Time to Take Action
Our Klamath Basin Water Crisis
Upholding rural Americans' rights to grow food,
own property, and caretake our wildlife and natural resources.
 

ARCHIVE 22 - MARCH 2004
also  see main archive page

Bud Uhlman, Klamath Tribes attorney, blames Klamath irrigators for racism, water quantity and quality problems, and a destroyed ecosystem,  3/31/04 by KBC (jdk). Uhlman, and Don Gentry of the Klamath Tribes, speak at The 9th annual Environmental Justice Conference, organized by the Coalition Against Environmental Racism. 

Tribes play race card, again, 3/31/04, by Kehn Gibson, Tri-County Courier, “ 'Three non-Indian men from the predominately non-Indian town of Bonanza came up to Chiloquin armed with shotguns and rifles...' ” Carl Ullman, Klamath Tribal Attorney.  “ 'Are we going to judge an entire race by the reprehensible acts of a few?' John Elliott, Commissioner, Klamath County"

Bureau study says Long Lake is solid on the bottom, H&N 3/31/04.  "...more than 20 other groups - including five counties in Southern Oregon and Northern California - have drafted letters in support of such a study." "If the valley is found to be a good place to store water, construction could begin after 2010." (the US Gov't can come up with funds to downsize Klamath Agriculture with a mandatory waterbank, spending millions of dollars, essentially downsizing the Klamath Basin economy, however they cannot come up with funds now to study and build this water storage! KBC jdk)

12,329 wild chinook counted on Scott River, Liz Bowen, Pioneer Press posted to KBC 3/29/04. "This year, the estimates on the 2003 fall-run came in at 12,329, which is the second-highest, since the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) began conducting counts in 1978."

Tribes' own words raise scary questions, 3/29/04 H&N: "The Tribes' constitution says, "All waters which originate in or flow through the Klamath Tribes jurisdiction, or which are stored within the Klamath Tribes jurisdiction, whether found on the surface or underground, are a valuable Tribal resource of the Klamath Tribes, and are to be protected for the present and future use of the Klamath Tribes."

Number of students continues to drop Are coho salmon and spotted owl the same?, posted to KBC 3/29/04, Pioneer Press.

Don't forget agriculture in looking at Big Picture, Oregonian 2/17/04, editorial by Katy Coba, Oregon Dept. of Ag,  "By volume, agriculture and food products are Oregon's largest export. By value, they rank second only to electronics at nearly $2 billion a year. A majority of the Port of Portland's total tonnage of exports -- about 60 percent -- is agriculture."

Salvage logging from Biscuit Fire could clear the way for jobs boon, Register Guard, posted to KBC 3/29/04. "Forest Service officials are expected to announce by May how much scorched timber they want to sell. Previously, they have said they were leaning toward selling about 500 million board feet. Using Ragon's index, that's 4,000 jobs. "

Abandon the religion of environmentalism, Times Standard, posted to kbc 3/29/04: "The romantic view of the natural world as a blissful Eden is only held by people who have no actual experience of nature. Those of us who live and work in nature are not romantic about it at all, but we love and value it. We hold spiritual beliefs about the world around us, we have a sense of the unity and living nature of all things. But we still kill the animals, uproot plants and haul in the fish in order to eat. If we don't, we -- and you -- will die. "

The General Accounting Office (GAO) today released the following regarding consultation and the ESA, 3/29/04. Go to http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d0493high.pdf

Short-sighted on jobs, H&N 3/29/04, regarding the tax-exempt COB plant being located in Bonanza against the residents' wills.

Conservation Easements (CEs) and Purchased Development Rights (PDRs), by Marcia Armstrong 3/28/04 (printed with permission of Marcia Armstrong.) "In my opinion, the worst thing about CEs and PDRs is that they reach into the future and restrict the range of available land use options available to our children and grandchildren. They rob the potential for future owners to get the highest possible economic return from their property."

PRESS RELEASE: (Bureau of Reclamation) Title Transfers: Lessons Learned and Future Opportunities, 3/26/04, House Resource Committee.

