Klamath Basin Needs One Water Umbrella Organization

Southern Oregon rancher and hay producer John Moxley shares an idea to address the decades-old issue of water use within the Klamath Basin.

Moxley: "I would like to see our basin come under one umbrella — the whole basin. Instead of — I believe there are 18 different irrigation districts with 18 different boards — then you have the Upper Klamath area, then you have ranchers on wells. It is so broke up. We were founded here, 'United we stand, and apart we fall. We are not united, we are 18 different irrigation groups and most of us don't agree on what the other one is doing. So we are completely divided — except that we farm here in the Klamath Basin. We don't all get our water from the same place. I would like to see one umbrella which would be one irrigation district that could negotiate with tribes, cities, environmental groups that want our water."

Moxley shares a successful example from Southern California.

Moxley: "Imperial Irrigation District which they have put big pumps in. The cities were coming after the Colorado River water and they made agreements with Los Angeles and San Diego. The cities built big pumps and any of the water that was being conserved from the farmers could be sold to the cities."