By Steven Sandberg
March 30, 2010
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - With the Klamath Basin is in the midst of a emergency drought declaration, politicians met in Klamath Falls Tuesday to determine how they should respond.
Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski issued a state drought declaration for Klamath and surrounding counties earlier this month. Tuesday's meeting was organized by Oregon Congressman Greg Walden (R).
The Klamath Basin Bureau of Reclamation says that because lake elevation is not as high as expected, there's reason to be concerned. Upper Klamath Lake is 1.9 feet below what is needed to start irrigation deliveries. The Bureau reports it is not expecting any deliveries from Clear Lake Reservoir. Another area of concern is whether the drought will be similar to the drought in 2001, when it forced the shut-off of water to most of a federal irrigation project in the Klamath Basin to help protected fish survive.
Farmers and irrigators in the Klamath Basin are concerned about what will be done to help them receive water, and about how much water they will get.
"One of the things I learned coming out of 2001, when the water was cut off, is it's really critical to have accurate information flowing on a regular basis so the people in the community know what to anticipate and know what the facts are versus some rumor mill," Walden said.
The meeting also addressed what kind of Congressional assistance the area may need.
Kulongoski's declaration allows more flexibility for farmers and other water users to deal with the water shortage, such as tapping emergency wells and transferring irrigation rights. The governor is also seeking a federal drought declaration from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that would lead to some economic aid for the region.
March 30, 2010
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - With the Klamath Basin is in the midst of a emergency drought declaration, politicians met in Klamath Falls Tuesday to determine how they should respond.
Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski issued a state drought declaration for Klamath and surrounding counties earlier this month. Tuesday's meeting was organized by Oregon Congressman Greg Walden (R).
The Klamath Basin Bureau of Reclamation says that because lake elevation is not as high as expected, there's reason to be concerned. Upper Klamath Lake is 1.9 feet below what is needed to start irrigation deliveries. The Bureau reports it is not expecting any deliveries from Clear Lake Reservoir. Another area of concern is whether the drought will be similar to the drought in 2001, when it forced the shut-off of water to most of a federal irrigation project in the Klamath Basin to help protected fish survive.
Farmers and irrigators in the Klamath Basin are concerned about what will be done to help them receive water, and about how much water they will get.
"One of the things I learned coming out of 2001, when the water was cut off, is it's really critical to have accurate information flowing on a regular basis so the people in the community know what to anticipate and know what the facts are versus some rumor mill," Walden said.
The meeting also addressed what kind of Congressional assistance the area may need.
Kulongoski's declaration allows more flexibility for farmers and other water users to deal with the water shortage, such as tapping emergency wells and transferring irrigation rights. The governor is also seeking a federal drought declaration from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that would lead to some economic aid for the region.
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