ESATODAYCourt urged to order NOAA to make delisting call in 30 days, cbbulletin 3/26/04. "Organizations that have asked NOAA Fisheries to drop eight salmon and steelhead stocks from the Endangered Species Act have asked a federal court to order the agency to produce those decisions within 30 days."

QUOTE: "They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours.  It was written by a lot of really smart guys. It worked for over 200 years and, we're not using it anymore!"

Association seeking new members, H&N 3/25/04. "Alfalfa represented 60,000 acres of the Klamath Basin last year and can have a strong voice in our constant battle to retain water for agriculture," said David King, President of Klamath Hay Growers.

               The Klamath Pearl - A gem of a tuber
H&N 3/25/04. "
The taste and texture of the Klamath Pearl makes it ideal in cold salads and specialty potato dishes. It is a white potato which remains firm and keeps its skin after boiling."..."The Klamath Basin has about 12,000 acres of potatoes," said grower John Cross. "We'd like to see 10 percent of that be Klamath Pearls."


Dan Chin and John Cross

Farmers, ranchers honored this week, H&N 3/25/04. Department of Agriculture: "Farmers and ranchers manage 17.5 million acres of private property in Oregon, contributing substantially to wildlife habitat. As much as 70 percent of wildlife spends part of its life on private agricultural lands." "Agriculture is responsible for more than $8 billion in economic activity when all directly related goods and activities are factored. That equates to roughly 9 percent of Oregon's gross state product."

Lake Levels/river flows posted to KBC 3/25/04, H&N

Letters to Oregon Senator Gordon Smith, signed by Klamath County  Commissioners John Elliott and Al Switzer, posted to KBC 3/25/04.

Al Switzer
Klamath Co Commissioner Switzer

John Elliott
Klamath Co. Commissioner Elliott

Our commissioners support the study of Long Lake water storage, for a potential of 300,000AF cold water not requiring a dam. WaterWatch does not support the study. "WaterWatch continues to advocate for purchase of farmland as a means of addressing the Klamath water crisis...A shift from farmland to wetlands will increase average water use per acre by more than 1 acre-foot." "...(this) would leave less water in the system for downstream uses"
  
WaterWatch past vice-president Rich McIntyre is also American Land Conservancy (ALC) counselor, advocating instead for government purchase of Barnes property, the cost being $9.1 million, commission going to ALC.  The neighbors figure the Barnes storage would be 5000AF maximum warm water. KBC (jdk) More on Barnes and Long Lake, go HERE
Background and support for technical analysis, Long Lake, Klamath County, Oregon, by the Klamath County Board of Commissioners.


PRESS RELEASE from USFWS, 3/25/04. "In the event that we suffer future disruptions to our email and electronic news release service, we are asking you to let us know whether you would like to receive fax copies and/or mail copies of news releases."

Court allows Interior computers to go online; Trust account information at heart of recent trouble, Billings Gazette 3/25/04

One judge, last week, demanded that the entire Department of the Interior use NO internet. None. One judge. Fortunately today, our Klamath Basin BOR website has returned. We can now watch how much water stored irrigation goes down the river to the ocean--higher-than-historic flows, despite the NAS report saying the fish don't need that much water.  Klamath Water Data

PRESS RELEASE: House Budget Committee Heeds Western Caucus Call to Fully Fund PILT and Reduce Land Acquisition 3/25/04

ESATODAY Key rules are eased to boost logging, Oregonian 3/24/04. HOPE FOR OREGON? Oregon has the highest unemployment in the United States. The Spotted Owl hoax, Klamath sucker hoax, etc, have decimated our economy.  Bush hopes to relieve timber industry of spending millions of dollars searching for non-endangered species and to revive our economy.. Glen Spain, attorney-environmentalist-Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen (PCFFA), plans to challenge it.
Agencies Sign Agreements to Continue Species Protection, 3/24/04 AgWeb

