This is not an official notice, the information below is for situational awareness purposes only.
On 10 March 2022, the Klamath Irrigation District Board of Directors have directed a vote of the District's registered voters related to the District's actions in 2022.
Purpose: Obtain patron input related to the complications of the 2022 water year.
Time: To be published in our official notice next week.
Location: This will be an in person vote with the polling station at the K.I.D. HQ.
The K.I.D. staff is currently preparing the official notice as required by law, conducting a legal review of the language for the ballots, and assigning judges.
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•Approximately 400 Water Right Wells in the Project Area
•206 wells visited for 2021 readings
•175 flowmeters read
•161 wells with water use calculated for 2021
•Total Recorded water use: 69,378 AF (161 Wells)
•Total Recorded use in 2020: 52,123 AF (158 wells)
•64% of wells recorded higher use in 2021 than 2020
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Oregon Water Resources Department update on the Klamath Basin ground water situation |
On 4 March 2022 members of the community received an update from Ivan Gall with the Oregon Water Resources Department.
OWRD staff indicated significant scrutiny will be given to all emergency ground water applications.
The charts attached show that areas which received water (specifically ground water pumping by agricultural producers) did not see issues with the shallow domestic wells. Areas that did not receive any water are areas where issues shallow dry domestic well occurred.
The data would indicate that the lack of surface water, and not agricultural activities in the deeper aquifers is the issue.
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A pre-application for financial assistance is required.
Here is the link.
There will be another form to complete in April 2022. It should be on the Klamath County Home page sometime after April 1. This form will ask if you have estimates or receipts for any money you may have spent.
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KLAMATH COUNTY DOMESTIC WELL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM |
ELIGIBILITY:
1. The legal owner incurred financial cost from an Impacted Well, or;
2. The legal owner of an Impacted Well was unable to remedy the situation due to financial hardship. *If the legal owner did not register a well complaint but is experiencing, or has experienced, well issues post March 2021, the owner needs to contact the Watermaster’s office for evaluation, 541-883-4182.
WELL OWNER PROCESS: Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant
1. An interested Domestic Well owner may submit an application form beginning on April 1, 2022 at 12:00am. Application forms are electronic only and can be found on the Klamath County webpage at: www.klamathcounty.org Click on “Information of Failing Residential Water Wells” Link on the homepage. Limited funding is available. Applications will be available April 1, 2022 through April 30, 2022
2. The well owner must complete the electronic application form and provide all information requested. Completed electronic applications must be submitted at www.klamathcounty.org no later than April 30, 2022, 11:59pm.
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Congressional Hearing on Klamath Issues 8 March 2022 |
On Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 2:00 PM ET, the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife will hold a virtual, fully remote oversight hearing titled, “Klamath River Basin Conditions and Opportunities.”
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in 2020, PacifiCorp filed a general rate case, proposing a 10 percent increase for irrigation pumping. Ultimately, the case resulted in essentially no change in power costs. |
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PacifiCorps Rate Case to raise power rates for agricultural customers by 21% in 2023 |
We have just learned that PacifiCorp is filing a new rate case today or tomorrow, proposing a 21% PERCENT increase in power costs for irrigation pumping, to become effective in 2023.
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Your maintenance crews at work! |
The K.I.D. staff continues its work on the C-4a piping project. 50% of the funds for this project are being provided through Reclamation's WaterSMART grant program which was approved in 2020.
We have teams working on replacing failed turnouts across the District. The team has been focusing on priority replacements along the G Canal in February.
Our bridges across the District are rated at a maximum 10 ton load rating. Continued damage to these structures from heavy loads is being addressed on several bridges in March. The cost of lumber, material, and other supplies has nearly tripled since 2020 resulting in increased costs to the District patrons.
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Partnership with Farmers Conservation Alliance Update |
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On 10 March 2022, the Directors of Klamath Irrigation District accepted FCA's proposal to conduct a watershed plan - environmental assessment under a grant funded by the NRCS. |
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Community Renewable Energy Program Webinar
The Oregon Department of Energy is pleased to join the Special Districts Association of Oregon and the Oregon Alliance of Clean Water Agencies to present a webinar on the Community Renewable Energy Program on Wednesday, March 30th from 12-1pm. Join Oregon Energy staff as they share how to apply for grants that can help support construction of energy resilience projects and renewable energy projects for your special district or agency. There are also planning grants available. For more information on the Community Renewable Energy Program, visit the Oregon Department of Energy website. Registration link: https://odoe.webex.com/odoe/j.php?RGID=rbe31a33514a54df0ed90c30b0c619084. Questions? Email Christy Splitt at christy.splitt@energy.oregon.gov
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Creating Resilient Water Utilities
Clean Water State Revolving Fund
DEQ and EPA are offering free webinars on Creating Resilient Water Utilities for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utility owners and operators, and others. These webinars focus on building resilience to the impacts of climate change, as well as the identification and implementation of adaptation options, and utility infrastructure financing.
Introductory webinar on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The full series will be held from on May 3, 5, 10 and 24, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
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News Stories Recently Shared with K.I.D. |
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Oregon governor declares emergency in Klamath County as drought worsens |
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has declared a state of emergency in Klamath County as southern Oregon remains in an ongoing drought that shows no sign of letting up
AP
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More domestic wells in Klamath running dry, even in winter |
Even after rains returned in October and snow soon followed, the Oregon Water Resources Department has received 34 additional reports of dry or failing domestic wells in Klamath County. That’s on top of more than 200 reported during the summer of 2021.
