Watershed Restoration Overview

for theKlamath Basin

Restoration for Healthy Farms and Fish

• Ranchers and Farmers have taken a pro-active approach to restoration since the early 1990’s

• These activities have been implemented to improve water quality/quantity and improve habitat for fish and wildlife species

• Thousands of volunteer hours and millions of dollars have been spent to improve conditions in the Basin and throughout the watershed

Impressive Actions Undertaken for

Environmental Restoration • Local efforts to assist National Wildlife Refuges• Ecosystem Enhancement and Sucker Recovery Efforts in

the Upper Basin• Fish Passage Improvement Projects• Wildlife Enhancement and Wetland Restoration Efforts

Undertaken by Upper Basis Agricultural Interests• Local Efforts to improve Water Quality• Power Resource Development• Efforts to Improve Klamath Project Water Supply

Reliability and Water Use Efficiency

• On the ground activities have included

Riparian fencing

Fish screens

Irrigation efficiency

Irrigation tail water wetlands

Culvert replacement for fish passage

Off Stream Water Troughs

Irrigation Efficiency Practices

Wetland Restoration

Total Land Changed to Wetland• Approximately 98,000 acres of production

agricultural land has been converted to wetlands in Klamath County

• Ag land uses approximately 2 to 2 ½ acre/feet whereas wetlands uses 4 to 4 ½ acre/feet of water

• There is a cost to water quality efforts produced from wetland restoration in total water consumption

Walking Wetlands• Benefits for both agriculture and wildlife• Fields are flooded for 1 year• Bureau of Reclamation mandates 600/acres year • US Fish and Wildlife mandates 400/acres year• Reduced pesticide use when returned to ag corps• Focus is to improve water quality for fish both in

the basin and down stream to the mouth of the Klamath

Nature Conservancy’s Wetland Restoration

• Located at the mouth of the Williamson River

• This project has been identified as one of the most important projects for restoration

• Coupled with Chiloquin Dam removal, this project has the potential to greatly improve Sucker survival and habitat and assist with improving water quality

Improving Sucker Habitat• Currently, many Suckers are spawning from

the mouth of the Williamson to the Chiloquin Dam

• Introduced predatory fish species consume millions of Sucker fish larval within this stretch

• Removing dam would allow Suckers access to 75 miles spawning and rearing habitat

Recognition• KWUA was awarded the 2003 “Leadership in

Conservation” award by the Oregon Department of Agriculture

• KWUA in 2004 was honored on the steps of the capitol for “exemplifying the spirit” of the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds

• Tulelake Irrigation District in January 2004 received the F. Gordon Johnston award for its innovative canal lining project completed near Newell

• U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman and NRCS chief Bruce Knight in 2004 recognized local rancher Mike Byrne for his leadership in conservation.

Farmer/Fishermen Coalition• The “farmer vs. fishermen” issue has been manipulated by certain

environmental groups who place the blame for fishery restrictions on irrigation

• To dispel these myths farmers and fishermen have been meeting and working together to resolve water quality/quantity issues in the Klamath

• Farmers and Fishermen have proposed the following 1)Modernize and expand hatchery operations 2)Control predation at the mouth of the River 3)Improve real-time ocean management 4) Development of new offstream storage “Farmers and Fishermen are producers who want to work cooperatively

towards real solution”

Long Lake • Initial analysis of Long Lake has identified it as a

potential offstream storage site near Upper Klamath Lake

• The facility could capture surplus flows in the Klamath River system and store between 350,000 acre 550,000 acre feet water

• The stored water could then be used for meeting Klamath River instream flow objectives, thus increasing Klamath Project water supply reliability while providing benefits to downstream fishing interests

Klamath County Natural Resource

Advisory Council • The Klamath County Commissioners formed this

council January 2006 to make recommendations to the Board on issues related to natural resources that have an impact on Klamath County and its citizens

• The Council is comprised of a diverse cross section of citizens from the County

Restoring the Watershed • Klamath farmers and ranchers are committed to

supporting conservation to ensure a viable and sustainable agricultural lifestyle.

• They are also committed to implementing practices to assist with improving conditions downriver for fishing interests.

• Project by project we will continue to institute practices that will help preserve our way of life and that of those downstream.