Klamath Falls, OR – With dismal snowpack in the Cascades Mountains and the Bureau of Reclamation allocating only 221,000 acre/feet (a/f) of water to the Klamath Irrigation Project, the Klamath Drainage District (KDD) is recommending its landowners evaluate their farm plans to see if they can idle acres and sign up for programs offered by the Klamath Project Drought Response Agency (KPDRA).
$19.1 million is available for funding the 2026 KPDRA program. During the April 16th KDD board meeting, Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA) Executive Director Elizabeth Nielsen indicated KWUA estimates that 40,000 to 50,000 acres will need to be idled in the Klamath Project.
“I’m hoping our district can idle around 10,000 acres,” said KDD Manager, Scott White. “Fortunately, KDD is an extremely efficient district. We’ve gotten by on limited supplies in the past, but it takes a village to make it work.”
The No Irrigation Program which is available for idled acres which will not have received any irrigation water from November 1, 2025 through October 31, 2026. Depending on the number of acres enrolled in the program, the No Irrigation Program is estimated to pay between $300 – $350 per acre.
The Partial Season Irrigation Program is available for idled acres which will not be irrigated from March 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026. These acres largely apply to KDD lands that had water on them over the winter months.
There will also be a long term DRA program launching likely in the next month. Program details will be released at a further date.
“The sooner acres are signed up the sooner the managers can figure out how to make the limited supplies work,” said Scotty Fenters, KDD board supervisor and KPDRA committee member. “It’s going to be a tough year for many and this year’s KPDRA will help with freeing up water or help farmers make it to next year.”
The KPDRA started accepting applications on April 15th, with a deadline set for June 15th at 5 pm. KWUA and the KPDRA also plan to offer workshops to help fill out applications, tentatively scheduled for April 29th and May 29th. For more information or to download the applications, please visit http://www.klamathwaterbank.
