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Oregon requests $7 million for Klamath River diversion screening after lower-dam removals
Summary
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife asked Jan. 28 for permission to apply for $7 million in Bureau of Reclamation funding to design and install fish screens at diversion points between Link River Dam and downstream of Keno Dam in the Klamath Basin.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife asked the Joint Subcommittee on Natural Resources on Jan. 28 for permission to apply for a $7 million Bureau of Reclamation grant to install and design fish screens at water diversions in the reach from Link River Dam through Keno Dam and the first stretch of the Klamath River below Keno.
Craig Smith, senior policy analyst with ODFW, described a phased approach: an initial $100,000 planning award to develop a work plan, stakeholder engagement and communication strategy; a first construction phase to screen 5–10 unscreened points of diversion in the Keno impoundment area; a second phase to screen another 5–10 priority diversions immediately downstream; and a third phase to analyze alternatives for large diversions greater than 30 cubic feet per second. Smith told the committee that many diversion owners have requested help and that ODFW plans to work with tribal partners, Klamath County, the City of Klamath Falls and local water users.
Rep. David Hartman asked about an anticipated 35% construction match; Smith said the agency expects that match obligations will be refined after hiring engineers and developing cost estimates and that the match obligation could be less than $1 million and might include land-value contributions from PacifiCorp and state grant sources or NGO partners. The Chief Financial Office and the Legislative Fiscal Office recommended approval. The committee moved and approved the LFO recommendation by voice; a member volunteered to carry the item to full committee.
The request authorizes application submission and initial planning with Bureau of Reclamation; it does not commit state construction funds, and specific match requirements will be determined after engineering designs and cost estimates are completed.
