|
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.
Report sees new climate
Researchers say Basin growing season to change
By SARA HOTTMAN
H&N Staff Reporter
December 2, 2010
Farmers and ranchers in the Klamath Basin will likely experience better growing conditions as the globe warms, researchers with the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute said in a report released Tuesday.
Climate scientists predict the Klamath Basin will warm up to 7 degrees in the next 40 years and expect precipitation to increase, making the Basin’s climate similar to the Willamette Valley’s current climate.
“Our findings were that in some respects, the changes aren’t as dramatic,” said Roger Hamilton, senior policy analyst at the Climate Leadership Institute, which in March released a report on climate change in the Basin. “There are positive and negative impacts. The important message here is variability and change.
“It’s not all bad news,” he said. “Change means you have to be able to adapt and change the way you do business.”
Longer, warmer seasons
The state report echoed Hamilton’s: the Basin will experience longer, warmer growing seasons, which likely means more lush crops. Warmer temperatures also would allow for a wider range of crops than the Basin — known for potatoes and alfalfa — has traditionally been able to support.
State researchers said farmers would have to adjust their practices to the new climate.
“Most crop systems have been maximized for optimal production and sustainability through the years, and exist in a narrow temperature niche — one that may no longer be optimal under a warmer climate,” researchers state in the report.
But there also are drawbacks to warmer temperatures.
Soil fungi and crop pests grow better in warmer temperatures, and with fewer freezes likely as year-round temperatures rise, more fungi and pests will survive the winter, researchers predict.
Snowpack concerns
The biggest concern
is snowpack, Hamilton said.
“Availability, quality and cost of water will likely be the most limiting factor for agricultural production systems under the scenario of a warmer climate,” researchers wrote. “Many Oregon irrigation systems are fed by snowmelt … With a rise in temperature, irrigation demands are projected to increase.”
While climate models show the Basin will actually receive more precipitation over the next 40 years, that’s in conjunction with higher temperatures, so it will come down as rain instead of snow.
Snow pack is natural
storage for water bodies in the Basin, particularly
Upper Klamath Lake — a primary source of surface water
for irrigation. It also is governed by federal
biological opinions to protect endangered fish.
Flows into the lake have already
decreased 38 percent over 48 years. Researchers fear
with less snowpack, drought conditions will be more
common and more water will be retained in the lake to
meet biological opinions, further reducing the amount of
irrigation water available to farmers.
- Make irrigation systems more efficient. That will save money on power - rates have increased dramatically in recent years - and it also will save water. Climate scientists expect water to be even scarcer as higher temperatures reduce snowpack,
- Plant drought-resistant crops. Winter wheat and other crops conducive to dryland farming are planted in the winter and require less water. Hamilton said he's had success with winter wheat, though winter crops need freezing weather to prevent wheat kill.
- Diversity crops. Strawberries are growing successfully in the Basin and Hamilton said he may try wine grapes - both crops that typically would do better in the Willamette Valley then in the Basin.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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