The Klamath Water Users Association issued an alert to members (click to read PDF) warning that 2020 will likely be the second worst year of water deliveries in four decades.

"Unless there is a very large number of unirrigated acres, there is a great risk of running out of water altogether mid-season," the alert said.

Last year farmers rescued the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge in the fall by sending unused water supplies to the refuge, but the water situation this year makes a repeat exceedingly unlikely. Irrigators expect toget 140,000 acre feet from the Klamath Project this year, which is enough to meet only about 40% of their need.