Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski Wednesday issued a drought declaration for the Klamath Basin. The southern Oregon farming region faces a summer of severe water shortages.

Snowpack and reservoir levels are near historic lows.

The governor's executive order applies to six counties. It allows farmers to apply for emergency ground water permits and transfer certain water rights to areas that need it most.

The Governor is also asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to issue a disaster declaration. That would make federal money available to farmers to help offset crop losses.

Kulongoski said it's shaping up to be the most challenging year in the Klamath Basin since the water wars of 2001.

“What we're hoping is to avoid the outcome of that one, which was primarily a very politicized process in which people were in essence on other sides of the street with law enforcement in the middle. And we're trying to avoid that," he said.

Klamath Basin irrigators, tribes and conservation groups signed a water-sharing agreement last month tied to the removal of four dams along the Klamath River.

But it could be years before the provisions of that agreement take effect.

Learn more:

• Governor Kulongoski's drought declaration

• Information about Klamath Basin water availability