|
|
Article: Plan Ensures Irrigation of Northwest's Klamath Basin.
- Article from:
- The Oregonian (Portland, OR)
- Article date:
- January 29, 2002
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 The Oregonian. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Byline: Michael Milstein
Jan. 29--Klamath Basin farmers would get nearly a full supply of irrigation water through the next decade under a proposal unveiled Monday by the Bush administration, but they could voluntarily sell water back to the government through a "water bank" set up to help protected fish.
The draft U.S. Bureau of Reclamation plan gives farmers a leg up in the heated contest for water in the arid basin. But top officials cautioned Monday that it is merely a first step toward divvying water among farmers, wildlife and tribes in coming years.
"What it means is the Department of Interior is working as hard as it can to deliver ...