First Meeting of Klamath Working Group to Assist Farmers, Ranchers and Conserve Fish.

March 11, 2002

At the first meeting last Friday, the Klamath River Basin Federal Working Group announced a number of steps the federal government is taking to assist farmers and ranchers in Oregon's Klamath Basin who depend on water for irrigation, while conserving the basin's fish and wildlife. USDA will provide more than $1.6 million to accelerate the delivery of conservation, technical and financial assistance for irrigation water management, filter strips and creation of wildlife habitat to improve water quality an result in a water savings of up to 30% in some cases.

In addition, USDA will extend the sign-up period for the Emergency Conservation Program through September 2002, to give farmers and ranchers additional opportunities for financial assistance to help in obtaining an adequate water supply for livestock.

The U.S. Forest Service will begin 22 special projects in the Wimenia-Fremont National Forest to provide more than 20 miles of stream improvement, to decommission nearly 45 miles of roads, and to provide for meadow enhancement and spring protection.

The Interior Department's Bureau of Reclamation will accelerate the construction of proposed fish screens on A Canal (which is the major water diversion point out of Upper Klamath Lake) once the design phase is completed. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has identified screening as an important step to avoid the loss of endangered fish. The screens will be completed by the beginning of the irrigation season on April 1, 2003, a growing season ahead of the original schedule.