Farmers struggle to survive irrigation cutbacks

Farmers struggle to survive irrigation cutbacks

MALIN, Ore. —

When drought and the Endangered Species Act shut off irrigation on the Klamath Reclamation Project in Southern Oregon in 2001, farmers held rallies and broke open canal headgates in hopes of drawing enough attention to change the law.

They won the sympathy of the Bush White House, but could not change the law requiring fish get water before farms on federal irrigation projects.

Facing another shutoff this year, no one expects a repeat of the 2001 confrontations.

Farmers are concentrating on renting fields served by wells in hopes of surviving until a landmark agreement with Indian tribes, salmon fishermen and others goes into effect. It would give farmers less water overall, but greater assurances of water in all but the driest years.