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Our Klamath Basin Water Crisis
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 Archive 51 - August 2006
also  see main archive page

Lake Levels and River Flows, H&N 8/31/06. HERE for more.

Bureau of Reclamation Water Data Update – August 31, 2006

Klamath dams stand trial; Tribes, Federal and State agencies, Conservationists, and Fishermen join forces to Defend Fish Re-introduction Plan for Klamath Salmon and Steelhead. (KBC NOTE: Oregon trollers, miners, and most farmers do not support dam removal, or introducing endangered species into the Klamath River; HERE for more). posted to KBC 8/31/06.

Bureau of Reclamation selects management of CIP, by BOR 8/29/06 "The CIP is a stakeholder-driven restoration program with the following four goals:  ecosystem restoration, maintaining sustainable water use while reducing demand, contributing to Tribal Trust responsibilities of the Federal government, and fostering partnerships between governments and private interest in the Klamath Basin." More on CIP go HERE.

The following was sent to KBC by Coastal Fishermen: Gov. Schwarzenegger Responds to Legislature Blocking Relief Package for Salmon Fishermen, Industry, Governor's Office, followed by: Prospects dim for relief bill to help CA salmon fishermen, SF Chronicle, and Bush OKs $800M For Drought Relief, CBS News, posted to KBC (Fishermen are devastated by government decimating the coastal fishing seasons, yet confused when their government provides 800M for farmers and ranchers. KBC) posted to KBC 8/30/06

Tulelake Irrigation District well water levels 8/30/06

Birds, planes collide too often, H&N 8/30/06

Hundreds of Thousands of Geese to be Killed; The Humane Society of the United States decries goal of new U.S. Fish and Wildlife regulations for resident Canada geese, posted to KBC 8/30/06 "The Humane Society of the United States announced today its strong opposition to new U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations that call for the killing of hundreds of thousands of “resident” Canada geese across the country annually for a period of 10 years." (In the Klamath Basin farmers and ranchers grow grain at their own expense and watch as geese feast on it...that is just what Klamath Basin farmers do - KBC)

KID/OWRC meeting 8/29/06

Re August 22nd U.S. Department of Interior “Listening Session”  at Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond, Oregon, by Senator Doug Whitsett, Oregon District 28, August 27, 2006. " Our forests are burning out of control, our coastal salmon fishery has crashed, and the Biological opinions that the National Academy of Sciences discovered were not based on accurate and reproducible science five years ago continue to be enforced in the Klamath Basin with catastrophic economic and cultural consequences...Unfortunately, the print media coverage of the event was virtually non-existent."

Another view: Water use on Klamath not so simple by Greg Addington -- Special to The Sacramento Bee, published 8/27/06 "The Bee Editorial attempts to connect Klamath Project agriculture to the toxic algae blooms behind hydroelectric reservoirs on the Klamath River. It alleges that “In the Klamath, fertilizers from farms on the Oregon-California border flow downstream”. The Bee is making claims that it can not substantiate."

8/25/06: Klamath Irrigation District, and the Oregon Water Resources Congress, a statewide association of irrigation districts, invites you to attend a meeting Tuesday, August 29, 10:00 a.m. at the Klamath County Extension Building conference room, located on Vandenberg Road. HERE for Details

8/25/06 Today's California Farm Bureau Friday Review contains the following bills: SB 419 (Rail Industry), SB 646 (Water Quality Management Programs), SB 775 (Water Rights), SB 815 (Worker's Comp), SB 1056 (Uniform Seed Law), SB 1578 (Dog Tethering), SB 1640 (Groundwater Monitoring), AB 450 (Livestock Safety), AB 1147 (Industrial Hemp), AB 1835 (Minimum Wage)

Compromise being sought for dam removal; Tribes, Water Users working together to find mutual solution, Herald and News, posted to KBC 8/25/06
Bill Kennedy, Klamath farmer and Klamath Water User, has different view on dismantling infrastructure.

(Chiloquin) dam removal is focus of Modoc meeting, H&N posted to KBC 8/25/06

Klamath Lake levels river flows, posted to KBC 8/25/06

Congressman Walden dinner Aug 24, 2006

Payments leave some fishermen short, The World Link 8/22/06

Salmon aid checks to arrive, Coos Bay World, posted to KBC 8/22/06

Note from Coastal Fisherman: "
What about the troller living in a Garage in Pacific City, who didn't receive a check and had to borrow money for Fuel from another troller who received less than $250 so he could fish North of Cape Falcon ?  Perhaps the Administrators should take a big step back or hire someone with Common Sense."

