New A Canal Headgates Open in the Klamath Basin on Schedule

Klamath Herald News | April 1, 2003 | DYLAN DARLING

[Jeff Head]

Water flows through one of the six new headgates on the A Canal this morning. Contractors opened the headgates today to begin priming the system, meeting a deadline set by the Bureau of Reclamation in order to allow irrigation to begin on schedule in the Klamath Project.

Headgates open on schedule

published April 1, 2003

By DYLAN DARLING


Water began pouring through a new set of headgates on the A Canal today, marking a milestone in a complex construction project and the beginning of an uncertain irrigation season.

Also entering service today is a high-tech fish screen to keep endangered suckers and other fish from being diverted into the series of canals that feeds the Klamath Reclamation Project.

The headgates were cracked open by a worker for Slayden Construction of Stayton, the general contractor for the project.

With the push of a button on a computer keyboard, the headgates opened on the day the Bureau set as a deadline for completion of the new headgates.

"They have been busy until the last minute, but it is up and ready to go this morning," said Jim Bryant, operations manager for the Bureau's Klamath Basin Area Office.

On hand to watch the opening of the headgates was a group of reporters, Bureau officials and contractors, who gathered to see the first flow of the summer. The old headgates, built in 1907 and demolished last October, had been the site of protests of the Bureau's cutting the supply of irrigation water in 2001.

The opening of the headgates comes as the Bureau is expected to announce within a few days how much water will be available for irrigation and protection of threatened and endangered fish.

In recent weeks, Slayden Construction has been testing the headgate system, including the fish screens and trash rack, while also teaming with the Bureau in training staff from the Klamath Irrigation District on how to operate them. Brushes will automatically cover the screens each day to keep them clear of debris.

Bryant said the contractors will continue to run the system until mid-summer, when it will let the irrigation district take over the controls.

"It's a very complex system and the district has made their people available for training while we have the experts here," Bryant said.

David Solem, manager of the Klamath Irrigation District, said that functionally the headgates are the same as the old ones, but there are a lot more things to learn.

"There's a lot more things going on here than before," he said.

The new headgates, with all of its computers, automated rakes and fish pumps, had a price tag of about $15 million dollars.

About 70 cubic feet of water per second squirted through the headgates today as the system will be first primed before more flow is slowly added in the coming weeks, said Dave Sabo, manager of the Bureau's Klamath Area Office.

"You want to gradually fill up the system," Sabo said. When full, the canal flows at about 1,000 cfs.

Although the headgates are ready and water is flowing, construction will continue for several months at the site. Work should be finished next October, with the last piece being a secondary bypass pipe that will lead screened fish to below the Link River Dam if needed.

Dan Keppen, executive director of the Klamath Water Users Association, said it was a tremendous feat for the contractors and the Bureau to complete such a major project in six months.

"Can you imagine if they didn't get that done in time and we didn't have water for two weeks?" he said. "I salute those guys."

The Bureau will host a tour of the headgates and fish screen Sunday at 2 p.m. To reserve a spot in the tour call (800) 742-9474, and then press 2 and 8.

So far, 70 people have asked to be in the tour.

Reporter Dylan Darling covers natural resources. He can be reached at 885-4471, (800) 275-0982, or by e-mail at ddarling@heraldandnews.com.

[Jeff Head]

The new, expensive and highly automated head gates are open, and water is flowing on time in the Klamath Basin as the irigation system is primed.

How long and how much is still in question ... but they are already ahead of what we witnessed in 2001 during the Stand at Klamath Falls

Hopefully, the water will flow the entire season.

Just an update for all of those interested.

[Jeff Head]

FYI, for those interested and who remember the dramatic events of 2001.

[JohnHuang2]

Thanks for the ping, my friend.

[Jeff Head]

The efforts of eighteen months ago continue to pay off. Starting a second year of normal water release.

Hopefully, they will stick permanently, but I know this ... had we not done what we did, there would be no water to there to this day.

[Carry_Okie]

The new, expensive and highly automated head gates are open, and water is flowing on time in the Klamath Basin as the irigation system is primed.

Correction:

The new, expensive, highly automated, and heavily guarded head gates are open...

