Our Klamath Basin Water Crisis
Fighting for Our Right to Irrigate Our Farms and Caretake Our Natural Resources

Photos and Story by Gail Ottoman

This will be a continuing story, return to this page often and see how the project is progressing. 

See: Well 2 Site 6  Current Depth: 1,300 ft.

See Well Three Site Three

See  California Department of Water Resources, drought page with map of well sites

The first well is finished, just waiting to test it. 
Well One 
Current Depth: 740 ft.
Total Depth: 740 ft.
Production Zone 260-700 ft.
Drilling Company : Lang
Estimated Production: 4,000 - 8,000 gpm (gallons per minute)
Comments: Finished, Waiting to Test Pump

See the "Governor Gray Davis’s Proclamation of the State of Emergency" 
for Modoc and Siskiyou Counties, that provide the money for the wells.

See, Well Site Information: including number of wells, depths, and choosing locations.

Day 1
May 23, 2001

The TID bulldozer carved out an area 6-7 ft deep for a mud pit. Cultural Resource Survey conducted by member of Chico State University staff. Also an Environmental Study was conducted by Dave Bogener, Wildlife Specialist IV, Northern District, State of California Department of Water Resources.

Conducting a Cultural Resource Survey and checking for Endangered Species.

Day 2
May 24, 2001

Arrival of well drilling equipment.  Varieties sizes of casing pipes.  The drill and two drill bits.  A truck with the crane and two diesel generators.  A truck carrying all the additional supplies.  Concrete mix was brought in for the casing.

The platform was constructed and the hole beneath it was dug out.  The lights were set up so the drill process could continue day and night.

Getting it all set up 

When the drilling starts the process will go on 24 hours a day 7 days a week until completed. This is only the beginning.. It is hope!!!!!!! As one of the California State Emergency team members said "We want the farmers to stay here!!"

Go to Day 3