 

Judge is asked to lift fish ladder demands, Utility wants to trap salmon and truck them downstream. 8/22/06

CA-Wage deal: $8 an hour; Governor, top Democrats agree to boost state's minimum pay rate in stages over two years, Sacramento Bee 8/22/06

California alfalfa hay up, Aug 22, 2006: "Alfalfa hay production in California is forecast at 7.1 million tons, up 3 percent from last year’s crop. Other hay production is forecast at 1.78 million tons, 12 percent below the 2005 crop. The U.S. alfalfa hay production is forecast at 71.2 million tons, down 6 percent from last year. Yields are expected to average 3.18 tons per acre, a decrease of 0.20 tons from last year. Harvested area is 22.4 million acres, up fractionally from 2005." Western Farm Press.

Bill Kennedy, Klamath Basin farmer, sent this letter to the editor of Herald and News, Pat Bushey, who touched on several thoughts regarding the intentional dismantling of the power infrastructure on the Klamath River. Seize the moment to make progress on the Klamath. "While we continue to see our infrastructure of irrigated agriculture ignored and dismantled, third world nations in Africa, the Americas and Asia are trying to build what we have had for over 100 years." 8/20/06
Here's our song, Kill the Land, by Brian Burns.

Brian just contacted us at KBC and sent us the song he wrote for the Klamath Basin in 2001. He said he still wears his 'Put People First' T Shirt weekly; it's still holding up. Thank you Brian.

 

AUGUST 18, 2006 California Farm Bureau Friday Review
Today's Friday Review contains:
SB 419 (rail tank cars) SB 1342 (Timber Harvest Plans, THPs) SB 1640 (groundwater monitoring) AB 450 (livestock safety)
Please note: there is an Action Alert on SB 419, please use the link provided in the text of the Friday Review to email your Assemblymember regarding this legislation.

PacifiCorp:  Klamath River Hydroelectric Project Dam Statistics, posted 8/17/06

First run for mint still, Kinks resolved, equipment will aid research, Herald and News 8/17/06

Klamath Lake Levels River Flows, H&N 8/17/06

PRESS RELEASE: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issues final decision on resident Canada Goose management, posted to KBC 8/16/06 (KBC note: in the Klamath Basin, farmers grow feed for the Canadian Geese and support their population)

California Farm Bureau Friday Report, posted 8/16/06 "SB 419 (rail industry)SB 1578 (dog tethering)SB 775 (watermaster service)SB 32 (global warming)"

Family Farm Alliance Applauds Fish Declaration, posted to KBC 8/16/06 "The coastal salmon issue – characterized by most media accounts as a divisive “farmer vs. fishermen” issue – has been manipulated by certain environmental groups that place the blame for the fishery restrictions on irrigation and dams located on the Klamath River. The attached Issue Alert! tells another story." Dan Keppen Executive Director Family Farm Alliance
The following is a prime example of green media pitting farmers against fishermen, and green politicians using the fisheries closure to advocate farm downsize and dam removal:
California-Oregon Fishery 'Failure' Declaration Triggers Financial Aid, LA Times, posted to KBC 8/16/06

The actual Fisheries Disaster Declaration by the Department of Commerce, posted 8/16/06

Tulelake Irrigation District ground water levels 8/16/06

Federal court weighs legality of Bush's Forest Service road plan, Mercury News, posted to KBC 8/16/06. For more on our Forests, go HERE.

Klamath River Water Flows, by Lewie Baker, posted 8/16/06

**“Fishermen and Farmers Can Coexist, and We Will Coexist” by Dan Keppen, Executive Director Family Farm Alliance, Klamath Falls, Oregon 8/15/06 "The farmers and fishermen proposed similar solutions, including the need to address disease issues in the Klamath River, modernize and expand hatchery operations, control seal lion predation at the mouth of the Klamath, and improve real-time ocean management. Notably, both sides advocated for increased flexibility of Klamath Project operations, through regulatory measures and the development of new offstream storage like Long Lake, just west of Klamath Falls."