ESATODAY Water study data anxiously awaited, Tri-city herald 3/24/04. These hopeful unsuspecting farmers on the Columbia think the National Academy of Science (NAS) report, our countries 'best available science' will help them form policy. Glen Spain, attorney-environmentalist-PCFFA doesn't want more farmers despite whatever outcome. We Klamath Basin farmers had hope. Gail Norton, our Secretary of the Interior, ordered the NAS report for us, it said the fish are not helped by shutting down the Klamath Project or water-level management. So what good has it done us? The flawed Hardy-science hired by the DOJ/BIA/DOI to go against the farmers in the adjudication is still being used to take our water...this year 75,000AF (acre feet), next year 100,000AF, despite the NAS report and despite our precipitation. A mandatory agricultural downsize despite the NAS report.  Good luck Columbia Basin farmers! KBC (jdk)

PRESS RELEASE: Title Transfers: Lessons Learned and Future Opportunities: House Resource Committee "The benefits of transferring ownership of the Bureau of Reclamation's water supply and delivery facilities to local water users has become increasingly clear, as this transfer allows for local control and cost-savings to the federal government and the American taxpayer."

"Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity" continues with John Stossel about our forests. These myths effect us...Klamath Basin, 032304

Government decides on basis of dollar signs, not what's best, by Lynn Brock, H&N letter 3/22/04  "

"With spring just around the corner, Klamath basin farmers should be planning what to plant.  With water rights on more than 30 wells uncertain and the Oregon Water Resources De-partment three years behind in making decisions on the certificates, most of those wells no longer have a permit....Yet the state's Department of Energy is recommending a permit for an out-of-state industry to get its permit."


Lynn Brock

PRESS RELEASE: California Department of Veteran Affairs:  State moves forward to build veterans' cemetery,  posted to KBC 3/22/04.  From the Klamath Basin, thank you Barry Clausen, Scott-Shasta Supervisors, and other representatives and people. You are making this happen for our veterans on the Oregon-California border.  KBC

Background and support for technical analysis, Long Lake, Klamath County, Oregon, by the Klamath County Board of Commissioners. "It has been suggested that by using pumped storage, Long Lake could store 350,000 acre-feet of water annually without the construction of a dam. The water depth would average approximately 200 feet, providing stored water at a significantly cooler temperature and with less evaporative loss than Upper Klamath Lake." Submitted to KBC 3/22/04 by KCC. (25 organizations, groups and businesses have given support to study Long Lake, including irrigation districts, Klamath and Hoopa Tribes. Has the analysis begun? Why? KBC jdk)

Let's unite the basins, based on the benefits of a restored river, H&N letter 3/22/04.

RALLY TO SUPPORT OUR BRAVE TROOPS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN with Congressman Herger and Assemblymen LaMalfa Saturday, go HERE

Congratulations Klamath Basin Owls! In Klamath, when someone suffers, we all suffer,
When someone wins, we all win. That is our rural community and we are proud of it.


H&N Photo

Klamath celebrates Owls' victory

OIT won the national title Tuesday with a 81-72 victory
over Bellevue University of Nebraska.
  H&N 3/19/04

ESATODAY  OTHER PLACES: NOAA Fisheries seeks more time in salmonid ESA listing review, CB Bulletin, posted to KBC 3/20/04.

Is governor ignoring veterans? by Barry Clausen, Pioneer Press posted to KBC 3/20/04

KWUA weekly update for March 19, 2004:
*
Inspector General's Report Dismisses Senator Kerry's Klamath Allegations
* A River "Upside Down" - PacifiCorp Model Provides a Klamath Reality Check
    -
Utility of Maintaining Dams in Place
    - Consequences of Dam Removal
* Walden Named as New Chair of House Resources Forestry Subcommittee
* Western Water Alliance Closes Its Doors
* Reclamation to Compensate Project Districts for O&M Admin. Costs

Schwarzenegger says he has a lot in common with farmers, H&N AP posted to KBC 3/20/04.


Dr William Lewis, NAS committee

AgLifeNW Magazine, March Issue,  "He (Lewis) said that the committee looked extensively at water levels, and they find 'no hint of a relationship' between lake levels and fish survival.  He also said that there was no relationship between lower water levels and extreme ph levels." Go HERE


John Crawford

 

Oregon’s 1010 wrap stirs controversy
by TAM MOORE Oregon Staff Writer, Capital Press

"Technically, he said it appears that the state could construe leaves falling from a willow planted as part of streamside restoration as pollution because the source is the result of a landowner’s action" Posted to KBC 3/18/04

 


ranchers Bill Kennedy, left, and Glenn Barrett

Pacificorp files on the Klamath River Hydro Project Relicense, 3/18/04 NW Fishletter.

