KWUA Water Works, June 2022, Issue 34

KWUA Klamath Water Users Water Works Cover Image

INTERIM OPERATIONS PLAN: CAN’T EXPIRE  SOON ENOUGH In a ten-page letter to Ernest Conant, Regional Director for the  Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), Klamath Water Users  Association (KWUA) expressed its strong objection to the  potential extension of the Interim Operations Plan (IOP) that  was adopted for the Klamath Project in 2020. KWUA  Executive Director Paul Simmons…

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Klamath Project Drought Response Agency Applications Due June 15th

Dry Dirt is Seen Near a Followed Field at the Colorado River

The Klamath Project Drought Response Agency is currently accepting applications for its 2022 No Irrigation Programs to provide financial assistance and/or relief to local farmers and ranchers who normally receive surface water through the Klamath Project. Applications are currently being accepted for both the East and West side of the Klamath Reclamation Project.   The application…

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2022 KPDRA No Irrigation Program Announcement

Dry Klamath Project Canal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 6, 2022 (541) 882-6331 www.klamathwaterbank.com 2022 KPDRA No Irrigation Program Announcement The Klamath Project Drought Response Agency (KPDRA) is currently accepting applications for its 2022 No Irrigation Programs to provide financial assistance and/or relief to local farmers and ranchers who normally receive surface water through the Klamath Project. The application deadline is…

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Context for the Bureau of Reclamation’s 2022 Upper Klamath Lake Allocations

Charts showing the 2022 Water Allocations of Upper Klamath Lake

Everyone, from Tribal interests and environmental lawyers to KWUA and supporters of Western agriculture, has criticized the Bureau of Reclamation’s announcement of this year’s Upper Klamath Lake water allocation.   Among the most outspoken against the Bureau of Reclamation’s spring allocation has been the Klamath Tribes.  In a recent press release (see at the end)…

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KWUA Board President Ben DuVal’s Speech

Ben DuVal and Paul Simmons with Brian Person and Ernest Conant at the 2022 KWUA Annual Meeting

Good Evening, thank you all for coming to Klamath Water Users annual meeting.   I’m Ben DuVal, I farm down by Newell.  Yes, you can drive 45 miles from Klamath and still be in the Project. I’ve served as Klamath Water Users President for the last year, and what a year it has been.   I’m glad…

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Failed Water Policy To Shut Down Klamath Basin Food Production for 2nd Consecutive Year

Dry Canal on Klamath Irrigation Project

FAILED FEDERAL WATER POLICY WILL SHUT DOWN KLAMATH BASIN FOOD PRODUCTION FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  APRIL 11, 2022  Contact Information Paul Simmons  (916) 769-6685 [email protected] The federal government announced today that it will deprive highly fertile farms and ranches in the Klamath Basin of irrigation water necessary to produce food this…

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Klamath Basin Women In Ag: Not A Footnote In History

Tricia Hill with her grandmother, mother, and daughters, all of whom are Klamath Basin woman farmers

This piece was written by Tricia Hill, a 5th generation Klamath Basin woman farmer, former KWUA president, and owner operator of her family’s farm, Gold Dust & Walker Farms. This post was written in response to the voices in the Federal Government that have made decisions and commented that, perhaps, to help the endangered species…

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KWUA Water Works, March 2022, Issue 32

Photo of cows in a feed lot taken by Dayle Robinette

2022 Klamath Project Operations Plan to Be Released During the week of April 4, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) will issue its 2022 Operations Plan for the Klamath Project. The Operations Plan prescribes volumes of water that Reclamation determines will be available for irrigation and wildlife refuges and Klamath River flows during the “spring-summer”…

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Written Testimony from Modoc Count Supervisor Geri Byrne on Klamath River Basin Conditions and Opportunities

Modoc County Supervisor and Chairwoman Geri Byrne giving virtual testimony to Congressional Committee of Natural Resources

On March 8th, 2022, sheep rancher and Modoc County Supervisor, Geri Byrne, spoke on behalf of Klamath, Modoc and Siskiyou counties in a virtual hearing for the Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife. In her testimony, Supervisor Byrne covered the economic and social impact the ongoing Klamath Basin water crisis has been…

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