Upper Klamath Basin Water Measurement

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The upper Klamath Basin spans the Oregon-California border from the flank of the Cascade Range eastward to the high desert. Although much of the basin is high desert, the region receives considerable precipitation in the Cascade Range and uplands to the east. Streamflow and groundwater discharge sustains numerous perennial streams, large shallow lakes, and extensive wetlands, including the Klamath River, which has historically supported anadromous fish runs. Water in the basin is used for agricultural irrigation, for extensive waterfowl refuges, and to support aquatic wildlife in lakes and streams in the upper basin and downstream (Gannett and others, 2007). The agricultural economy of the upper Klamath Basin relies on irrigation water. Just over 500,000 acres are irrigated in the upper Klamath Basin, about 190,000 acres of which are within the Klamath Project developed and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) (Burt and Freeman, 2003; Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2004). The principal source of water for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) Klamath Project is Upper Klamath Lake (UKL). In recent years, Endangered Species Act biological opinions have required Reclamation to maintain certain lake levels in Upper Klamath Lake to protect habitat for endangered fish (specifically the Lost River and short nose suckers) and at the same time maintain specified stream flows in the Klamath River below the lake and project diversions to provide habitat for listed salmon.The surface water has been relied upon as the primary water source for the Klamath irrigation community, and has led to many hardships during recent periods of increased drought. A better understanding of these drought conditions and how to forecast inflows and manage water resources during droughts is becoming increasingly important in the Klamath Basin. This grant, supported by drought-relief funding, will be used for providing an improved instrumentation device verification standard for the basin to be implemented so that Reclamation can better meet its mission of managing water, to facilitate a Upper Klamath Water Measurement Coordination Group to improve water measurement in the basin and to assist with the evaluation of sites for the installation of improved water measurement devices; and to purchase devices used for testing water that will lead to more accurate water management for basin managers.RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT Facilitating on the Upper Klamath Water Measurement Coordination Group1.1. Attend quarterly meetings1.2. Evaluate sites for the installation of improved water measurement devices1.3. Develop and implement a cost effective water measurement device QAQC certification/verification process for Klamath Project landowners.RECLAMATION INVOLVEMENTNo substantial involvement on the part of Reclamation is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. It is anticipated that Reclamation’s involvement will consist of standard federal stewardship responsibilities such as monitoring project performance, technical assistance at the request of the recipient, etc. SINGLE-SOURCE JUSTIFICATIONReclamation did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONSSingle Source Justification Description:The activity to be funded is for Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) to participate on an Upper Klamath Basin Water Measurement Coordination Group for assisting with the evaluation of sites for the installation of improved water measurement. OIT’s presence and reputation with the local community provides Reclamation a trusted and technical source for analyzing and recommending water measurement solutions to the many problems associated with a current and future changing climate. STATUTORY AUTHORITY Public Law 106-498Klamath Basin Water Supply Enhancement Act of 2000 Public Law 106-498 To authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to conduct certain feasibility studies to augment water supplies for the Klamath Project, Oregon and California, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the “Klamath Basin Water Supply Enhancement Act of 2000”. SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION TO CONDUCT FEASIBILITY STUDIES. In order to help meet the growing water needs in the Klamath River Basin, to improve water quality, to facilitate the efforts of the State of Oregon to resolve water rights claims in the Upper Klamath River Basin including facilitation of Klamath tribal water rights claims, and to reduce conflicts over water between the Upper and Lower Klamath Basins, the Secretary of the Interior (hereafter referred to as the ``Secretary'') is authorized and directed, in consultation with affected State, local and tribal interests, stakeholder groups and the interested public, to engage in feasibility studies of the following proposals related to the Upper Klamath Basin and the Klamath Project, a Federal reclamation project in Oregon and California: (1) Increasing the storage capacity, and/or the yield of the Klamath Project facilities while improving water quality, consistent with the protection of fish and wildlife. (2) The potential for development of additional Klamath Basin groundwater supplies to improve water quantity and quality, including the effect of such groundwater development on non-project lands, groundwater and surface water supplies, and fish and wildlife. (3) The potential for further innovations in the use of existing water resources, or market-based approaches, in order to meet growing water needs consistent with State water law. SEC. 3. ADDITIONAL STUDIES. (a) Nonproject Lands.--The Secretary may enter into an agreement with the Oregon Department of Water Resources to fund studies relating to the water supply needs of nonproject lands in the Upper Klamath Basin. (b) Surveys.--To further the purposes of this Act, the Secretary is authorized to compile information on native fish species in the Upper Klamath River Basin, upstream of Upper Klamath Lake. Wherever possible, the Secretary should use data already developed by Federal agencies and other stakeholders in the Basin. (c) Hydrologic Studies.--The Secretary is directed to complete ongoing hydrologic surveys in the Klamath River Basin currently being conducted by the United States Geological Survey. (d) < > Reporting Requirements.--The Secretary shall submit the findings of the studies conducted under section 2 and section 3(a) of this Act to the Congress within 90 days of each study's completion, together with any recommendations for projects. SEC. 4. LIMITATION. Activities funded under this Act shall not be considered a supplemental or additional benefit under the Act of June 17, 1902 (82 Stat. 388) and all Acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto. SEC.5. WATER RIGHTS Nothing in this Act shall be construed to-- (1) create, by implication or otherwise, any reserved water right or other right to the use of water; (2) invalidate, preempt, or create any exception to State water law or an interstate compact governing water; (3) alter the rights of any State to any appropriated share of the waters of any body or surface or groundwater, whether determined by past or future interstate compacts or by past or future legislative or final judicial allocations; (4) preempt or modify any State or Federal law or interstate compact dealing with water quality or disposal; or (5) confer upon any non-Federal entity the ability to exercise any Federal right to the waters of any stream or to any groundwater resources. SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. There are authorized such sums as necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. Activities conducted under this Act shall be nonreimbursable and nonreturnable.

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