[blam]

Gongratulations.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[c-b 1]

Who controls the head gates, the feds, or the irrigation district?

[Jeff Head]

One good 4-Wheel Drive John Deere will clear all of that "security" out of the way if the need ever arose my friend.

But, it is clear that they do not want farmers with crow bars ratcheting open closed the headgates in the future ... but where there is a will, there is a way.

[Jeff Head]

Well, the irrigation district will operate the head gates ... but its under Federal jurisdiction and control.

That is one of the primary issues ... the entire project was supposed to have been privatized years, decades ago. The Federal Government has not lived up to that.

As long as that is the case, every farmer in the Basin remains at risk ... only now they all know it. Events of 2001 made it painfully clear, and also showed them how to fight it. I continue to urge them to push hard for resolution of the ownership though ... that is the key.

[Jeff Head]

You are very welcome. I'm glad to see the water flowing there.

[Jeff Head]

Thanks, I am very happy for those folks over there and pray they have a good growing and harvest season.

[Great Dane]

Good news, thanks.

[Jeff Head]

New Heagates ------------- Old Heagates

[nunya bidness]

Good to see the water flowing. If it stops, we know what to do.

If you talk to Joe or Baron tell them I said hey.

[Great Dane]

You all did a wonderful job, but what a struggle.

[Jeff Head]

You're welcome. It's good news for now and hopefully it will hold the entire growing season.

Fregards.

[Jeff Head]

I will do that Sean. I corresponded with Gaylord this evening ... he forwarded this story to me.

If it stops, we know what to do

Amen to that ... that we do.

BTW, Jared says howdy ... that boy is growin' now ... looking me in the eye these days! LOL!

[Jeff Head]

The struggle gives it its savor.

[Carry_Okie]

I was referring to the house for the full time bureaucrats, not to mention the fencing, the cameras...

I wonder what it might cost for a take-out loan? Heck, given the rates these days, it might be cheaper.

[billbears]

I remember well and great news. Thanks for the update

[B4Ranch]

Jeff, Did you receive a formal invitation to inspect the new gates from Washington?

.

.

.LOL

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for the update, and big differences versus the nightmare of two years ago.

[Rasputin_TheMadMonk]

"but where there is a will, there is a way."

Where there is a will, there is a backhoe. Can you say headgate bypass surgery?

[Eastbound]

Sounds like good news, Jeff. You can hang a painting of that headgate over your fireplace. Great work!

Here's another related thread posted a few weeks ago:

CLICK!

[Jeff Head]

LOL! I was over there last April after the gates were opened with the big Hoopla and saw all the new security.

One of the farmers who met me there indicated then that the new fences, cameras, post for the operators, etc would be easy to take down if it ever came to that ... something about one good John Deere.

It was clear that they had been built to keep the farmers out and I mentioned to them at the time that those "works" did not look like the actions of a government that had "given in" and seen it their way ... more like that of a government that was reluctantly doing things now, but preparing for later.

To everyone's joy, relief and to their credit to date, the water has been running as it is supposed to ever since. I pray it stays that way.

Best Fregards.

[Jeff Head]

Amen to that Gramps (from one Grams to another) and hopefully it will stay that way ... despite all the environmental rumblings this year.

[Jeff Head]

Amen to that Gramps (from one Gramps to another) and hopefully it will stay that way ... despite all the environmental rumblings this year.

[Jeff Head]

Exactly ... large siphon or bypass is always an option if it came to that ... just as it was in 2001.

[Jeff Head]

"The tribes and people downstream have been shaken to their cores seeing their cultural icons being destroyed before their eyes," said Tim McKay of the Northcoast Environmental Center, a party to the suit.

Here, let me translate that into the common tongue ...

"The evironazis and leftist bureaucrats have been shaken to their cores seeing their ideological and milk wagon icons destroyed before their very eyes," said Tim McKay of the Northcoast Environmental Center, a party to the suit.

... and may it continue so that the water might flow to the farmers, for whom it was intended since the project was created, and who have the rights to it.

