Upper Basin ranchers responsible with water

Klamath Falls Herald and News

Letter to the Editor

November 2, 2010

   I have had the great pleasure to work with the many good folks who own and work on the great farms and ranches in the Klamath Basin.     

   Recently, there was an article in the Herald and News that suggested the Upper Basin irrigators simply stick straws into the rivers and withdraw as much water as they see fit.

   Statements like this lead to assumptions and result in harmful rumors.

   First and foremost, there is Western water law which sets the guiding principles for Oregon water law.  

   Although, some areas of the Basin have not been fully adjudicated, irrigators currently have a water right claim or certificate which stipulates the amount of water (acre-feet), the amount of water that can be applied at any specific time and the location where that water is to be applied.

   As a ranch and range consultant, much of my time is spent working with the agricultural communities above the Upper Klamath Lake. Typically, the landowners’ greatest concern is reducing the amount of water they divert for irrigation purposes.

   These folks are not sucking water out of the rivers without a care in the world. To the contrary, these folks are invested in riparian restoration, clean water, efficient irrigation practices and maintaining their agricultural communities.

   Dani Watson

   Ranch and Range Consulting LLC

   Sprague River