Power and Dams NEW Table of Contents

Basin Alliance newsletter and meeting dates, 3/04  (The views on this website are not necessarily the views of KWUA or TGA). HERE for meeting notice only.

OREGON FORESTS: Plant Burned Areas, H&N letter 3/18/04. "It behooves the Forest Service to put all available resources on salvaging and replanting the whole area.Whatever happened to the tree-plant-ing crews we used to have?"

Evaluating the future of Chiloquin dam, H&N 3/18/04
Push the studies on Chiloquin Dam, H&N Op/Ed 3/18/04

The National Grange Applauds that the Oregon Coast Coho Salmon is De-listed as a "Threatened Species" under the ESA, 3/18/04

LARRY GABRIEL, SECRETARY South Dakota Department of Agriculture, 3/17/04, regarding 'Just Another Dirt Farmer.'

For update on Ben and Erica DuVal, see  Prayer Page.

Bureau's water bank taking shape, H&N 3/17/04.  "The water bank needs to have 75,000 acre-feet of water in it, and the Bureau has a $4.5 million budget to acquire it." "Next summer, the Bureau will need a water bank of 100,000 acre-feet." Regardless of the National Academy of Science (best available science) report denying lake and river levels help fish.  Regardless of how wet the winter is.  Regardless of the fact that this land was once a lake and it's being diverted down the river. KBC (jdk)

EPA Seeks Comment on Draft  National Program Guidance For FY 2005, posted to KBC 3/17/04

Family Farm Alliance News Flash about Western Water Alliance demise, 3/16/04, and letter from Western Water Alliance.

PRESS RELEASE: Oregon news: "Local School Districts to Receive Substantial Increases in Federal Education Funding." 3/17/04

TID well water levels 3/17/04 For more TID well reports, go HERE

The unbearable lightness of Kerry’s allegations (regarding Klamath and Karl Rove), 3/17/04 thehill.com.

Thank you Barbara Hall, executive director of the Klamath Bucket Brigade, for caretaking KBC while the webmasters were away!!

Judge Shuts Down Interior Department's Internet, NewsMax 3/15/04. "The ruling comes in a lawsuit filed on behalf of more than 300,000 American Indian landowners."

Klamath County Commissioner's meeting, 3/16/04 notes by Barbara Hall, KBB. "Dave Sabo, Manager of the Klamath Basin Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) office addressed the Klamath County Commissioner’s this morning on the Long Lake feasibility study, the summer water supply, and the 2004 water bank."

Removal of dam still not a sure thing, H&N 3/16/04. "The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, which is an arm of the Interior Department, will be handling studies involving endangered species and the environmental impact of removing the dam." Last year a local team of tribes, gov't agencies, scientists and local interests reached a consensus to take out the Chiloquin Dam.  It blocks over 90% of endangered sucker habitat. The Bush Administration funded it's removal to help restore the fish. So they have the BIA, who essentially is responsible for hiring the flawed Hardy Studies and theft of our water, to do the studies. Seems they are in no hurry to do something that might actually lead to delisting the suckers.

High price for water, H&N 3/16/04, letter by Dr. Cal Hunt.

Indians rally to restore Trinity River flows, SacBee 3/16/04.  These are the same Indians that, the past two years, have complained that all their problems were the cause of the Klamath Project's 3.4% of the watershed regardless of the NAS report saying otherwise..  They are suing us for some Tirinity fish dying 200 miles away, and now they are blaming the Central Valley farmers for some fish dying to shut off their agriculture. KBC (jdk)

Group sues to delist steelhead, 3/16/04, CapitalPress

Tell company what it can do with new power plant, H&N 3/14/04 "The Peoples Energy of Chicago tells us this huge plant - 25 acres of roof area and 40-plus acres of polluted wastewater ponds, 33,000 gallons of ammonia, tanks full of diesel fuel, other oils and chemicals, is safe. It also tells us that in 1999, Hawthorne unit No. 5 in Kansas City, Mo., blew up."

