Bureau of Reclamation will begin groundwater study Klamath 012209

Our Klamath Basin Water Crisis
Upholding rural Americans' rights to grow food,
own property, and caretake our wildlife and natural resources.

http://pioneer.olivesoftware.com/Daily/skins/HeraldandNews/navigator.asp?skin=heraldandnews&AW=1232648060234

Bureau of Reclamation will begin study

Bids being solicited for groundwater substitution options, storage programs

Herald and News January 22, 2009

The Bureau of Reclamation’s Klamath Basin office will implement the 2009 Klamath Basin Water Supply Enhancement Study, an analysis of various aspects of water development and marketing in the Basin, according to a news release.

Authorized by the 2000 Klamath Basin Water Supply Enhancement Act, the Bureau may acquire water in 2009 for use during irrigation season to supplement agricultural water.

The Bureau is currently soliciting bids for groundwater substitution options and storage programs for the study. The dry-land operation program for 2009 will not be part of this year’s implementation.

For groundwater study, the Bureau is accepting applications from individuals, groups of individuals, partnerships and companies willing to alternate between groundwater and surface water irrigation during the 2009 irrigation season.

Payment will be based on the documented quantity of groundwater that is pumped.

For water storage, the Bureau is accepting applications from participants willing to store at least 1,500 acre-feet of water. Each participant will be responsible for pumping the water back into the Klamath Project system no later than June 30.

Participants will be responsible for all pumping and storage costs. Payment is based on documented quantity of water pumped from enrolled fields.

Details are available from the Klamath Basin Area Office, 6600 Washburn Way. Beginning Jan. 15, applicants may make appointments to discuss their operational situations prior to submitting a final bid.

The deadline for submitting all application documents is Feb. 12.

For more information, go online to the BOR’s Web site at: www.usbr.gov/mp/kbao, or call 883-6935.