March 10, 2014

Klamath Basin Crisis

This is shaping up to be a very bad year for our county. The State recently told us that they are going to shut off all of the surface water above Klamath Lake again this year. Considering how dry it has been this winter that is understandable. What most people do not know is that Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) has decided that it will also shut off most of the wells above Klamath Lake.

How did they come to that decision? OWRD looked at well logs from two wells in our valley and 30 wells from other parts of the state and Northern California. With that information they then constructed a computer model to show how the water works in our valley.  Their model claims that all wells that are within 1 mile of Klamath Lake, Agency Lake, or within 1 mile of perennial gaining reaches of streams tributary to Upper Klamath Lake are causing problems and must be shut off. *Note that if a well is 1 foot over a mile it is ok. If a well is 10 feet less they will shut it off.  Dad has a degree in geology, has been studying geology in our area for over 40 years, has talked with every geologist who has studied in the area during that time, as well as writing geologic reports for wells in the valley.  Dad is very frustrated with the OWRD’s model because it has no basis in reality or science.

Yet, because of this computer model done by people who had never visited our valley until recently, OWRD is planning on shutting off most of the wells above Klamath lake, without even studying the wells. While most of the wells that are getting turned off are owned by ranchers, they also listed the well that supplies the town of Bly, two wells for the City of Klamath Falls, most of the wells at the Running Y Resort, two wells for OIT, and miscellaneous other wells in and near Klamath that may be turned off. It is also interesting that the wells for the City of Chiloquin [Barb's note: Chiloquin is the center of tribal government, and located on both the Williamson and Sprague Rivers] will be left alone. I have attached the list, if a well has a check in eitherof the far... *I do not know how that works with drinking water for people*

Because of this mess, Senator Doug Whitsett and Representative Gail Whitsett have been trying to get a bill passed that would require OWRD to study and prove that there is a problem with a well before they shut it off. Last week Mom, Dad, and Erika, among many others went to Salem to speak in support of this bill. We just got word that the bill had been killed a few days ago and that we should expect the OWRD to start red tagging our wells on April 1st. 

http://farmwars.info/?p=12564

PDF: Upper_Basin_Well_Summary121113.pdf

http://www.klamathbasincrisis.org/UK/2013/Upper_Basin_Well_Summary1...