Klamath Falls News - Locally owned news brand, reporting stories affecting citizens of the Klamath Basin.
KLAMATH BASIN - For several weeks now, as the morning cool turns to the heat of the day, vast swarms of voracious grasshoppers have been pouring out of the dry, largely barren Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge into the surrounding irrigated farm fields around Merrill and Tulelake. Concerns are growing that crop damage could extend into the millions of dollars.
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 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 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 MoreWASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the Senate has passed a critically needed fix to the 2018 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that will provide relief to Klamath Basin irrigators who have been hard-hit by drought.
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. - 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. - The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has ruled in favor of the United States in the long-running lawsuit titled Baley v. United States, commonly known as the Klamath Project water “Takings Case.” The plaintiff water users sought just compensation for taking of their water rights in 2001 when the United States re-allocated irrigation water to threatened and endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Read MoreMaintenance and Water Division Crews will be performing repairs for the Geothermal System underground utility vault at the corner of 8th and Main. A temporary lane closure will occur for eastbound traffic on 8th street from 6:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. on August 1. Please make plans to take an alternate route on this date.
Read MoreWASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) today announced that he has secured drought relief for Klamath Basin irrigators in legislation that the House of Representatives will consider this week. Walden included a provision in the Water Resources Development Act that authorizes $10 million annually for four years to the Bureau of Reclamation to implement needed drought relief measures for the $181 million dollar agriculture economy in the Klamath Basin.
Read MoreOp-Ed Commentary by, Scott Seus
It was epic. Two mint harvesters working into the sunset, with Mt. Shasta on the horizon and a fiery orange haze in the air. The photographer from the San Francisco Chronicle jumped at the invitation to get on the cab of Terryn’s combine. Combine surfing wasn’t what I had in mind, but I guess when you’re in the moment and you love your job, you go to great measures to achieve your goals.
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 MoreUS District Judge William H. Orrick DENIED a Motion for Relief from Judgement for the 2018 irrigation season as requested by intervenors'.
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