The Bureau of Reclamation announced on Sept. 5 that the Klamath Project water supply allocation would not be curtailed further for water users. In mid-August, irrigation districts and Tribes were informed that a curtailment may happen due to a potential shortfall in water supply.
“Due to improved hydrology in the Klamath Basin over the last two weeks, opportunities for Upper Klamath Lake water conservation this fall and winter, and coordination with Tribal partners and water users, no curtailments will be necessary,” Reclamation said in news release.
The agency is required to meet a minimum water elevation in the Upper Klamath Lake for endangered Lost River and shortnose suckers and provide streamflows in the Klamath River for threatened salmon.
“While this recent development is a relief, it also serves as a poignant reminder of the broader challenges surrounding water management,” the Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA) wrote in a Facebook post. “The uncertainties of this year are emblematic of a more profound issue of systemic water mismanagement.”
The Klamath Project water supply will remain at 260,000 acre-feet (an acre-foot is 325,851 gallons). In April, the agency allocated 215,000 acre-feet for Klamath Project water users. A month later, Reclamation increased the allocation to 260,000 acre-feet.
“The Department appreciates the willingness of our partners to engage in productive conversations to work through the past couple of weeks,” said Matthew Strickler, Department of the Interior deputy assistant secretary for fish and parks. “We landed in a place that confirms our commitment to water users and fulfilling environmental needs.”
The KWUA estimates there are more than $100 million worth of crops still in the ground in the Klamath Project, mostly potatoes, onions and garlic.
“We’re relieved to get some assurance that farmers won’t see further cuts that threaten crops almost ready to harvest,” wrote Paul Simmons, KWUA executive director and attorney, in a Facebook post, “but there was never any need to go through this whole chaos.” — Anna Miller, WLJ managing editor
