summary klamath water users conservation 070507

Our Klamath Basin Water Crisis
Upholding rural Americans' rights to grow food,
own property, and caretake our wildlife and natural resources.

Klamath Water Users Association
2455 Patterson Street, Suite 3
Klamath Falls, Oregon 97603
(541)-883-6100 FAX (541)-883-8893
[email protected]
www.kwua.org

Summary of Klamath Basin Conservation Partnership Accomplishments
July 3, 2007, Data Source: USDA/NRCS
Compiled by: The Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA)

Local conservation districts, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and numerous other federal, state, local, tribal and non-profit groups participate in the Klamath Basin conservation partnership to assist local landowners as they continue to enhance natural resources to benefit wildlife and the environment.

The Klamath Basin Watershed - > 10 million acres
Public Lands - 6.1 million acres
Tribal Lands - 90,000 acres
Private Lands - 3.8 million acres
(These private lands include more than 2,400 farms and ranches on 581,800 acres)
Klamath Reclamation Project - 200,000 acres

Proactive Efforts
Klamath Project irrigators have proven their proactive and responsible nature over the past ten years with respect to conservation. Their efforts to improve the environment are all the more impressive when one considers that the uncertainty and difficulty associated with keeping their farming operations profitable have not been diminished.
􀂾 KWUA was awarded the 2003 “Leadership in Conservation” award by the Oregon Department of Agriculture
􀂾 In 2004 KWUA was honored on the steps of the Oregon state capitol for “exemplifying the spirit” of the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds
􀂾 Tulelake Irrigation District (CA), in 2004, received the F. Gordon Johnston award for its innovative canal lining project completed near Newell, CA
􀂾 U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman and NRCS Chief Bruce Knight in 2004 recognized local rancher Mike Byrne for his leadership in conservation
􀂾 In 2006 local irrigators and Oregon commercial fishermen were honored by the State of Oregon for their collaborative efforts to solve problems in the Klamath River Watershed
􀂾 The Bureau of Reclamation’s Mid-Pacific Region has recognized the outstanding water conservation efforts of the Horsefly Irrigation District with the 2006 Regional Director’s Water Conservation Award

Conservation Funding and Acreage Amounts
(Entire Klamath Basin Watershed)
“Farmers and ranchers recognize the importance of conserving the area’s natural resources. They contribute to a healthy watershed by implementing sound agricultural practices that create fish and wildlife habitat and improve water quality and quantity. NRCS and Klamath Basin partners help local landowners achieve their conservation goals” – USDA/NRCS Klamath Basin Conservation Partnership Accomplishments Document, Jan. 2007.
Between 2002 and 2006, the conservation partnership has:
􀂾 Provided landowners with technical and financial assistance
􀂾 Planned conservation systems on 256,273 acres
􀂾 Helped 23 land managers support ongoing conservation on 15,896 acres
􀂾 Created and enhanced wetlands on 6,753 acres
􀂾 Enrolled an additional 9,984 acres in permanent easements
􀂾 Conserved irrigation water on 54,503 acres
􀂾 Developed habitat for fish and other aquatic species on 2,805 acres
􀂾 Improved wildlife habitat on over 19,113 acres
􀂾 Improved the quality and production of forage on 74,923 acres of pasture

The 2002 Farm Bill included an appropriation under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) of $50 million for assistance to implement practices that result in on-farm/ranch net water savings in the Klamath Basin through Fiscal Year 2007. Additional Farm Bill resources were distributed locally as financial and technical assistance through NRCS programs.
Regular EQIP - ---------------------------------------------------$4,811,534
EQIP (Ground and Surface Water) ----------------------------$18,072,839
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) ----------------------------$29,780,709
Conservation Security Program (CSP) ------------------------$826,559
Local Contributions
In addition to these funding totals, NRCS Conservation projects require a 25% - 50% cost share from project (landowner) recipients. In other words and additional $13 -$20 million is invested locally in conservation.
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