Feds find $2M for Kalamath water crisis

The U.S. Department of the Interior agreed to award an addition $2 million to the Klamath Water and Power Authority this week, as the region — fresh from a historic agreement on water use — faces a drought-stricken growing season.

U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) commended Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar’s decision Thursday in a statement.

"While there’s no substitute for the water to keep farming, this money will go a long way to help water users make it through the season without losing their farms and livelihoods," Merkley said.

The money will go into the "water bank" operated by the Klamath authority which in all has received $7.25 million in federal funding. The cash is used to fund irrigation pumping costs and to compensate farmers who elect to let their fields sit idle for the season.

The Klamath Water and Power Authority estimates a savings of approximately 2 acre-feet of water for every acre of farmland idled. In addition, they predict local irrigators will receive assistance for the pumping of more than 100,000 acre-feet of well water.

Officials say that late spring rain has done little to mitigate the drought situation in the Klamath Basin.