Extreme Drought in the Upper Klamath Basin for 26 Consecutive Years: Over-Allocation, Empty Promises, Broken Treaties

The Upper Klamath Basin remains one of the most over‑allocated, over‑promised, and ecologically stressed watersheds in the United States, and the most recent updates show that the core problem has not changed: there are more legal claims to water than the Basin can physically provide, especially in drought years. This over‑allocation continues to harm C’waam, Koptu, C’iyaals, wetlands, springs, and the ecosystem that Klamath, Modoc, and Numu peoples are responsible for protecting.

What “over‑allocation” means in the Upper Klamath Basin…

Over-Allocation: Recent Take-Aways (2024-2026)

Why this matters for Klamath, Modoc, and Numu peoples

Over‑allocation is not an abstract policy issue—it is the root cause of the collapse of our s?aaMaks, cultural resources, and treaty‑reserved responsibilities.

Impacts on s?aaMaks

  • C’waam and Koptu require stable lake levels and clean, cold water. Over‑allocation keeps Upper Klamath Lake too low and too warm.

  • C’iyaals returning after dam removal need adequate flows in the Klamath River; over‑allocation reduces those flows.

  • Wocus, Tules, and wetland relatives depend on groundwater and surface water that are being diverted or pumped.

  • Mares’ Eggs and spring systems are collapsing as aquifers decline.

Impacts on cultural sovereignty

Tribal water rights are the most senior in the Basin, but federal operations often undermine them by prioritizing irrigation deliveries. This erodes:

  • Treaty rights

  • Cultural responsibilities

  • The ability to protect First Foods for future generations

Impacts on the land and wildlife

Over‑allocation dries wetlands, reduces habitat, and increases stress on:

  • Migratory birds

  • Deer and elk

  • Amphibians and riparian species

  • Groundwater‑dependent ecosystems

Impacts on community safety

As water scarcity worsens, conflict increases. The Basin has already seen:

  • Protests

  • Armed standoffs

  • Acts of Violence Against Tribal Members

  • Political pressure on Tribal governments

  • Attempts to weaken Tribal water rights

This instability is a direct result of promising more water than exists.

The Deeper Structural Problem

Over-Allocation: What to watch in 2026

Over‑allocation refers to the fact that more water rights have been granted—mostly for irrigation—than the Basin’s hydrology can support, especially as climate change reduces snowpack, groundwater, and inflows.
This includes:

  • Klamath Project irrigation rights (federal Reclamation project)

  • Off‑Project irrigation rights (private lands above Upper Klamath Lake)

  • Groundwater pumping rights

  • Tribal instream water rights, which are the most senior in the Basin (Klamath Tribes Treaty of 1864)

  • Endangered Species Act requirements for C’waam, Koptu, and C’iyaals

Even in “average” years, these demands exceed supply.

Federal operations continue to prioritize irrigation over ecological recovery

The Bureau of Reclamation’s 2025 operations plan describes delivering water to ~230,000 acres of irrigated farm land in the Klamath Project. 

Irrigators continue to push for more water

In June 2025, the Klamath Water Users Association reported that Reclamation expected to meet irrigation demands for the 2025 season, despite worsening hydrology.  

This reflects the ongoing pattern: irrigation deliveries are maintained even when lake levels and river flows fall below ecological thresholds.

Tribal governments warn of catastrophic consequences

In September 2025, the Klamath Tribes publicly opposed a federal proposal to send up to 38,000 additional acre‑feet of water to irrigators, warning it would further endanger C’waam and Koptu.
This is a clear example of over‑allocation in action: water promised to irrigators directly conflicts with the minimum water needed for endangered relatives.

USGS confirms the Basin cannot meet all demands

A 2025 USGS assessment highlights the Basin as a national hotspot for water scarcity, with competing demands that exceed supply and worsening drought conditions. 

The Basin’s water system was built on false assumptions:

  • That Upper Klamath Lake could be used as a reservoir for irrigation

  • That groundwater was limitless

  • That wetlands could be drained without consequence

  • That Tribal rights could be ignored

  • That climate would remain stable

Every one of these assumptions has proven false.

Today, the Basin is experiencing:

  • Declining snowpack

  • Shrinking aquifers

  • Warmer water

  • More frequent drought

  • Increasing demands from agriculture

  • Legal obligations to protect endangered species

The system cannot meet all these demands, and the burden falls hardest on the land, the water, and our s?aaMaks who depend on them.

  • Whether Reclamation again prioritizes irrigation deliveries over ecological needs

  • Whether the Klamath Tribes must issue additional senior calls

  • How dam removal affects river flows and salmon recovery

  • Whether federal agencies revise operations to comply with ESA and Tribal rights

  • Whether groundwater pumping restrictions increase

  • Whether political pressure intensifies around water allocation