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July lake levels attain minimum
published August 1, 2003
By DYLAN DARLING
Upper Klamath Lake's level on Thursday was above the required minimum for the end of July.
The water needed to be at an elevation of at least 4,140.3 feet above sea level at the end of July to met the requirements of the Endangered Species Act to protect endangered suckers.
The lake level was estimated Thursday at 4,140.68 feet.
Lake levels were a major concern at the end of June, when it looked like the lake would miss its water level target. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation almost shut down the Klamath Reclamation Project for several days to keep water in the lake to met the minimum.
It then reached an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that lowered the lake level needed for the end of the month and keep the project going, although its flows have been reduced by about a quarter.
On July 10, the Bureau reclassified the water year as "dry," meaning the lake level doesn't need to be as high as it was when the water year type was "below average."
The Bureau had originally upped the water year type to below average from dry on June 13 because of heavy precipitation in April and the first half of May.
Jeff McCracken, spokesman for the Bureau, said the lake is in good shape.
"We are glad we hit this where we did, and now we've got to get this again in August," he said.
On August 31 the lake will need to have a water level of at least 4,139 feet above sea level.
By DYLAN DARLING
Upper Klamath Lake's level on Thursday was above the required minimum for the end of July.
The water needed to be at an elevation of at least 4,140.3 feet above sea level at the end of July to met the requirements of the Endangered Species Act to protect endangered suckers.
The lake level was estimated Thursday at 4,140.68 feet.
Lake levels were a major concern at the end of June, when it looked like the lake would miss its water level target. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation almost shut down the Klamath Reclamation Project for several days to keep water in the lake to met the minimum.
It then reached an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that lowered the lake level needed for the end of the month and keep the project going, although its flows have been reduced by about a quarter.
On July 10, the Bureau reclassified the water year as "dry," meaning the lake level doesn't need to be as high as it was when the water year type was "below average."
The Bureau had originally upped the water year type to below average from dry on June 13 because of heavy precipitation in April and the first half of May.
Jeff McCracken, spokesman for the Bureau, said the lake is in good shape.
"We are glad we hit this where we did, and now we've got to get this again in August," he said.
On August 31 the lake will need to have a water level of at least 4,139 feet above sea level.
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