Klamath County declares local emergency for Lake Emona levee and pump‑station repairs

The Klamath County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 6 declared a local emergency to address eroded levees and a malfunctioning pump station at county‑owned Lake Emona, after Public Works staff described wave action and structural deterioration that threaten levee integrity.

Jeremy, a county public‑works staffer, told commissioners he inspected the site and described erosion that has narrowed interior levees to the point that dump trucks cannot pass and said both an exterior levee (about 500 feet of work) and an interior levee (about 650 feet) need repair. Jeremy said the pump station is currently unusable and that without prompt repairs the county could face much larger costs if a levee failed.

Staff estimated the levee and pump repairs could be about $415,000, but said a previously allocated $3 million grant for Lake Emona projects and federal monies (including ARPA) may cover much or all of the work depending on contractor bids and final contract amounts. Staff said Fish & Wildlife and the Watershed Partnership had been consulted and appeared supportive of using grant funds and ARPA where appropriate.

The board voted to adopt a declaration of local emergency to allow staff to expedite repair contracting and stabilizing work. Commissioners and staff said the emergency declaration will let Public Works solicit bids and begin reconstruction and pumping operations as needed to protect interior acres and prevent a more costly failure.

The next procedural step, according to staff, is to solicit contractor bids and return to the board with contract award and final funding allocations. The county estimated the emergency repair timeline will require action in the coming weeks.