What the Klamath Basin Stands To Lose

Klamath Basin agriculture and the communities supported by our family farmers and ranchers have been deeply effected by not only drought, but also mandates of Federal agencies. With more government regulation and less water going to agriculture, communities in Klamath, Siskiyou and Modoc counties are going to be irreparably harmed.

The overall economic impact to the communities of these counties will be $1,384,500,000. This won’t only effect the family ranches and farms that go under – like a stone thrown into the pond, the waves will reach schools, business, community groups and more. With agriculture as the base for the economy in these three counties, the tax base will be drastically decreased.

However, it’s not only the economy that will be impacted. Klamath Basin farmers and ranchers make up a diverse group of people that provide ag jobs and businesses associated with agriculture to help keep our small, rural communities alive and thriving.

The Klamath Basin is on the Pacific Flyway, with the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge being a draw for photographers and bird lovers. Ducks, geese, raptors and cranes populate area canals and fields as well as the set aside wildlife areas. In the past when these areas dried up, disease ran rampant in the wild foul populations and left tens of thousands of dead ducks in its wake.

Between the economic impact, the devastation to Klamath Basin communities and effects on wildlife, we have a lot to lose if the Klamath Project is shut down. And we’ve already lost a lot.