News Release Archive

Reclamation Announces Delay in Water Deliveries for Klamath Project

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, MP Region Public Affairs Officer, 916-978-5100, plucero@usbr.gov

For Release: April 02, 2013

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. -- The Bureau of Reclamation today notified Klamath Project irrigation districts and water users, including the Klamath Water Users Association and Klamath Water and Power Agency, that due to low lake levels and low inflows into Upper Klamath Lake the start of the irrigation season will be delayed by about one to two weeks. The length of the delay for starting water deliveries depends on the quantity and timing of inflow into the lake.

Since March 1, 2013, Reclamation has been operating the Klamath Project consistent with its proposed action as described in the Biological Assessment released December 1, 2012. A key benefit of the 2013 water management approach is greater certainty on the amount of water that will be available for the Upper Klamath Lake, the Klamath River and the Klamath Project. This water management approach will also improve flow timing and provide increased flow variability in the Klamath River and provide for elevations in Upper Klamath Lake that are more reflective of variations in natural inflows, thereby providing benefits to federally listed coho salmon and Lost River and shortnose suckers throughout the year.

Reclamation will release a detailed Operations Plan for Water Year 2013 (March 1, 2013 through February 28, 2014) once a final Biological Opinion related to Klamath Project operations is received from the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The final Biological Opinion is expected to be completed on April 17, 2013.
 
Reclamation will continue to coordinate closely with Klamath Project irrigation districts, KWUA, and KWAPA in monitoring and continually evaluating hydrologic forecasts, inflows and lake elevations. Reclamation will also continue to provide periodic operations updates to the water users, fisheries resource agencies, Tribes, and other interested stakeholders. These updates will be posted on Reclamation's website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/kbao/. For additional information, please contact the Mid-Pacific Region Public Affairs Office at 916-978-5100, e-mail ibr2mprpao@mp.usbr.gov.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

KBAO