State says 2023 drought permits are unlikely in Klamath Co.

Jenna King February 14, 2023

Last Updated: February 14, 2023

KLAMATH COUNTY, Ore. —If a drought emergency is declared in Klamath County it’s unlikely emergency use permits for groundwater will be issued. That’s according to the Oregon Water Resources Department.

Emergency permits or drought permits allow irrigators to pump groundwater when there isn’t surface water available to them. It says the decision was made because of the widespread drought and decreasing groundwater levels.

The Klamath Water Users Association says some growers will be in for a surprise.

“The Klamath Project is this time facing a significant shortage this upcoming year and in the likelihood that any water may be unavailable until after June 1st which would seriously impact many growers,” said Moss Driscoll with the Klamath Water Users Association.

To learn more about the resources available to you, contact the Oregon Water Resources Department directly.

Jenna King

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Jenna King is the 6pm and 11pm anchor for NBC5 News. Jenna is a Burbank, CA native. She graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Sports Business. During her time at Oregon she was part of the student-run television station, Duck TV. She also grew her passion for sports through her internship with the PAC 12 Network. When Jenna is not in the newsroom you can find her rooting for her hometown Dodgers, exploring the outdoors or binging on the latest Netflix release.