Today, the United States Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) said that irrigation districts that provide water to family farms and national wildlife refuges should immediately cease all diversion of water from Upper Klamath Lake, the major water storage reservoir for the Klamath Project (Project).Local water users acknowledge that drought is a factor this year, but in the Klamath Basin, “reckless federal water management” is the real problem.

The latest curtailment action is especially troubling for the local producers, as row crops like potatoes and onions need water through the end of the irrigation season.

Today’s federal action virtually guarantees that there will be no water deliveries to Lower Klamath and Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuges for the foreseeable future. For the first time ever, both refuges are bone dry.

CLICK HERE to read today’s press release from the Klamath Water Users Association.