Build it at Red Bluff, H&N 3/14/04. Regarding the COB energy plant: "Officials elected to office are supposed to represent the people that voted them in."

DMV office in Tulelake open again, H&N 3/14/04  THANK YOU Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa!!!

PRESS RELEASE: Pombo, Feinstein Introduce Tribal Forest Protection Act, 2/26/04. KBC just received this today, 3/15/04.

Alternatives to summer spill will boost salmon and Oregon's economy, The Oregonian 3/15/04. "Spending $77 million to save 24 threatened salmon is not a wise use of money."

Walden PRESS RELEASE: Walden Ascends to Chairmanship of Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health, 3/15/04
House Resource Committee
PRESS RELEASE:
Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) Named Chairman of the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health, 3/15/04

US water use has declined in the last 30 years, agency says, Congressman Doolittle's office posted to KBC 3/15/04

Inspector general absolves Bush adviser, H&N 3/14/04

Dredge the Lake, H&N 3/15/05 letter to the editor.

If Shilo talks falter, talks must go on, H&N 3/14/04 "The conveners, Jim Root of Medford and Kurt Thomas of Bakersfield, a Tulelake native, have taken hits, most recently in the government report that said their Klamath Basin Rangeland Trust overestimated the benefit of idling pastureland above Upper Klamath Lake in 2002."

Barely a dent in Klamath crisis, The Oregonian 3/15/04, Waterwatch. KBC(jdk) response: Mr Pedery, the National Academy of Science, the 'Best Available Science', said that the basin irrigators did not cause the Trinity Fish to die. History shows that the Link River used to go dry, so your "below average" accusation is from the flawed Hardy report...he who was hired by the DOJ and  BIA to go against the farmers in the adjudication--see science page on Hardy.  Furthermore, most of our water did not go down the Klamath River until after diversions were built...much of our land was under a deep lake. 

Klamath Tribes may get land back, "Interior Secretary Gale Norton said Tuesday she is considering giving Klamath Tribes back their reservation lands as part of a strategy to balance water needs in the Northwest's drought-stricken Klamath River Basin." Grants Pass AP posted to KBC 3/14/04 (this is a 2002 article.)

Story from Idaho: "Farms, businesses, cities face water cutoff --Depletion of Snake River aquifer threatens livelihoods in S. Idaho." Idaho Statesman 3/14/04.  And they are forcing Klamath Irrigators to do the same thing--pump their untested aquifer and take away their water.  KBC jdk

Ag Alert, California Farm Bureau Federation--a firsthand report from California Farmers, March 2004, by Tulelake rancher Dan Byrne.  posted to KBC 3/14/04

Bush political aide Rove didn't influence Klamath policy, AP Washington Times 3/12/04, Statesman Journal 3/13/04. Specifically, the inspector general said President Bush's top political adviser, Karl Rove, was not involved in a 2002 decision to divert water from the Klamath River in Oregon to irrigate farms" (as accused by John Kerry).
     KBC finds some huge flaws in this whole article.  First, they do not quote the 'best available science', the US most prestigious  scientists of the National Academy of Science (NAS) that said there was NO relationship between lake levels and sucker survival, and river flows and coho salmon. The NAS said that the irrigators water, the 3.4% of the Klamath River watershed, did not kill the Trinity River fish 200 miles away.
   In our 2003 coastal tour, the REAL fishermen said that they did not blame the Klamath Project for fish dying in 2002, as inferred in this article.  They made it clear that the same tribes and environmentalists were destroying their industry also, and it was not in the best interest of the fish or fishermen to obliterate irrigation..
   
"There are too many examples in this administration of politics trumping science not to be concerned," (Kerry's) statement said  The inference was farmers shouldn't have 'diverted' the water. Our basin was a deep lake, and most of the water did not go into the river until we DIVERTED it into the river so we could farm. And yes, science is still somewhat being 'trumped by politics' or we would be using the 'best available science'. Presently over 75,000 AF of water will be taken from the irrigators this year, regardless of how much moisture we get. So 'politics' are still currently driving the flawed- and agenda-driven, DOJ-commissioned Hardy 'science'  rather than the 'best available science'.  See 'science page'. Yes, politics are still alive here, but not to favor the productive irrigators as accused by Kerry.   KBC (jdk)

Who's endangered? H&N 3/12/04 "Hello-o-o-o: Am I the only one who has noticed that the quantities of water that are being released down the river are two, three even four times greater than last year?"

