Thursday, May 9 2013 2:42PM

Drought and a new water rights settlement may lead to water wars in rural Oregon.

Klamath Native American tribes in Oregon recently won a landmark water rights settlement, the results of which may prompt a new water dispute to erupt between the tribe and rural farmers that rely on the Klamath River, according to the Los Angeles Times.

In March, the Klamath tribes were given rights to the lake and tributaries of the Upper Klamath River basin, which feed the river that flows from southern Oregon to Northern California. However, severe drought is beginning to impact the state, and the new water rights may allow the Klamath tribes to exert their authority over water usage and essentially cut off access to the river's resources if the river begins to run low, the LA Times reports.

While the tribes consider this as an option to save endangered fish in the basin, farmers are lobbying against the move, as it may impact their farmlands.

"A lot of people's water could be shut off, and that has huge implications and it affects peoples' livelihoods to the core," Jeff Mitchell, a tribal council member and its lead negotiator on water issues, told the Times. "But I also look at our fishery that is on the brink of extinction. We have a responsibility to protect that resource, and we'll do what we need to do to make sure that the fish survive."

Disputes over access to water system services are typically lengthy and often require legal intervention, which can take several years to resolve. In the meantime, many agricultural areas facing drought are looking to federal assistance programs, such as those offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to help them overcome the financial ramifications of depleted water resources.

For more information, check out this resource: The Los Angeles Times