Klamath farmers in trouble - Wells begin to falter after agency shuts off water from river

from Washington Farm Bureau

5/4/04

Klamath Falls, Oregon - KLAMATH BASIN FARMERS WHO SWITCHED TO WELLS AFTER THE BUREAU OF Reclamation shut off water from the Klamath River in 2001 are facing another crisis.

The water table has fallen 20 feet in some places and wells are beginning to falter. (AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 3) Oregon has issued 130 new well permits since 2001. In addition, federal agencies have been paying farmers to use well water, instead of water from the reclamation district, and the Bureau of Reclamation expects to pay at least $1.6 million for more well water this summer to supplement river flows for coho salmon.