**Fisheries Disaster Declaration by Senator Doug Whitsett, Oregon District 28, 8/15/06

Bureau of Reclamation: Water Data Update – August 15, 2006

Dike plan must wait, H&N, posted to KBC 8/15/06

NATIONAL: Farm groups on a roll…More to follow? Aug 14, 2006, Western Farm Press

Oregon jobless rate up slightly in July, Herald and News, posted to KBC 8/15/06 (KBC Note: According to the NM Department of Labor, Oregon ranks 9th in the nation in unemployment. Oregon policies shut down timber harvest, coastal fisheries, downsized agriculture in the name of 'environmentalism', defying peer-reviewed science, destroying thousands of jobs, and families)

**Scott Boley, Oregonian Salmon Troller Responds to Oregonian Article "Feds declare fishery disaster" by Peter Sleeth, posted to KBC 8/15/06 "...I was puzzled by why you would quote Glenn Spain, who is only allied with California's Industry, and not talk to a real Oregon fisherman or a member of the only active organization that speaks for Oregon's Salmon Industry, The Oregon Salmon Commission. Mr. Spain to my knowledge represents not a single Oregon Troller, not one, and for you to quote him and not someone from Oregon's Industry is misleading to the public at best. Oregons Salmon Fishermen are active, organized, and working on solutions, and it is not under PCFFA's banner, or under the banner of Mr. Spains IFR group."

**Dick Carleton, Merrill Oregon, Responds to Oregonian Article "Feds declare fishery disaster," posted to KBC 8/13/06  "Perhaps if he (Steve Pedery of ONRC)and Mr. Spain and Mr. Grader would work with us to get good science and find real solutions instead of looking for a lawsuit to file we might make some progress."
FOLLOWED BY Oregonian article

Talks follow fishery failure proclamation, TheWorldLink.Com, posted to KBC 8/13/06. "Both farmers and fishermen said that the perception in the past has been that the groups are at odds. That's not true, they said."

"* PRESS RELEASE: Commerce Department Declares Commercial Fishery Failure for Coastal Oregon and California 8/10/06
* PRESS RELEASE: California Senator Diane Feinstein's office  August 10, 2006, Commerce Secretary Gutierrez Declares Commercial Fishery Failure for Pacific Salmon Fisheries. This release contains quotes from Oregon and California Senators, Congressmen and Governors.

Meeting on Bush enviro proposal draws disparate views, Seattlepi.com 8/10/06 "Washington state Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda contended that restrictions on logging were partly to blame for forest fires in his district. He also noted that efforts to open a gold mine in Okanogan County had bogged down for years because of environmental concerns...."

NEWS RELEASE: Siskiyou County Public Health, Current Blue Green Algea blooms, "Irongate Reservoir, Copco Lake and Lake Shastina are known to have seasonal blooms of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria). Irongate Reservoir and Copco Lake are currently experiencing a bloom.  Blooms typically occur between June and October when temperatures rise and water conditions are favorable for algal growth...
ALGEA, by Dr. David Herfindahl from Siskiyou County Public Health, posted to KBC 11/7/05

The Technology Behind the National Animal Identification System, Eco-logic Powerhouse, posted to KBC  8/10/06 "...RFID tags are susceptible to computer viruses. This means that anyone wishing to cause problems (terrorist or not) could not only tamper with tags within their control, but could spread problems to all other tags scanned using the same equipment. Imagine a busy sale barn, with every animal's tag corrupted by the infected scanner....

The Klamath River Dispute, Stanford Progressive, posted to KBC 8/8/06. KBC note precedes this article; article blasts Klamath irrigators and contains unfounded allegations.

Flooded farmer fishes for implements, Klamath wheat fields lie under 3 to 10 feet of water, Capital Press 8/8/06

2006 Freedom21 Conference Presentations, AUDIO: posted 8/8/06 Freedom.org
*
Why we must advance the principles of freedom
*
How to protect your community from Sustainable Development
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How to build an effective organization
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How to use "Think Tanks" in the grassroots effort
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How to control education in your state
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What to do with 47 U.N. Biosphere Reserves?
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Principles of Freedom
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How to deal with government agencies
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How to become more effective
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How to fund your organization
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How to prevent the U.S. military from serving under U.N. command
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How to influence legislation
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How to stop NAIS

Aug 9 spotted owl hearing

Sea lions horn in on south coast fish Salmon - Most of Gold Beach's sport catch was being stolen right off of anglers' gear, which led to hiring hazers, Oregonian 8/8/06

Oregon allows trollers to catch a few more salmon, H&N 8/7/06

Logging starts on first timber sale in roadless area, Herald and News 8/7/06. "The area had burned in the 2002 Biscuit fire" (KBC note: After hundreds of thousands of dollars battling environmentalists' lawsuits, timber companies are finally being allowed to harvest a fraction of the old burnt trees, however OR Gov. Kulongoski and enviros are protesting. HERE for more on Biscuit Fire saga.)

Other Places: Farmers sign up to dry up, Times News, Twin Falls, Idaho, 8/7/06, "...a joint state-federal plan to pay farmers to let their lands go dry — for the next 15 years." (KBC NOTE: In the Klamath Basin, the government demands 100,000 acre feet of our water per year to be taken from our aquifer or our irrigation storage to artificially elevate the Klamath River. This year was a flood year but they still are demanding water from Klamath irrigators. Our aquifer is being depleted, Oregon Water Resource Dept says that the 'water bank' should allow the aquifer to recharge but they have been ignored. Is exterminating American farms and rural aquifers a good idea, like being dependant on foreign oil?)

Klamath River Historical Floods,  from In the Land of the Grasshopper Song by Mary Ellicott Arnold and Mabel Reed. Excerpts compiled by Barbara Hall, Klamath Bucket Brigade Vice President of the Board of Directors.. See posts on KBC Discussion Forum."The dams were built, as were the fish hatcheries to mitigate the fact that the salmon could not pass up river past them; for flood control and hydroelectric power. Maybe it is a 'bad thing' to regulate/control a river. Maybe they should all be free flowing. But do we really want the destruction and mayhem, including loss of human life from a flooding river? Do we really want the Klamath River to become a mere trickle during droughts? Who will the down stream Tribes and the environmental groups sue then? Mother Nature?" Barb Hall, KBB

Klamath Water Users Update 8/4/06
Administration Schedules Listening Sessions
Water Users Asked to do with Less
KWUA/PLF to Appeal Flow Decision
House Committee Issues NEPA Report
KWUA Comments on EPA Rule
Klamath NAS Meeting Scheduled/Rescheduled
House Passes Estate Tax Measure
New Jeep to Run on B5 Biodiesel
Oregon Water Resources Commission to Meet
Quote
Calendar

Research uses DNA to identify ocean salmon's home river, CB Bulletin 8/4/06/

Success of stream restoration projects go largely unknown, Bigfork Eagle 8/3/06.

PacifiCorp: Dams could go, H&N 8/3/06
Dam removal, by Joseph C Greene, Research Biologist, Greene Environmental Services, posted to KBC 6/12/06, Power Point Joseph Green biography

Tribes march in protest of Klamath Dams, H&N, posted to KBC 8/3/06

PacifiCorp, agencies to make their cases about Klamath dams, H&N posted to KBC 8/3/06.

AUGUST 22 ESA Reform Session
ESA Reform talking points and the cooperative conservation announcement Forward compiled by Dan Keppen, Executive Director, Family Farm Alliance. "The Secretaries of Interior, Commerce and Agriculture, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality on Monday announced the dates and locations of the first eight listening sessions on cooperative conservation and environmental partnerships." posted to KBC 8/3/06
CropLife America POSITION PAPER 8/3/06 Endangered Species Act Modernization

PRESS RELEASE: Northern Spotted Owl Recovery Team Hosts Open House August 9, FWS 8/3/06

Idaho tribe, BPA at odds over new Oregon chinook hatchery, SeattlePI, posted to KBC 8/3/06. (KBC Note: "The proposed hatchery was listed in biological opinions covering federal dams on the Snake and Columbia rivers as one of the measures that would help chinook salmon recover." but Judge Redden objects. On the Klamath River, hatcheries are being severely limited against the wishes of Oregon Salmon trollers, genetically-identical hatchery salmon are not being counted with wild-spawned salmon,  fish numbers are down because hatchery-spawned salmon aren't being counted, and coastal fishing seasons were destroyed by government regulations. Environmental agendas are successfully overriding sound science and needs of natural resource users)
More on government decimating coastal commercial fishermen, go
HERE.

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES: Protecting the tortoises, The Spectrum, "We've found that fences don't work with fire and drought," (KBC Note: The enviros are shocked that, by building fences and creating wilderness areas, the tortoises die in fires that they forbid humans to suppress in 'wild' areas. In Klamath/Siskiyou, the logging industry was decimated by the spotted owl scam, people were forbidden to fight fires in the wilderness areas created to protect the owl, then the fires killed more owls than ever disturbed by timber harvest.)

Legality of Forest Service road plan questioned, Monterey Herald, posted 8/3/06

Klamath River water flows, by Lewie Baker 8/3/06

Court Decision Lifts Endangered Species Act Threat to Rights of Way Across Federal Lands, Idaho Attorney General's Office 8/2/06

Final paper prepared by a task force to improve and update the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), August 1, 2006
These comments were drafted by KWUA that will be submitted to EPA
regarding their proposed rule on water transfers. The comments, due early next week, support a proposed EPA rule clarifying that water transfers are not subject to regulation under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), 8/1/06

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