We’re
very pleased that it’s early enough in the
process to make some plans,” said Klamath
County Commissioner John Elliott.
Low water levels
Extremely low water levels in Upper Klamath
Lake, along with below average precipitation
and inflows, have many expecting the worst
drought in decades, including 2001 when
water was shut off to Project irrigators.
Kulongoski was in the Klamath Basin last
week to hear from residents about the
impacts of the expected water shortage and
to meet
The
governor has directed state departments to
render any necessary aid to the region.
His
signing of the drought decla ration furthers
that directive, especially for the Oregon
Water Resources Department, which has sent
staff to the county to speed up the process
for granting emergency permits for
groundwater wells.
Federal declaration
A
federal declaration, though, would open up
even more resources to the region,
especially from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture.
“Iimagine everything the federal government
could do should be done,” Elliott said.
Greg
Addington, executive director of Klamath
Water Users Association, said he and others
in the irrigation community are speaking
with the region’s federal lawmakers in
Washington D.C., to determine what aid could
come from the federal government.
“Part of the confusion is
what could be available through USDA,” he
said.
Governor signs drought declaration for the
region
NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section
107, any copyrighted
material herein is distributed without profit
or payment to those who have
expressed a prior interest in receiving this
information for non-profit
research and educational purposes only. For
more information go to:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml