Klamath Water Users Association
Klamath Project Districts----April 2004
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Klamath Water Users Association Klamath Project Districts----April 2004 |
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Background The conference report for the FY 2004 Energy and Water appropriations bill authorizes the Secretary of the Army to establish a program to provide environmental assistance to non-federal interests in the Upper Klamath Basin, including the counties of Klamath (Oregon) and Modoc and Siskiyou (California). Congress authorized $25,000,000 to carry out this program. Assistance under this section may be in the form of design and construction assistance to improve the efficiency and use of existing water supplies in the Upper Klamath Basin through water and wastewater and ecosystem restoration projects, programs, and infrastructure. The Federal share of the project costs under each partnership agreement entered into under this program is 75 percent, in the form of grants or reimbursements of project costs. The farmers and ranchers that form the backbone of Klamath Project districts are among the most proactive conservationists in the country. Last year, the Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA), who represents these irrigators, was awarded the 2003 Agriculture Progress Award for "Leadership in Conservation" by the State of Oregon. Tulelake Irrigation District was also recently presented with the prestigious F. Gordon Johnston Award in recognition for their innovative canal-lining project, which eliminates water losses near the refuges. The document you are holding in your hands represents the continued commitment of Klamath Project irrigators to proactively address future conservation challenges. This document has been prepared to summarize projects proposed by Klamath Project irrigation districts, ditch companies and other local public agencies that satisfy the intent of the Upper Klamath Basin authorized in the FY 2004 appropriations bill. This report will also be used as a basis to secure additional funding opportunities that may arise in the future. If you have any questions about information in this document, please do not hesitate to contact KWUA at (541)-883-6100 or at kwua@cvcwireless.net.The following provides summary information on the more detailed information included later in this report. The Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA) is a non-profit corporation that has represented Klamath Irrigation Project farmers and ranchers since 1953. KWUA members include rural and suburban irrigation districts and other public agencies, as well as private concerns that operate on both sides of the California-Oregon border. We represent 5,000 water users, including 1,400 family farms. Klamath Project Districts Proposed Water Conservation, Supply Enhancement, Water Quality Improvement, Measurement and Monitoring Projects (Continued) April 2004 Enterprise Irrigation District this district, which serves suburban customers in the Klamath Falls area, proposes to install approximately 3,000 lineal feet of new piping, as well as a new variable speed pump, which is expected to reduce seepage by 15-20%, resulting in water savings of between 4-6 acre-feet per day, or between 640-960 acre-feet during the course of a typical irrigation season. A cost estimate is attached hereto, which estimates that the total amount for the three completed projects is $125,000. Klamath Drainage District located at the lower end of the Klamath Project, KDD has proposed several projects that will improve water use efficiency or water quality. These projects include new conveyance and drainage facilities, water quality treatment, water reuse, biofiltration, erosion and sedimentation control, improved measurement and monitoring, development of new storage facilities, and other water conservation measures. Cost estimates for each project are provided as backup. The total cost associated with ten individual projects is $2,365,000. Collectively, these projects will lead to improvements in the time-management of water, which will contribute to unspecified improvements in overall Project yield. Klamath Hills District Improvement Company the district has 24 pumps, which it intends to fit with meters, devices and recorders to accurately measure all water pumped onto district lands. The total estimated cost for these improvements is estimated to be $133,000. With improved measurement and monitoring, there may be opportunities to improve the time management of water, which could have yield benefits. Klamath Irrigation District Klamath Irrigation District, the largest Klamath Project district in Oregon, proposes 14 projects that focus primarily on improving water use efficiency throughout the district, as well as other measures that will improve water supplies and water quality. These projects include improved canal measurement and operation modernization, pumping plant upgrades, conservation and safety improvements, GIS installation, tunnel resurfacing and flow improvement, new piping, canal lining, and acquiring new storage facilities. The total cost for all of these projects is estimated to be $11,716,000. Langell Valley Irrigation District Langell Valley and Horsefly Irrigation Districts receive water supplies from two reservoirs on the east side of the Klamath Project Clear Lake, and Gerber Reservoir. Langell Valley Irrigation District in conjunction with the Irrigation Training and Research Center at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo have proposed an ambitious project that would line leaking canals and create three regulation reservoirs thereby eliminating 90% of conveyance spills and improve flows in the Lost River. The total estimated cost for this project is $17.6 million.
Klamath Project Districts Proposed Water Conservation, Supply Enhancement, Water Quality Improvement, Measurement and Monitoring Projects (Continued) April 2004 Pine Grove Irrigation District - this district, which serves suburban customers in the Klamath Falls area, proposes to install approximately 4,300 lineal feet of new piping, as well as a new variable speed pump, which is expected to reduce seepage by 15-20%, resulting in water savings of up to 1000 acre-feet during the course of a typical irrigation season. A cost estimate is attached hereto, which estimates that the total amount for the three completed projects is $150,000. Shasta View Irrigation District this district serves agricultural lands near the community of Malin. The district has an underground pressurized water delivery system, and the piping system is now failing. Without pipe replacement, the district will be forced to return to delivering water via gravity in open ditches, which could increase water use in the district by 30%. The total estimated cost to replace the piping system is $8,500,000. Tulelake Irrigation District TID, the largest district in the Klamath Project, recently received the F. Gordon Johnston Award for its innovative canal-lining project, developed two years ago. TID intends to ultimately line half of its lateral canals, which will save an estimated 40% in seepage losses, or approximately 60,000 acre-feet per year. The cost estimated to complete this effort is $ $12,500,000 (see attached preliminary cost estimate). Van Brimmer Ditch Company Van Brimmer recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. The company proposes to line two miles of canals with the same geomembrane system used by TID (above) in 2002. It is estimated that 15-20 percent water savings will be achieved at a cost of $450,000, using costs similar to those observed in the TID project. Westside Improvement District located in Siskiyou County, California, Westside has identified four water conservation projects and seeks funding assistance to complete a pumping station upgrade, canal lining, drainage water treatment, and upgrade of diversion structures. Water savings of up to 30% are anticipated, with a total cost for all four projects of $320,000. Malin Irrigation District serving agricultural areas near the community of Malin, Malin Irrigation District (MID) seeks to reduce water losses from over 20,000 lineal feet of open conveyance channels that overly permeable sandy soils. The conveyance improvements proposed consist of replacing some channels with a new piped, pressure system and lining other leaky canal sections. Total estimated cost for these improvements is $892,000.
Summary of Projects and Report Contents
Summary of Projects and Report Contents (Continued)
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