It always makes me sick to my stomach to read this garbage when they know, and so does everyone else that the irrigation flow out of that lake is only a miniscule portion of the overall flow, as it was designed to be from the get go.

This remains a concerted effort by those NGO's, environazis and UN adherants to move those good people off the land, abetted by some in the tribes and others downstream who have been taken in by their tomfoolery. Just as the useful idiot anti-war protestors have been taken in by the designs of the marxist crowd of anti-Americans driving that agenda.

Fregards.

[Carolina]

FYI, for those interested and who remember the dramatic events of 2001.

Thanks for the report, Jeff. That was an unforgettable summer.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Thanks for some good news!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Good News Ping!

[Jeff Head]

You are welcome ... and it certainly was inforgettble.

I pray the water will flow to these good people all season.

[Jeff Head]

oops.

inforgettable = unforgettable

[Jeff Head]

You are welcome brother, it is great news and I just pray it holds.

In the mean time ... thank YOU for all of your hard work. I may not get to those threads too often (they are generally too graphic intensive for my 56K dial-up) but I notice and appreciate them as I know thousands do.

God bless ... and God bless and keep our troops, and grant them swift and decisive victory over this tyrant.

All the way to Baghdad ... let's roll!

[Badray]

bumping for later.

[MileHi]

Right on, Jeff. I hope those farmers have a great season.

[amom]

Thanks for the ping Tonk. Indeed great news.

I wonder if some of those great farmer, Vets we met were able to hang in there long enough to benefit from the success.

Very well done to those who took up the call. Jeff, Sean, blackie, AuntB, and so many, many more.

[firewalk]

With the push of a button on a computer keyboard, the headgates opened on the day the Bureau set as a deadline for completion of the new headgates...

This is the kind of news I'd like to wake up to every day. Congratulations to everyone who fought so hard to get the water flowing for the farmers.

[Jeff Head]

Thanks, so do I ... praying for that very thing.

[Jeff Head]

May are hanging tough ... but it is an uncertain time. They know that until they own and control the project, they are subject to a complete or partial cut off anytime by the government, something they never would have imagined prior to 2001.

Sadly, some have chosen to sell out because of that uncertainty. Most are trying to sell to other individuals willing to take the risk to come in and farm, or to existing farmers in the area.

Best Fregards.

[norton]

A day for good news,
congratulations to all who made the stand in '01.

[Joe Brower]

Great news! Don't drop your guard for a second, though -- I'm certain I don't have to remind you of that.

[amom]

Humm you mentioned "...until they own and control the project..." and I have to wonder...will the farmers now be billed for this project and have to pay once again before they can own and control it? Any idea?

[IVote2]

This is great news. These farmers didn't deserve what the federal government inflicted on them. If the Clinton administration had really cared, they could have devised this soluton before they inflicted devastation on the landowners. But of course, that was not the point was it?

Vigilance is required, Hillary wants to be President, they are still in danger. Thanks for all you did to make others aware.

Jen

[Alamo-Girl]

Indeed! Bumping for the good news!

[Jeff Head]

Guard up ... but happy the water is flowing.

Thankful to a bunch of couragous people there in Klamath and to God in Heaven for it ... not to the government.

[Jeff Head]

I have thought and said the same thing. There is no doubt that the government will add the 15 million dollar tab for these new headgates to what they say the farmers owe ... even though the farmers paid off the original construction cost (which was the basis for their deal with the government) decades ago.

[Jeff Head]

The Judge that made the ruling was a Clinton appointee. Other than that, all of this happened under the Bush administration, even though they had to weed through Clinton era appointees.

President Bush and Gale Norton came around ... and may have had their hearts in the right place to begin with. But the intial decisions by the administration on implementing the liberal Judge's ruling, which created the duress and the crisis were purely political. It wans't until a relative few farmers and their supporters risked everything that things turned around.

Clearly, if had been Clinton, they wouldn't have turned around at all and there would have been a very nasty, probably violent result. I am thankful to this admin, that in the end, it didn't come to that ... but mostly thanksful to those couragous farmers and God in Heaven.

I pray now that the Bush administration will stick to their guns and keep the water flowing without political wrangling ... that they will just do what is right.