GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — Gov. Ted Kulongoski has issued a state drought declaration for Klamath and surrounding counties.
The executive order issued Wednesday allows more flexibility for farmers and other water users to deal with the water shortage, such as tapping emergency wells and transferring irrigation rights.
The governor is also seeking a federal drought declaration from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that would lead to some economic aid for the region.
The Klamath Basin is facing record low snowpack and reservoir levels.
Kulongoski and others hope avoid a repeat of hardships and bitter confrontations unleashed when a 2001 drought forced the shut-off of water to most of a federal irrigation project in the Klamath Basin to help protected fish survive.
