Klamath Falls News - Locally owned news brand, reporting stories affecting citizens of the Klamath Basin.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA), along with districts, individual water users, and tribes in the Klamath Basin, received a letter from the Bureau of Reclamation on Tuesday, announcing that the previously communicated “likely” reduction to the Klamath Project’s water supply was no longer necessary and
Read MoreKLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Reclamation announced today that the Klamath Project water supply allocation, originally announced on April 13 and increased on May 19, will remain at 260,000 acre-feet and no reductions will be made to Klamath Project water users.
Read MoreThe Klamath Project Drought Response Agency (KPDRA) is currently accepting applications for its 2023 No Irrigation Programs. The programs provide financial incentives to local farmers and ranchers who normally water through the Klamath Project to align water supply and demand.
Read MoreKLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Last week, Steen Sports Park was notified that a generous transfer of water from Wilsonart International was finalized. After years of struggle to keep the park’s grass from dying and the playing surfaces playable, the park is finally going to see a sufficient amount of water to meet the demands of the playing fields.
Read MoreA federal court heard arguments today on whether to issue a preliminary injunction limiting irrigation and wildlife refuge uses of water from the Klamath Project in 2023.
Read MoreKLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - With over 180% snowpack currently sitting in the mountains of the Klamath River Watershed, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced water deliveries for the Klamath Project last Thursday at a mere 215,000 acre-feet. Just 47.7% of what would be full deliveries (450,000 acre-feet) for the project.
Read MoreWASHINGTON, D.C.– A group of 30 Western farmers, ranchers, water managers and association leaders wrapped up the third day of meetings this week with a Western drought briefing attended by over 20 Congressional staff members and an appearance by Family Farm Alliance President Patrick O’Toole before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee.
Read MoreKLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Last Thursday, the United States Court of Appeals issued a decision that denies Klamath Project irrigators the right to challenge federal agency decisions in court. The ruling, in a case titled Klamath Irrigation District, et al. v. United States, et al., found that irrigation parties could not file legal challenges to federal agency actions or decisions that the irrigators believe are unlawful, unless tribes in the Klamath Basin voluntarily agree to join the case as parties.
Read MoreWASHINGTON — Building on months of close collaboration and engagement with Klamath Basin stakeholders, Tribes, and federal, state and local leaders, the Department of the Interior today announced that nearly $26 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has been allocated for Klamath Basin restoration projects, including nearly $16 million for ecosystem restoration projects in the Basin and $10 million to expand the Klamath Falls National Fish Hatchery.
Read MoreKLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Today, the United States Bureau of Reclamation said that irrigation districts that provide water to family farms and national wildlife refuges should immediately cease all diversion of water from Upper Klamath Lake, the major water storage reservoir for the Klamath Project.
Read MoreKlamath Water Users Association today urged that supporters of agriculture stop intimidating and inappropriate behaviors immediately. Reports say that names and addresses of U.S. Bureau of Reclamation employees have been published on social media, inviting that anger be directed toward those public servants, and there have been other inappropriate communications. “Stop it,” said KWUA President Ben DuVal. “It is completely out of line. It will hurt Klamath Project agriculture.”
Read MoreKlamath Project irrigators find themselves in a situation that is eerily similar to 2001. Unfortunately, there will be extremely minimal to no water from Upper Klamath Lake for irrigation this year. This will not change for the 2021 crop season, regardless of current efforts in various venues to make things work for irrigators. Upper Klamath Lake has been…
Read MoreKLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - On February 24, the Klamath County Circuit Court issued significant rulings in the Klamath Basin water rights adjudication. The ruling will affect the quantification and enforcement of instream water rights of the Klamath Tribes.
Read MoreKLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - On January 1, power costs for irrigators in the Klamath and Lost River Basins in Oregon will drop by 3.5 percent, according to the Klamath Water Users Association. The reduction is welcome, especially given that Pacific Power had requested last February that the Oregon Public Utility Commission approve a ten percent increase in base rates for irrigation. KWUA intervened in the OPUC proceeding to oppose the increase, and the OPUC issued its decision last week.
Read MoreKLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Klamath Waters Users Association (KWUA) expressed strong support for U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman’s announcement earlier today of Klamath Project management adjustments to finish the irrigation season while benefitting wildlife refuges. “This is the kind of creative thinking and flexibility we need in the basin,” said KWUA Executive Director Paul Simmons.
Read MoreCHILOQUIN, Ore. - The Klamath Tribes were deeply disturbed and offended to receive “notification” on a Friday before a long holiday weekend that the Bureau of Reclamation has decided to release additional water for irrigators from Upper Klamath Lake.
Read MoreMARION COUNTY, Ore. - A Marion County Circuit Court Judge has ruled in favor of Klamath Irrigation District (KID) in a lawsuit concerning water stored in Upper Klamath Lake for irrigation. At the same time, district leadership says that the impact of the ruling on 2020 water availability is currently unknown. Therefore, farmers should not change plans or assume they will receive more water this year because of the ruling.
Read MoreKLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - The “Shutdown & Fed Up Taking a Stand for Ag” protest happened this afternoon in Klamath County where farmers and ranchers are standing up for what they believe is an injustice to their way of life.
Read MoreKLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - In response to projected water supplies that may be less than half of typical Klamath Project demand, local water users have taken steps to incentivize management actions to stretch those available supplies. The Klamath Project Drought Response Agency (DRA) is expected to open programs for enrollment on April 15.
Read MoreKLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The Bureau of Reclamation invites public comment on a draft environmental assessment that evaluates a proposed water management approach for the Klamath Project. The Project provides irrigation for approximately 230,000 acres of farmed lands in the Klamath Basin.
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