bureau of reclamation

The Bureau of Reclamation is out with its final Yakima Basin water supply forecast of the season.  The October forecast indicates the senior water rights will receive 100% of their full entitlements, but junior water rights will receive 0% of their entitlements, which means no additional water.  Any use...

Earlier this month, the Bureau of Reclamation announced its August 2024 forecast of total water supply available for the Yakima basin.  Those figures indicate the water supply will not fully meet irrigation demands this season.  The total water supply available for the May 21-September 30 period indicates senior water rights will receive 100% of full entitlements, while junior water rights will re

Oregon projects aimed at increasing water efficiency will receive $198,668 in federal funding.  The grants, announced last week by Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, will help the Arnold Irrigation District in Bend, the Van Brimmer Ditch Company in Klamath Falls, and the West Extension Irrigation District in Morrow County.   “Reli...

On Friday, senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley pressed the Bureau of Reclamation to prioritize Oregon when it comes to drought relief.  A letter sent by the two lawmakers, said, in part, “we strongly urge the Bureau of Reclamation to provide critical funding to areas in Oregon that have been devastated by the historic, multi-year, extreme drought conditions."   ...

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 ...

With the Crooked River at near record low levels, Central Oregon’s Prineville Reservoir is at just 28%, the lowest level ever recorded this time of year. The Bureau of Reclamation’s Christine Schuldheisz, said the reservoir filled to just 62% capacity last year, contributing to the current shortfall. “So, we’ ...

In an effort to help farmers and ranchers conserve water and build drought resilience in their communities, the USDA in investing $21 million on a variety of projects across the Pacific Northwest. The effort is part of the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) collaboration with the Department of Interior’s (DOI) WaterSMART Initiative. According to U ...

Last month, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced a reversal of a Trump Administration decision to relocate leadership of the Bureau of Land Management to Grand Junction, CO. Haaland said at the time, “the bureau must have the appropriate structure and resources to serve the American public.” Bu ...

On Thursday, Representative Dan Newhouse applauded the Bureau of Reclamation’s announcement that  three Central Washington irrigation district projects that have been selected to receive federal Small Scale Water Efficiency Grants. These grants, ...

Early next month, the Bureau of Reclamation will begin its annual “flip-flop” operation. The effort it intended to aid in successful spawning and incubation of chinook salmon eggs and to improve winter reservoir storage in the Yakima basin. This mean ...