Legislation - Policy

U.S. Senate Bill aimed at aiding drought in the Klamath Basin

KLAMATH COUNTY, Ore. – Oregon U.S. Senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have introduced legislation to support farmers and ranchers, in the Klamath Basin.

The Klamath Basin has been experiencing high levels of drought for the past couple of years, with 2021 being especially harsh.

The Bureau of Reclamation says that 2021 was the area’s worst year on record in 100 years.

Senators Wyden and Merkley’s Klamath Power and Facilities Agreement Support Act aims to address the needs of the communities in the Klamath basin caused by drought.

“My understanding is that this is an effort to help restore fish but also to help folks in agriculture deal with this drought,” said Klamath County Commissioner, Kelley Minty.

Senators Wyden and Merkley said the proposed bill would reduce the costs of power for irrigation, help pay for an irrigation pumping plan in Tulelake, and authorize projects that restore fish habitat, including lands held in trust by tribes.

Recent Posts

Scathing report released detailing Navy’s handling of Red Hill fuel spill

The Inspector General of the Department of Defense released some scathing reports Thursday over the…

5 days ago

Growing Food Instead of Grass Lawns in California Front Yards

Photo: Morgan Boone, a volunteer with Crop Swap LA, harvested lettuce at the La Salle…

2 weeks ago

LA River restoration connects us back to ‘the life force of our city’

Los Angeles residents at a section of the Los Angeles River cleanup in Los Angeles,…

3 weeks ago

LAist: New study raises questions about heavy metals in fire retardants

Over the past decade, about 67 million gallons of fire retardant have been dropped on…

3 weeks ago

Meadow and watershed restoration in the Golden Trout Wilderness

Photo: Golden Trout Wilderness Seeking blue, seeing gold The Kern Plateau features a chain of…

3 weeks ago

First sighting of salmon in 100 years marks key milestone for California dam removal

For the first time in more than a century, a salmon was observed swimming through Klamath…

4 weeks ago