Klamath Power and Facilities Agreement Support Act

Klamath Power and Facilities Agreement Support Act

This bill addresses projects in the Klamath River Basin in Oregon and California.

The Bureau of Reclamation must support lowering the Klamath Irrigation District's net delivered power cost through certain agreements (e.g., an agreement with the Bonneville Power Administration).

Further, Reclamation may enter into contracts and agreements with state and local governments, tribes, and private parties to plan, construct, operate, and maintain projects in the basin watershed to include

• facilities to reduce fish entrainment (i.e., the transport of fish along the flow of water, out of their normal habitat and into unnatural or harmful environments);
• projects that reduce or avoid impacts on aquatic resources caused by diversion of water for irrigation; and
• projects that restore basin watershed habitats, including tribal fishery resources held in trust.

The bill also authorizes Reclamation to pay for a portion of the operation and maintenance costs of an irrigation pumping plant in Tulelake, California. It also provides for contracts to cover certain costs involved with the replacement of the C-Canal flume within the Klamath Project.

Further, the bill provides statutory authorization for Reclamation to implement a 2016 agreement to take ownership and operation of the Keno Dam and operation of the Link River Dam.

Bill 118 s 482, also known as the Klamath Power and Facilities Agreement Support Act, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The bill aims to support the Klamath Power and Facilities Agreement, which is a comprehensive agreement between the Klamath Water and Power Agency and the Klamath River Renewal Corporation.

The agreement seeks to address the longstanding water and power issues in the Klamath Basin region of Oregon and California. It includes provisions for the removal of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River, as well as measures to improve water quality and habitat for fish and wildlife in the area.

If passed, the Klamath Power and Facilities Agreement Support Act would provide federal support for the implementation of the agreement, including funding for dam removal and other restoration efforts. The bill has received bipartisan support in Congress, with lawmakers from both parties recognizing the importance of addressing the environmental and economic challenges facing the Klamath Basin. Overall, the Klamath Power and Facilities Agreement Support Act represents a significant step towards resolving longstanding issues in the Klamath Basin and promoting sustainable water and power management in the region.