Southern Oregon Irrigation District Won’t Turn Off Water

The Klamath Irrigation District in Southern Oregon plans to defy a U.S. government order issued last week for a halt to water deliveries to farmers in the drought-stricken basin.  The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation manages the Klamath Project, which includes Klamath Irrigation District and serves 266 square miles of farmland around the Oregon-California border.  A limited allocation of water was allowed for irrigators from Upper Klamath Lake this year because of extreme drought. 

The Bureau said the project is now out of water and ordered a shutdown last week, but irrigation district directors met Monday to continue operations.  The district operates a canal that provides water to nine irrigation districts encompassing about 191 square miles.

Leadership with the District says there Bureau of Reclamation has not provided a legal basis for shutting down the water. 

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