KWUA weekly update for March 12, 2004
* KWUA Participates in Trinity River Discussion in Sacramento
* Water Users, CDFG Director Address Sacramento Valley Irrigators Meeting
* Portland Meeting Scheduled for Klamath Basin Interests to "Restore Harmony"
* Reclamation Responds to KWUA Request for Improved Klamath River Monitoring

Rancher runs for Wyden's position, 3/12/04

Lake levels

Published March 10, 2004

Clear Lake - Clear Lake's surface elevation was estimated Monday at 4,524.79 feet above sea level, with storage at 103,510 acre-feet, down 5,040 acre-feet from a year ago.

Gerber Reservoir - The surface elevation of Gerber Reservoir was estimated Monday at 4,816.72 feet above sea level, with storage at 33,164 acre-feet, up 6,645 acre-feet from a year ago.

River flow

For daily averages of the volume of water flowing at key points in the Klamath Basin, measured in cubic feet per second:--go HERE

 

PRESS RELEASE: Renzi Welcomes Future Funding for Forest Health Projects 3/10/04

Environmental Quality program deadline nears, H&N 3/10/04

Klamath low flow misses lake target, Capital Press, 3/8/04 ("It seems God and mother nature are guilty of not meeting the 2004 biological opinions of lake levels and river flows. Fish and wildlife should not only find flexibility for the farmers and ranchers of the Klamath basin , but also for the Great Creator.  Fish and wildlife seem to be pretty selective about how they handle the bo's; .the only lack of flexibility comes when it's ag diversions"--comments by Rob Crawford.)

Competing Thirsts Squeeze Dry Western States, Environmental News Service, 3/10/04

Summer water may be short, H&N's, 3/8/04, "The Natural Resources Conservation Service today estimated the Klamath Basin ’s snowpack to be 140 percent of average for this time of year."

Klamath Basin water dilemma not really a science problem, H&N's Op/Ed, 3/8/04, by Wilma Heiney, "The sucker fish are not scarce and never were. The listing as "endangered," the economic impact statement, critical habitat, and the goals that would allow delisting were all determined inter-agency like, even though there were public meetings."

Klamath low flow misses lake target, Capital Press, 3/8/04, "Upper Klamath Lake came up about 2 inches short of making end-of-the-month elevations spelled out in a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biological opinion designed to protect two species of lake-dwelling sucker fish."

New estimate given for Barnes Ranch, H&N's, 3/7/04, "The most recent calculation comes from an appraiser hired by the Bureau of Reclamation who pegged the value of the 2,800-acre Barnes Ranch $5.9 million." For more on Barnes and Storage, go HERE

Conservation Service helps cut demand for river water, H&N's, 3/7/04, Op/Ed by Bruce I. Knight, "The conservation service is working with conservation districts and other partners in Oregon and California to provide technical and financial assistance to farmers, ranchers, and tribes to mitigate the impacts of drought on agriculture in the Klamath River Basin."

KWUA "Weekly Update" for March 5, 2004:
* Activists Push for Additional Species Listings on Klamath River
* 2001 O&M Reimbursements Distributed to Klamath Project Irrigation Districts
* KID Outlines How District Will Distribute O&M Reimbursements
* Klamath Basin Efforts Noted as Walden Receives Private Property Rights Award
* Hoopa Valley Tribe Reacts Coolly to U.S. Trinity Settlement Proposal
* ODA Offers Detailed Help on Pesticide Buffer Ruling: No Klamath Implications
* KWUA Addresses Two Water Allocation Briefs Prepared by OSU:

Group sues fisheries service over steelhead listing, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 3/4/04, "A group representing farmers in Eastern Washington and Oregon sued the National Marine Fisheries Service on Thursday, saying the agency is illegally listing Columbia River and upper Willamette River steelhead as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.  The Pacific Legal Foundation argued that when counting the fish, the fisheries service must include wild and hatchery-raised steelhead, as dictated by a federal court ruling concerning coho salmon in Oregon in 2001."

