Klamath Falls News - Locally owned news brand, reporting stories affecting citizens of the Klamath Basin.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - The federal government announced today that it will deprive highly fertile farms and ranches in the Klamath Basin of irrigation water necessary to produce food this year. The decision comes at a time of global food security fears, rapidly rising food prices, and concerns that grocery store shelves may become empty this year.
Read MoreKLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - The US Bureau of Reclamation has released a detailed analysis that will change its approach to compliance with the Endangered Species Act at the Klamath Project in south-central Oregon and northern California. The new analysis and guidance, called for by a Department of the Interior Solicitor’s opinion last fall, support that irrigation water deliveries in the Project are not subject to constraints that Reclamation has applied in the past.
Read MoreUnited States Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt, accompanied by Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman, spent yesterday in the Klamath Basin. U.S. Representatives Greg Walden and Doug La Malfa hosted the two Administration officials in a series of meetings in and around Klamath Falls.
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. - A federal judge has approved a proposal to withdraw a legal action that could have potentially sent an additional 50,000 acre-feet (AF) of Upper Klamath Lake downstream, avoiding a potential “worst-case” scenario for local irrigators.
Read MoreKLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - The Klamath Water Users Association held a public meeting on Thursday to discuss the lack of water supply looming against basin farmers and ranchers. Representatives from KWUA, Oregon Water Resources Department, Drought Response Agency, and the federal government were all present and answered questions.
Read MoreKLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Governor Kate Brown has issued an order declaring Klamath County to be in a state of drought. The order directs state agencies to take action to mitigate impacts to the affected community.
Read MoreThe Keno Elementary School student and his classmates were among more than 4,000 students treated to locally grown, organic potatoes this month during “Feed A Farmer” events in Klamath County School District cafeterias. The event, designed to teach youth about their food and who grows it for them, invited area growers into the schools to “talk potatoes” with students during lunch.
Read MoreKlamath Falls, Ore. - At its regular March meeting, the KWUA Board of Directors unanimously elected Tricia Hill from Merrill, Oregon, as its President. She is the first woman to be President during the 66 years of KWUA’s existence.
Read MoreIrrigation water users in the Klamath Project will challenge the new federal rules restricting irrigation water supply for the Project. The plan, adopted by federal agencies on April 2, will be in effect for five years, and includes new rules and limitations based on the Endangered Species Act.
Read MoreKlamath Falls, Oregon — The Klamath Irrigation District, in consultation with the Klamath Water Users Association, filed a lawsuit in federal court to protect vested water rights of families, farmers, and ranchers of the Klamath Basin. The current Federal practice of allocating water across the Klamath Basin is inconsistent with the Reclamation Act of 1902, violates Oregon State Law, and denies due process afforded by the U.S. Constitution.
Read MoreKLAMATH FALLS, OR – Oregon’s U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, joined by representatives from Klamath-area irrigation districts and tribes, today announced significant investments in the Klamath Basin were included in the 2019 spending bills that recently were passed by Congress and signed by the president.
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