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Climate experts predict ‘tough times’ ahead as drought conditions continue |
Central and Southern Oregon are bearing the brunt of an extensive drought that could bring early wildfire and more water shortages this summer.
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Changes in our local news team |
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Infrastructure Bill in Klamath |
Interior Department Begins Implementation of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Investments to Build Ecosystem Resilience, Habitat Restoration in Klamath Basin
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USFWS has been granted $162M over 5 years ($32M per year) available for tribes, conservation groups, state and federal agencies and counties to apply for random acts of conservation.
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Congressman Bentz and LaMalfa's joint letter to the National Marine Fisheries Service |
"It is our understanding that KWUA has tried to work through the regular process involving your agencies and that has not resulted in any significant progress in alleviating their well-founded fears of yet another season of zero water deliveries to the Klamath Project. For context, we have received the attached document prepared by KWUA, titled “Deficiencies of the Interim Operations Plan.” We understand that KWUA shared this document, and others of the same type, with your agencies but there has been no response to date."
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Reclamation has recently turned to Twitter to provide updates on the Klamath Basin.
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Judge advances lawsuit over disputed rights to water in Oregon lake |
A state court made Oregon tell a federal agency to stop taking water from a freshwater lake, but the U.S. government says that demand is preempted by federal law.
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If everything goes ahead, KRRC plans removal of four dams on the Klamath River in 2023. The dams are J.C. Boyle, Copco No. 1, Copco No. 2, and Iron Gate.
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“The dam removal plan will create a man-made natural disaster that will cost billions to clean up,” LaMalfa warned in August. |
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FERC releases draft Environmental Impact Statement for Klamath Dam removal |
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has released its draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review of the Klamath River Renewal project.
The Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) and its partners are reviewing the draft EIS, which describes the impacts and benefits of the project. KRRC said it is grateful that FERC staff recommends approval of KRRC’s License Surrender application, concluding that the, “environmental and public benefits of the proposed action, with additional staff recommendations, would exceed those of the no-action alternative (status quo).”
KRRC said it is continuing to focus efforts on obtaining all the necessary regulatory approvals, including a final EIS and a License Surrender Order, to commence the largest dam removal and river restoration effort in U.S. history.
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A look at 100 years of Upper Klamath Basin history through the lens of its birds |
In the 1960s there were 6 million waterfowl. Now there are more like 120,000. Jami Dennis is a natural resources graduate student at Oregon State University. Her research led her to investigate the continued plight of migratory waterbirds and how it’s tied to water, wetlands and human intervention.
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Russian war in world's 'breadbasket' threatens food supply |
The Russian tanks and missiles besieging Ukraine also are threatening the food supply and livelihoods of people in Europe, Africa and Asia who rely on the vast, fertile farmlands known as the “breadbasket of the world.”
By JOSEPH WILSON, SAMY MAGDY, AYA BATRAWY and CHINEDU ASADU - Associated Press
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Drought persists in most of Pacific Northwest |
Nearly three-quarters of the Pacific Northwest remains locked in drought, climate experts from Oregon, Washington and Idaho say.
In the driest areas of southern and central Oregon, irrigators face another year of water shortages, and fire districts are predicting above-normal risk for wildfires as early as May.
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Low reservoir levels foretell another lean irrigation year in Central, Southern Oregon |
As difficult as conditions were last year, 2022 could be even worse. Storage in the district’s three reservoirs — Hyatt Lake, Howard Prairie Lake and Emigrant Lake — is down a combined 2,500 acre-feet compared to the same time a year ago.
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Farm Bureau: Drought impacts stretch beyond West
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Wheat prices spiral; analysts predict continued volatility
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Federal officials reverse course on pesticide's harm to wildlife
By MATTHEW BROWN - Associated Press Mar 8, 2022
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High input costs temper strong milk prices
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Irrigation district prevails in Central Oregon hydropower dispute
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EPA, Army Corps plan regional roundtables on WOTUS |
The Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of the Army will have 10 regional roundtables as they continue to work on the waters of the U.S. rules under the Clean Water Act.
Participants will represent diverse perspectives.
The agencies will work with each roundtable to facilitate discussion on implementing WOTUS while highlighting regional differences.
Capital Press Feb 26, 2022
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Employment opportunities shared by our neighbors |
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The mission of Klamath Irrigation District is to acquire, maintain, assure, and deliver an adequate water supply for beneficial use on qualified land with the Klamath Project. We represent our Patrons before government agencies, the legislature, Congress, and in such forms as appropriate for the perfection and protection of their water rights.
We defend the District from actions which would diminish our effectiveness and function.
We further promote the conservation of water, soil, and other natural resources.
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The Klamath Irrigation District is a quasi-municipal corporation (special purpose local government) formed and operating pursuant to Oregon Revised Statute Chapter 545. The District was established by "Order Declaring Result of Election" entered in the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon for the County of Klamath on 10 December 1917 and subsequently absorbed the responsibilities of the Klamath Water Users Association established in 1905. The District is governed by a five member board of directors which is elected by patrons of the District. |
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