The term “full allocation” is central to discussions about water rights for farmers on and off the Klamath Reclamation Project, but its meaning is often misunderstood. For the more than 220,000 acres of farmland in the Klamath Reclamation Project, a “full allocation” of water is not a single number but a range of measurements tied to contracts, legal adjudications, and the practical needs of crops. As poor federal policy continues to strain the region’s water resources, clarity on this term is essential for informed, on-farm decision-making. According to some contracts, such as the 1905 contract entered into by the Klamath Irrigation District, and for Tule Lake Irrigation District, which cover more than 100,000 acres within their borders, a “full allocation” is defined as water sufficient for beneficial use without waste. That number is unknowable …but able to be roughly estimated as exceeding 300,000 acre-feet for these two districts in an average year.
–Written by Gene Souza, the executive director of the Klamath Irrigation District.