Notice of Availability of Draft Watershed Plan-Environmental Assessment and Public Meetings for Klamath Drainage District Infrastructure Modernization Project

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Oregon, with Klamath Drainage District (KDD or the District) as the project sponsor and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as cooperating agencies, announces the availability of a Draft Watershed Plan-Environmental Assessment (Draft Plan-EA) for the Klamath Drainage District Infrastructure Modernization Project. 

KDD proposes to install a fish screen at North Canal Diversion on the Klamath River; modify the North Canal to increase flow capacity and extend it to the P-1 lateral; upgrade E and F pump stations; and install flow monitoring and automated gates throughout the District. Improvements under consideration may be partially funded through the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954 (PL 83-566) and will address water conveyance and operation inefficiencies in District-operated infrastructure, as well as fish entrainment in canals and drains, while supporting existing agricultural land use.

The proposed project is located in Klamath County, Oregon. The National Environmental Policy Act and the Council on Environmental Quality’s regulations 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 1500–1508 require an evaluation of potential environmental impacts associated with federal projects and actions with input from the public.

You are invited to attend a public meeting to provide input on this project. The range of resource issues associated with the project and alternatives to addressing system improvements in the District will be presented and discussed.

In-Person KDD Public Meeting
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Klamath Community College Conference Center
7390 S 6th St, Klamath Falls, OR 97603 

A recording of the public meeting will be available at watershedplans.org/Klamath-dd after the meeting. 

The meeting location is accessible to persons with disabilities. A request for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or for other accommodations for persons with disabilities or a request for a Spanish interpreter should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting to David Mueller at (541) 716-6085 or david.mueller@fcasolutions.org.

Public comments on the Draft Plan-EA may be submitted from October 11, 2024, through November 15, 2024. Comments may be emailed to klamathdd.comments@gmail.com, submitted online at watershedplans.org/Klamath-dd; left as a voice message at the Farmers Conservation Alliance office at (541) 716-6085; or mailed to: Farmers Conservation Alliance, Attn: KDD Plan, 102 State Street, Hood River, OR, 97031.

Additional information is available online at watershedplans.org or the NRCS Oregon public notice webpage.