Print Version
Email this story
Comment
Water will flow
Irrigators advised to be frugal
Klamath Project plans released
published April 10, 2003
By DYLAN DARLING
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released today its 2003 operations plan in which it predicts how much water it will supply to Klamath Reclamation Project irrigators, two national wildlife refuges, endangered suckers in Upper Klamath Lake and threatened coho downstream in the Klamath River.
This year irrigators should get almost an average supply of water, while downstream flows will be well below average through the rest of the year.
Water has been flowing through the A Canal since April 1, when the Bureau opened the new headgates. Irrigation should start in earnest at the beginning of May.
While the announcement of this year's operating plan contains no surprises, it is a critical event in the rhythm of the management of water in the Klamath Basin. This year, it was marked by a visit from John Keys, the commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Two years ago, it was the point at which project irrigators learned they would be cut off.
Keys touted the bureau's water bank, but said it was not a long-term solution to the Basin's water problems. He and other bureau officials said farmers will have to be frugal with water this summer, in case they run into hot, dry conditions later in the year.
"Nothing in agriculture is guaranteed," he said.
That was echoed by Dave Sabo, manager of the Bureau's Klamath Basin Area Office. "I don't think we will have to cut anyone off, but we will have to cut back," he said.
The plan calls for about 300,000 acre-feet of water to flow to project irrigators. Normally, the project uses between 250,000 and 450,000 acre-feet in a growing season.
Sabo said the Bureau wants irrigators to be careful with their water use because this year could turn out drier than expected.
"It gives you a forecast of what we see and there is no guarantee in this," he said. "I wish we could say with certainly that this is the way it will be, but we can't do it."
Keys was in the Klamath Basin today to meet with the press and tour the Klamath Reclamation Project. He said the Basin's water issue is still high on the Bureau's priority list.
Keys said he thinks project irrigators should get by this year because of new programs, such as the Bureau's pilot water bank.
In the bank, the Bureau is paying irrigators to either idle land or replace irrigation water with groundwater to reduce demand on the project by more than 50,000 acre-feet to boost spring and late summer Klamath River flows for coho salmon.
He said he likes the water bank project because it sets water aside before water users start farming.
But the bank won't be a long-term solution.
"We don't intend to be in the water bank business forever," he said.
Projects to improve fish habitat, increase project storage and conserve project water will be part of the solution, Keys said.
The supplies of water outlined in the plan will be those required in what is classified as a "dry" year, according to the plan.
Though that means irrigators should get a decent supply of water, things will still be tight.
Sabo wants Basin irrigators to more attention to how much water the project has available and how much they are using.
"If they want to make it through the year they are going to have to do better this year than ever before," he said.
If more moisture comes, then the Bureau could actually reclassify the year, which would result in more water being sent down river and less being used for the project.
To get a copy of the plan, call the Bureau's Klamath Basin Area Office at 883-6935 or go to the office's Web site at www.mp.usbr.gov/kbao/.
This story contains information from the Associated Press.
Klamath Project plans released
published April 10, 2003
By DYLAN DARLING
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released today its 2003 operations plan in which it predicts how much water it will supply to Klamath Reclamation Project irrigators, two national wildlife refuges, endangered suckers in Upper Klamath Lake and threatened coho downstream in the Klamath River.
This year irrigators should get almost an average supply of water, while downstream flows will be well below average through the rest of the year.
Water has been flowing through the A Canal since April 1, when the Bureau opened the new headgates. Irrigation should start in earnest at the beginning of May.
While the announcement of this year's operating plan contains no surprises, it is a critical event in the rhythm of the management of water in the Klamath Basin. This year, it was marked by a visit from John Keys, the commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Two years ago, it was the point at which project irrigators learned they would be cut off.
Keys touted the bureau's water bank, but said it was not a long-term solution to the Basin's water problems. He and other bureau officials said farmers will have to be frugal with water this summer, in case they run into hot, dry conditions later in the year.
"Nothing in agriculture is guaranteed," he said.
That was echoed by Dave Sabo, manager of the Bureau's Klamath Basin Area Office. "I don't think we will have to cut anyone off, but we will have to cut back," he said.
The plan calls for about 300,000 acre-feet of water to flow to project irrigators. Normally, the project uses between 250,000 and 450,000 acre-feet in a growing season.
Sabo said the Bureau wants irrigators to be careful with their water use because this year could turn out drier than expected.
"It gives you a forecast of what we see and there is no guarantee in this," he said. "I wish we could say with certainly that this is the way it will be, but we can't do it."
Keys was in the Klamath Basin today to meet with the press and tour the Klamath Reclamation Project. He said the Basin's water issue is still high on the Bureau's priority list.
Keys said he thinks project irrigators should get by this year because of new programs, such as the Bureau's pilot water bank.
In the bank, the Bureau is paying irrigators to either idle land or replace irrigation water with groundwater to reduce demand on the project by more than 50,000 acre-feet to boost spring and late summer Klamath River flows for coho salmon.
He said he likes the water bank project because it sets water aside before water users start farming.
But the bank won't be a long-term solution.
"We don't intend to be in the water bank business forever," he said.
Projects to improve fish habitat, increase project storage and conserve project water will be part of the solution, Keys said.
The supplies of water outlined in the plan will be those required in what is classified as a "dry" year, according to the plan.
Though that means irrigators should get a decent supply of water, things will still be tight.
Sabo wants Basin irrigators to more attention to how much water the project has available and how much they are using.
"If they want to make it through the year they are going to have to do better this year than ever before," he said.
If more moisture comes, then the Bureau could actually reclassify the year, which would result in more water being sent down river and less being used for the project.
To get a copy of the plan, call the Bureau's Klamath Basin Area Office at 883-6935 or go to the office's Web site at www.mp.usbr.gov/kbao/.
This story contains information from the Associated Press.
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of HeraldAndNews.com. Comment Disclaimer: The editors of heraldandnews.com reserve the right to refuse publication of any comment posted for consideration. We may refuse for any reason, including use of profanity, disparaging comments, libelous comments, etc. Any reader who notices a comment they believe is particularly offensive, should notify us at webmaster@heraldandnews.com.
RSS