* 7/21/14 comments due Waters of the U.S. Under the Clean Water Act
* EPA set to explain water rule that has U.S. farmers riled. The American Farm Bureau Federation has come out against the proposed rule, H&N, posted to KBC 7/16/14

Proposed Rule Issued April 21, 2014  US Navigable Waters by Elaine Willman 7/17/14  Elaine Willman bio

7/18 Comments due of spotted frog critical habitat.

KBC NEWS: A property owner at Medicine Lake reported to KBC that he spotted a wolf (from a pack known to kill livestock, that wandered into California) in the Medicine Lake headquarters campground June 18th. Howls were heard in that location July 13th. 
From Fish and Wildlife on wolf at Medicine Lake 7/17/14

Medicine Lake Campground to close for tribal gathering (July 18-21), H&N, posted to KB 7/16/14. KBC NOTE: In 2003 was the first annual traditional gathering of Indians on a large scale. The H&N article does not explain that there are 4 other campgrounds open to the public that weekend. HERE for Medicine Lake page

SPRAGUE RIVER - No time to spare. Fast-moving fire outruns Moccasin Hill residents, H&N 7/16/14. "Six homes and 14 other structures were destroyed on Sunday alone..."

Ongoing California drought wreaks significant economic damage. Crop, job losses take heavy toll on state, H&N 7/16/14.

Dorris - Running from drought, dry conditions force wild horses onto private land, H&N, posted to KBC 7/16/14

Oregon Caves bill goes to U.S. House. U.S. Senate passes measure unanimously on Wednesday, H&N, posted to KBC 7/16/14. "The Congress is again considering legislation to expand the Oregon Caves National Monument nearly tenfold....Logging and other operations allowed on Forest Service lands are banned on Park Service holding..."

State reaps most timber since 2006. Logging harvest intake tops 4 billion board feet, H&N 7/16/14.  "Oregon’s timber harvest topped 4 billion board feet last year...Oregon’s timber harvest was 9.74 billion board feet in 1972... Volume plunged in the 1990s as environmental issues led to cutbacks in logging on federal lands."

6/24+25 meetings Klamath On Project plan. Comments due July 15

Plan stalls: PacifiCorp fee halts talks. Power transition for local irrigators at standstill, H&N, posted to KBC 7/3/14.
* "I think you guys are taking a windfall off the irrigators’ backs,” said board member Gary Wright."
* "The fee could mean a 2- to 3-cent per kilowatt increase for Basin farmers, according to Dean Brockbank, vice president and general counsel of PacifiCorp." "
* "Cannon (KWAPA director) said he estimates that for every penny the power rate goes up, PacifiCorp collects an additional $1.3 million. Since 2006, PacifiCorp has taken an extra $13 million per year out of the Basin, he said."
* " 'It’s a giant crapshoot. I think a lot more of this information should have been brought forward in good faith a long, long time ago,' (Matt) Walter (Upper Klamath Water Users Association leader)said."
* "The federal power program is part of the 2010 Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement and the Klamath Basin Hydroelectric Settlement. The agreements seek to establish reliable water supplies and affordable power rates for irrigators, restore fish habitat, help the Klamath Tribes acquire the 92,000-acre Mazama Tree Farm and remove four dams on the Klamath River.

BOR reduces Iron Gate Dam flows, H&N 7/3/14

Wolves worry ranchers. Wolf population increases by one third statewide, H&N 7/3/14. "If you see a wolf kill your livestock you can’t take any lethal means against it.”

CFBF Friday Legislative Review 7/3/14. "Efforts by the Assembly Leadership to put forward a measure modifying provisions of the $11.14 billion Safe, Clean, and Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act currently scheduled to go before California voters this November have again stalled."

In dry California, water fetching record prices, Capital Press 7/2/14. "...growers would ultimately pay $775 to $980 an acre-foot.."

KWAPA public board meeting Agenda July 1, 2014. Discussion with PacifiCorp, Groundwater, well monitoring, On Project Plan, ....

Letter from disillusioned Upper Klamath Water Users Association leader and KBRA/KHSA proponent regarding PacifiCorp and KBRA, 7/1/14. "I do not believe PC has bargained in good faith as implied in the KHSA. We have been working on the federal power delivery concept (Interconnect Study) for more then 4 years. We have spent 1000's of man hours and 100k"s of tax payer dollars to get to where we are today. The conclusion of 3/4 to 1 cent benefit which in the words of the consultant "is in the margin of error" is a poor result for all the work...."

PacifiCorp responds to KWAPA/Klamath Water and Power questions regarding KBRA-promised power rates, transitioning to federal power, consequences if people leave PacifiCorp,  6/26/14. "...Responses to specific KWAPA questions: 1. What is the cost for an irrigator to leave PAC energy? Answer: PacifiCorp does not intend to propose an exit fee for an irrigator to leave PAC energy.  However, the OPUC and other customers will be concerned about shifting costs to other Oregon customers as a result of irrigators moving to federal power.  As discussed above, the OPUC may impose a transition charge on irrigator loads switching to federal power.  This transition charge could be as high as 6-8 cents/kwh...."