Secretary Salazar Announces $10 Million to Support Water Conservation and Drought Relief Efforts in the Klamath Basin

WASHINGTON, D.C.--Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that the Bureau of Reclamation is providing an additional $10 million for immediate water conservation and drought relief efforts in the Klamath Basin of Oregon. The Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-212) made the funding available.

“These funds represent a timely infusion of assistance for the Klamath Basin during the drought of 2010, helping to improve water conservation while providing relief to the Klamath Reclamation Project irrigation community and the Klamath Tribes,” said Secretary Salazar.

The Bureau of Reclamation had a number of proposals from interests in the Klamath Project service area for use of these funds. More than $8 million of the funds will go for land idling, groundwater pumping and opportunities to improve water management strategies on the Klamath Reclamation Project to ensure compliance with the Endangered Species Act and to provide relief to the irrigation community.

Funding of $1.6 million will enable the Klamath Tribes to develop new approaches for managing water and a contingency drought plan for irrigation and fish and wildlife management in the Klamath Off-Project area.

In addition, $110,000 will go to the Horsefly Irrigation District to build a temporary dike that will conserve groundwater by preventing contamination of domestic wells. Another $296,000 will provide motors/pumps for existing wells in the Klamath Irrigation District.