Oregon senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced late last week that a $50 million federal investment from the Inflation Reduction Act is headed to the Klamath Basin.  The funds will primarily go toward a new agreement that supports irrigators facing prolonged drought conditions.  The programs receiving funding today will support the region’s farmers and ranchers under a new Memorandum of Understanding between the Bureau of Reclamation and the Klamath Water Users Association as well as the Klamath Project Drought Response Agency.

 

“Long-term drought has severe impacts on all communities who call the Klamath Basin home as it harms everything from ecosystems to the economy and everyday life,” Merkley said. “Continued direct federal investments like this to support drought resiliency efforts and strengthen water supply and reliability in the Basin are essential to make the unique region’s water go farther for families, farmers, ranchers, Tribes, fish, and vital ecosystems.”

 

“Combating drought in the Klamath Basin demands action matched with significant federal investment to provide real assistance to the Oregonians living and working there,” Wyden said. “This $50 million investment from legislation I worked to pass means robust help now for the Basin’s water users, and I’ll keep battling for all possible additional funds that continue to support their short-term recovery and long-term resilience.”

 

Of the $50 million investment announced today from the Bureau of Reclamation, $43 million will directly go toward drought response efforts by the KWUA, KPDRA, and Reclamation:

  • $25 million for multi-year demand management and modified practices programs, which include:
    • Multi-Year Contracts: Using funding, KPDRA would enter into three, four, or five-year contracts with producers, under which the producer would commit to not irrigate a portion of their acres. Payments will be determined per acre with an additional payment for beneficial add-ons such as cover crops or wildlife-friendly practices.
    • Innovative Practices: Using funding, the KPDRA would incentivize practices such as fall grain planting in lieu of spring.
  • $10 million for permanent demand reduction programs to voluntarily retire irrigation water use. Reclamation will give preference to areas not in commercial production, like turf replacement on football and soccer fields.
  • $8 million for wildlife benefit programs. These will follow the arrangement as KPDRA’s contracts with Reclamation in 2018 and 2020, where the KPDRA receives per-acre-foot payment based on approved arrangements by which districts provide water for fish and wildlife uses.

 

Additionally, Reclamation will use $7 million to benefit fish species by planning and implementing projects at Keno and Link River Dams.

 

“This funding will be of great benefit to agricultural communities and the environment,” said KWUA Executive Director Paul Simmons.  “We thank Commissioner Touton and her team for wrapping up this effort and providing tools as we continue our work toward a more stable future. We are also grateful for the support that Senators Merkley and Wyden communicated to the Administration.” 

 

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