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Upper Klamath Basin Ag Collaborative

ranch resiliency – conservation – support

Who We Are

A Collaborative Resource

for Upper Klamath Basin Landowners and Producers

The Upper Klamath Basin Ag Collaborative (UKBAC) is a rancher-led organization that seeks lasting solutions to address the critical challenges facing family farms and ranchers in our region. We aim to give landowners and producers a collective voice on issues that are essential for agricultural resiliency, now and for future generations.

Upper Klamath Basin aerial view over Root Ranch

Our Goals

A Sustainable Future for Local Agriculture

We envision a future where family farms and ranches can thrive, working hand in hand with all local entities that have interests in agriculture and conservation. Our vision is to build an ecology plus an economy that supports all peoples in the Upper Klamath Basin. With the right planning and approach, healthy ecosystems can support agriculture as well as native fish and wildlife.

Considerations & Challenges

Working Together for the Benefit of All

We support the efforts of the Klamath Tribes for species recovery and we are actively rebuilding a trusting relationship with the Tribes.

Most years there is not enough water to accommodate all local needs. The State of Oregon is adjudicating Klamath River drainage water rights. The Klamath Tribes will be granted a water right based on minimum flows to support the Tribes’ historical hunting, fishing and gathering activities with a “time immemorial” priority date (the most senior). Water is currently being allocated this way under a preliminary judicial order, which will likely become permanent.

We believe collaboration and investing in science-based solutions will make it possible for family farms and ranches to continue producing here for generations to come.

Solutions for Dry Times

Drought is an ongoing challenge for our region. We must develop creative solutions for all people in the Upper Klamath Basin to prosper.

Landowners and producers, along with our Tribal neighbors, are closest to the land and its resources. Farmers and ranchers often have ideas for using water efficiently but lack the resources to advance their projects. Efforts like riparian fencing and irrigation efficiency provide benefits for agriculture and for wildlife but can be too expensive for landowners to do on their own. The Ag Collaborative can help find funding to support these types of projects, as well as for projects like rotational grazing, stock water wells, and invasive pest control to enable ongoing farming and ranching when water is limited.