Groups push feds to protect bloodsucking lampreys, Times-Standard, 3/4/04, "A slate of environmental groups is demanding the federal government act to protect four species of eel-like bloodsucking fish known as lamprey (in the lower Klamath River).".

Interior proposes Trinity deal , H&N's, 3/4/04, "Bennett Raley, an assistant Interior secretary, was in Northern California earlier this week meeting with the parties to a court fight over flows on the Trinity."

Enviro groups cry foul, Yreka's Siskiyou Daily News, 3/4/04, "Tribes, fishermen groups and environmentalists are claiming a betrayal of trust because they say PacifiCorp's application to renew operations of Klamath River dams overlooks salmon restoration options."

Herger to face Johnson, Yreka's Siskiyou Daily News, 3/3/04, "Congressman Wally Herger ran unopposed in Tuesday's primary election and will be facing Butte County teacher Mike Johnson for the second time in November."

The checks will be in the mail, H&N's, 3/3/04, "The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Monday released more than $2.3 million for project irrigation districts to pay back customers for operation and maintenance fees paid during for the 2001 irrigation season, when the federal government shut down the project."

Mint gains foothold in Basin, H&N's, 3/3/04, "Tulelake Growers Association forms mint committee"

KWUA Response to OSU Water Allocation Briefs  2/2/04 - Brief #1: The Value of Irrigation Water Varies Enormously and Brief #2: Potential Benefits of Water Banks and Water Transfers Across the Upper Klamath Basin

State has new water standards to protect fish, Salem Statesman Journal, 3/3/04, "The change: The state now has online maps of Oregon waterways with descriptions of the optimal temperature for the survival of salmon and trout species for each tributary and time of year. The old standards used an all-encompassing 64 degrees for the endangered fish."

*U.S. Offers California (Hoopa) Tribe Water Plan to End Dispute, New York Times, 3/3/04, "Federal officials presented leaders of the Hoopa Valley Indian tribe with a proposal on Tuesday for resolving a decades-old dispute over the Trinity River, which has been a symbol of the often irreconcilable water demands of farmers and fishing communities in the West."

Burst of snow pushes precipitation above normal, H&N's, 3/2/04, "The rain and snow added up to almost an inch more precipitation than is normal for Klamath Falls in February. In all, 2.25 inches of precipitation came down during the month, 0.98 more than normal."

National Water Resources Association Interviews Pacific Legal Foundation Attorney on Recent Coho Ruling, KWUA, 3/1/04
NWRA: What could this mean for our members in the Klamath Project?
Russell Brooks:
Well, in the Klamath project it could have huge implications. Certainly the Klamath Coho listing, it provides a large basis for the water being taken away from the Klamath farmers providing the basis for a lot of the problems and struggles that they have been facing for the last four or five years. If that listing is taken away, as it should be, we expect it will be, then there is not going to be a basis for the federal government to continue shutting off water to those good people down there. As a matter of fact, we have a case before Judge Hogan right now, asking him to invalidate that Klamath Coho listing, just as he did the Oregon Coast Coho listings, simply, for the fact that it contains the same illegal flaw.

Feds to pay back water users, H&N's, 3/01/04 - "The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is set to release more than $2.3 million for Klamath Basin irrigation districts to pay back customers for operation and maintenance fees paid during the 2001 water shut off

Winter not wet enough yet, H&N's, 2/27/04, - "The lake remains about 4 inches below the end-of-February target elevation designed to keep shoreline sucker spawning habitat inundated."

Pombo Calls for Changes to Endangered Species Act, by James M. Taylor;  Environment News
March 1, 2004,  The Heartland Institute - "The Pombo legislation would add “sound science” requirements demanding peer-reviewed justification for listing new species. The new approach would also attempt to remove penalties for creating and maintaining endangered species habitat, replacing them with incentives and cooperative relations with federal agencies. His approach is being applauded by ESA analysts."

 

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