KWAPA Groundwater Utilization Study
Location
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Client
Klamath Water & Power Authority
Project Description
GSA surveyed private and irrigation district well owners on the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Klamath Project about their experiences using groundwater for irrigation and their perceptions of the 2010 Groundwater Pumping Program. The program was initiated to reimburse irrigators who used groundwater due to reduced surface water deliveries.
Study goals were to understand the experience of Program participants, to analyze survey results to identify successes and problems, and to identify ideas to improve the program and avoid future problems with the use of groundwater for irrigation. GSA developed the survey questionnaire, in conjunction with KWAPA, to meet these goals. GSA successfully surveyed 69 percent of the well owners participating in the Program. These irrigators pumped 76 percent of the groundwater pumped in 2010. Spatial distribution of survey responses were analyzed using GIS. Recommendations were made to improve the program in subsequent years.
