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.

[SierraWasp]

Wow! Lookit that big dirt pile right where the Waspman's motorhome was parked!!! (top pic)

First thing we saw when we arrived was FReeper puddy cat "Socks C." lurkin around the Klamath Tea Party protest signs! We just knew Pharmer Phil V. had been there helpin with the strategic "bypass" and had gotten so excited he left his pussy cat behind.

We couldn't lure that crafty cat into the motorhome after having lived under the bed in the temporarily corrupted White House!!!

May Babbit and his Bureaunazis be banished forever for what they did to these traditional American farm families!

[SLB]

Last Aug we were in Wyoming and saw soem of the worst draught conditions I thought could exist. We were back in Dec and snowfall did not look that promising. Now, it looks better. The large amount of snow in the past couple of months have really helped out. This summer it was so sad to see the North Platte flowing at Casper, but the fields near the Nebraska border were dry. The agreement between states on water sharing prevented Wyoming farmers from accessing the water necessary for their crops. Hoepfully this will not be an issue this year.

[Grampa Dave]

You guys were like our troops in the early battle in Iraq. You won that battle against incredible odds. Those new gates show that they were built for water to flow to the farmers.

[blackie]

Water for the farmers ... Bump!

Let's Roll!

[DoughtyOne]

Drip... drip... drip... squeak, squeak, squeak, shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! There that's better.

This is good news. Thank you.

[Jeff Head]

Grampa, that's exactly what I am hoping and praying for ... that the $15 million investment is a clear punctuation mark to the envro-nazis and Clinton hold-over's about where this Administration now falls in the battle.

I pray, in this time of war and turmoil, that this is the case and that these farmers, and farmers, ranchers and agriculture all across this nation will be allowed to simply grow our food.

Best Fregards.

[Mo1]

Hopefully, the water will flow the entire season.

Thanks for the update Jeff

[Jeff Head]

You are very welcome.

[sistergoldenhair]

Excellent. Thanks for the ping.

[IVote2]

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.

I hope so too. Will the farmers there be able to recover financially from the loss of water or are some irreparable harmed?

[Jeff Head]

Some were harmed badly. A few went under. Some still are selling out because of the uncertainty.

But most made it through and are operating.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Ah, sweet nectar of life.

Thanks for the update.

[Eustace]

Thanks Jeff.

I've asked a couple of times here on FR if anyone knows if any farmers went under (the first go around), but no one answers.

It seems like change for the good takes a lot of time , while bad things happen right away. Hopefully this is a good sign.

[Dubya]

Thanks for the heads up good news.

[Fearless Flyers]

Great news Jeff, I hope the water keeps running.

I'll wait to see the bounty of the harvest this fall before I believe the farmers are secure.

Keeping the people Klamath in my prayers.

Caterpillars are the weapons of choice these days.

[Phil V.]

Ah, what a fine time we had! Remember the time when some "radical" wuz messin' with the Park Police? - We scooted an ass and some sheep into the headworks.

The Park police needed instructions. I think that they were on the phone to Clinton for instructions for mounting mutton.

I think that the ass was afraid - - - very afraid . . .

[Victoria Delsoul]

Good news. Thanks.

[nunya bidness]

I love that picture of Baron with all the flags.

Tell Jared I said hey.

[Grampa Dave]

I knew nothing of the size and nature of these gates until I saw the picture that you posted. Obviously the left wing media spike the story of the construction and nature of these gates.

Then I like you, knew that the administration had invested a lot of money for water for the farmers and to shut up the sucker fish over farmers and ranchers Green Jihadists.

In spite of the war, turmoil and the need for food to feed us and our military personnel, the Watermelon Green Jihadists will never relax.

[Jeff Head]

He's says "hey back".

His older brother is graduating High School this year and Jared is out to beat his older brother's 800 M Jr. High record before he does. Jared is 8th grade now, Jeff is 12th.

Take care.