Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski has issued a drought declaration for Klamath County, expanding irrigation opportunities for growers facing potentially the worst drought since 2001.

The executive order allows irrigators to apply for emergency water use permits.

In addition to Klamath County, it affects irrigators in the bordering Jackson, Douglas, Lane, Deschutes and Lake counties.

Kulongoski also March 17 wrote to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack requesting a federal disaster order, which would open additional irrigation opportunities to growers and ranchers.

Minus a spate of rainfall in coming weeks, the Klamath Basin is poised to weather a significant water shortage this year, putting the area's agricultural production at risk.

As of March 15, snowpack in the basin was 77 percent of average. Year-to-date rainfall was just 1.9 inches, more than 2.5 inches below normal.

Also this week, the Oregon Water Resources Department dispatched staff to Klamath to help water users apply for emergency drought permits.

--Mitch Lies