Klamath Falls News - Locally owned news brand, reporting stories affecting citizens of the Klamath Basin.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The Bureau of Reclamation has released a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) to disclose potential environmental effects and solicit public comment associated with Reclamation’s proposed water acquisition for National Wildlife Refuges within the Klamath Basin Refuge Complex.
Read MoreKLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The Bureau of Reclamation has released two plans for 2018 operations of the Klamath Project. The Operations and Drought plans are based on current reservoir storage and anticipated hydrologic conditions based on the June 1 Natural Resources Conservation Service inflow forecast.
Read MoreWASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today announced that key provisions that will help Oregon’s rural communities are included in the U.S. Department of Interior Appropriations bill.
Read MoreKlamath Falls, OR - Klamath Water Users Association has told the federal District Court in San Francisco that the lawsuit filed by the Klamath Tribes seeking higher Upper Klamath Lake levels must be dismissed. In a motion filed on June 6, KWUA and Sunnyside Irrigation District and Ben DuVal, who have intervened, say that the San Francisco Court is not a proper venue under the law.
Read MoreKlamath Falls, OR – Yesterday, the Klamath Tribes filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Reclamation. under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), alleging that further protection is needed for endangered species in Upper Klamath Lake, the Lost River sucker and shortnose sucker. In the complaint, filed in the United States District Court, Northern District of California, in San Francisco. The Tribes ask for re- initiation of ESA consultation, and operations that result in higher lake levels until consultation is complete.
Read MoreChiloquin, OR – The Klamath Tribes today filed a lawsuit under the federal Endangered Species Act to protect endangered C’waam and Koptu (Lost River and Shortnose suckers, respectively) through better management of water levels, water quality and habitat protection in Upper Klamath Lake.
Read MoreLate this afternoon 5/23/18, Klamath Falls News was sent an email from the Klamath Basin Area Office of the Bureau of Reclamation. Inside this email, Area Manager Jeff Nettelton reports 3,500 acre feet of water is available for delivery to the Klamath Project for use between May 23 and May 31. Allowing for a diversion rate of approximately 500 acre feet per day from Upper Klamath Lake and the Klamath River.
Read MoreKlamath Falls, OR – Yesterday, the Klamath Irrigation District (KID) was forced to shut down the A Canal following the Bureau of Reclamation’s notice that water was no longer available from Upper Klamath Lake for the month of May. The notice came while Reclamation’s projections as of yesterday show UKL levels will be approximately 3,000 acre-feet above Biological Opinion thresholds. And in fact, with some small changes to Project operations, up to 5,500 acre-feet could be available to water starved irrigators.
Read MoreKLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - The Bureau of Reclamation’s Klamath Basin Area Office has notified Klamath Project irrigators that they must temporarily restrict taking water deliveries from the Klamath Project due to a lack of available water. Reclamation officials also announced they have coordinated with two east-side irrigation districts to provide access to a different water source during this temporary pause so that limited irrigation operations can continue.
Read More[VIDEO] Senator Merkley presses Secretary of the Interior Zinke about money for Klamath Basin Irrigators in a Senate Appropriations Committee Meeting held May 10, 2018.
Read MoreKlamath Falls, Ore. – The Bureau of Reclamation has released a final environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact to disclose potential environmental effects associated with the issuance of contracts with districts and/or individual water users for conveying non-project water through Klamath Project facilities.
Read MoreKlamath Falls, Ore. – The Bureau of Reclamation increased flows below Iron Gate Dam early Monday morning, May 7, to address disease concerns in salmon in the Klamath River.
Klamath Falls, OR – Yesterday, a United States District Court judge for the Northern District of California denied a motion brought by Defendant-Intervenors Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA) and member districts for relief from an injunction issued last year. The injunction, a group of pulse and dilution flow requirements ordered in the spring of 2017, can require over 100,000 acre-feet of water to be released to augment flows in the Klamath River that are aimed to help…
Read MoreUS District Judge William H. Orrick DENIED a Motion for Relief from Judgement for the 2018 irrigation season as requested by intervenors'.
Read MoreKlamath Falls, OR – Yesterday, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Klamath Basin Area Office announced that water is available to begin charging the Klamath Project canal system. PacifiCorp, has committed 10,500 acre-feet from its hydroelectric project to help get the Project started. This water will not impact river flows required under the 2013 Biological Opinion for coho salmon.
Read MoreJudge Orrick, holds on ruling about water and requests more information in the form of a Supplemental Briefing before deciding on the Klamath River Water Issue between fish and farms.
But is it too little too late for the Klamath Project?
Read MoreSenator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) [4/18/18] during a Senate Appropriations Committee Energy and Water Development Subcommittee hearing pressed Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman for a commitment to get appropriated financial aid to the Klamath Basin as quickly as possible.
Read MoreUnited States District Court for the Northern District of California - Motion in Relief of Judgement. Courtroom Video from April 11, 2018 regarding cases 16-cv-04294-WHO and 16-cv-6863-WHO.
Read MoreThis live video was taken moments after US District Court Judge William Orrick, Northern District of California had adjourned the water hearing in San Francisco on April 11, 2018.
Read MoreThis afternoon [April 6, 2018], the Bureau of Reclamation will increase flows below Iron Gate Dam to reduce the risk of disease for coho salmon in the Klamath River. Beginning late this afternoon, flows below Iron Gate Dam will increase from approximately 1,800 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 6,030 cfs. Increased releases will continue for 72 hours through Monday, April 9. The public is urged to take all necessary precautions on or near the river while flows are high during this period.
Read More
![Where is the $10.3M for Klamath Irrigators? [VIDEO]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b9f24c64b05fd6531db026/1525981876164-MDRNBG6BCTW0BXT761U6/vlcsnap-2018-05-10-12h49m50s807.jpg)
![Motion to Provide Water to Farmers Battles in Federal Court [Full Video]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b9f24c64b05fd6531db026/1523677803685-LKBIOQFA2A0M5MVZ397X/courtroom+thumb.jpg)
![Scott White Recaps the Water Hearing [LIVE]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b9f24c64b05fd6531db026/1523573827162-ZGKCCEGR5PKPPT0AL4Z0/thumb.jpg)
