KLAMATH FALLS, ORE. – Yesterday, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) released its 2026 Annual
Operations Plan for the Klamath Project.
The plan outlines how water will be managed during the 2026 water year and establishes the
operational framework for irrigation deliveries, Upper Klamath Lake elevations, and Klamath River flows
under Biological Opinions that were adopted in 2024 by the National Marine Fisheries Service and the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Fisheries Services).
Specifically, the Plan identifies a goal of up to 350,000 acre-feet of Project water supply by maximizing
stored water in Upper Klamath Lake for irrigation, dependent on hydrologic conditions, and staying in
compliance with the 2024 Biological Opinions.
“While the Plan provides the parameters for how water will be managed this year, it does not yet
translate into a confirmed allocation for irrigators,” said Elizabeth Nielsen, KWUA Executive Director.
“That determination is expected by April 1. Until then, we are closely monitoring conditions and
coordinating with Reclamation to ensure irrigation needs are fully considered as final decisions are
made.”
Reclamation will continue assessing hydrologic conditions and working with the Fisheries Services,
KWUA, and irrigation districts to adaptively manage the 2026 water year in accordance with the 2024
Biological Opinions.
“Adaptive management was instrumental in carrying the Project and the Basin through the 2025 water
year,” said Scott Seus, KWUA President. “2025 was a critical reset year. We saw farms and ranches in full
operation, landscape-scale benefits from a hydrated system, functioning wildlife refuges, and improved
habitat conditions for fish and wildlife. Through close coordination and real-time decision-making, we
were able to navigate potentially challenging conditions. We are hopeful that the same adaptive and
collaborative approach will be applied in 2026 so we can build on last year’s progress, despite a less-
than-ideal snowpack.”
While adaptive management has helped navigate recent water years, significant concerns remain
regarding the current regulatory framework for the Project, which was set in late 2024. The 2024
framework largely divides water supplies without a clear regulatory logic, rather than applying the
Endangered Species Act (ESA) in a manner consistent with the law’s intent or with the way other federal
water projects in the West are managed.
This approach makes Project and Basin-wide planning difficult and inconsistent.
Looking ahead, KWUA remains engaged in the upcoming ESA reconsultation process for the Project and
the completion of a new and greatly improved framework for long-term water management by the 2027
irrigation season. KWUA is committed to ensuring that Klamath Project management aligns with
irrigation and refuge needs, ESA requirements and sound science, in a manner consistent with the rules
that apply to other federal water projects across the West.
We look forward to continued coordination with irrigation districts, tribes, and federal agencies as we
navigate the 2026 water year and beyond.
Since 1953, the KWUA is a 501(c)(4) non-profit corporation representing the interests of Klamath Project farmers
Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA)
and ranchers. KWUA members include rural and suburban irrigation districts, public agencies, and private
individuals who operate on both sides of the California/Oregon border. These entities and individuals typically hold
water delivery contracts with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The Project is home to over 1,200 family farms and
ranches; KWUA’s member districts deliver irrigation water to over 170,000 acres of some of the most incredibly
productive farmland in the Western United States.
KWUA’s mission is to preserve and enhance the viability of irrigated agriculture for our membership in the Klamath
Basin for the benefit of current and future generations.
KWUA is governed by an eleven-member Board of Directors representing Project districts. The Association
employs an Executive Director and staff to execute policy decisions.
