Klamath County receives Jacobs Engineering update on managed aquifer recharge and seeks $20,000 for next steps

Klamath County commissioners heard a technical briefing Jan. 15 from Jacobs Engineering on a multi-year managed aquifer recharge (MAR) study and were asked to consider $20,000 to finish a feasibility assessment and outreach needed to apply for larger federal grants.

The presentation described two completed study phases that analyzed river hydrographs, available water volumes and candidate locations for passive infiltration methods such as basins and subsurface galleries. Jacobs Engineering and technical lead Dr. Maria Dougherty presented results indicating the Lost River shows the most consistent signature of potential capture and estimated conservative storage at one candidate site (Dry Lake) of about 1,000 acre-feet if operations had been in place from 1974–2023.

The study team said the work to date combined historical streamflow analysis, water-balance screening and geologic well-log reconnaissance. Erin Daycox, Jacobs Engineering, said the team focused on low‑cost, passive recharge approaches that would avoid high-treatment and injection costs regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Dr. Maria Dougherty described how perforated‑pipe galleries, infiltration basins and existing conveyance could be used to “skim” a fraction of high flows during periods when irrigation demand is low.

County public works staff and study partners emphasized next steps: convene stakeholder workshops, install pilot monitoring at one or more sites, and complete a feasibility assessment required by the Bureau of Reclamation for small‑storage grant consideration. Jacobs noted the Bureau’s small‑storage program has a statutory funding ceiling the team cited at about $43 million and typically requires demonstration of at least about 200 acre‑feet of storage to be competitive; the WaterSMART drought response grants were also identified as potential matches with funding ceilings in the multi‑million dollar range.

Jerry Morris of Klamath County public works and Deputy Public Works Director Mike Zierzen framed the county’s interest as protecting agricultural water security and addressing shallow domestic well declines. Representatives of the Climate Water Users Association and local stakeholders urged the county to pursue pilot projects, saying MAR could help avoid future regulatory designations that would limit local water use.

Study authors and county staff requested a discretionary $20,000: roughly $10,000 for stakeholder/partner outreach workshops and roughly $10,000 to finish the feasibility assessment and technical grant materials so the county can apply for Bureau of Reclamation and WaterSMART funding this summer. Board members did not take a formal vote on funding during the meeting; the chair directed staff to bring the request to the finance committee for further consideration.

The study team recommended a phased outreach and pilot plan: (1) public workshops to build shared understanding of groundwater and MAR options; (2) presentations from experienced basin practitioners (for example, Yakima Basin presenters were suggested); (3) formation of a stakeholder network and monitoring plan with telemetry; and (4) one or more pilot monitoring/installation tests at sites identified by the report (near Klamath Falls, Spring Lake, Merrell/Mullin, and Dry Lake). The presenters repeatedly cautioned that “likely available” water signatures do not equate to an assured, legal water right or technically guaranteed capture until site‑level feasibility and permitting are complete.

County staff said MAR work could help mitigate a moratorium on certain municipal groundwater actions that the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) has put in place in some areas, and that pilot projects could support local domestic well reliability and fire protection. The presenters noted additional technical and legal steps — including review by OWRD and potential EPA requirements for injection wells — would be required before any full‑scale project.

County staff will pursue a finance committee review of the funding request and coordinate next meetings with water users and potential funding agencies. The county and Jacobs plan to continue outreach and to refine the feasibility materials needed for a July grant application window.