* Land for Klamath Tribes identified. Klamath Tribes, Forest Service agree on parcel to replace loss of forest, H&N 5/30/15. *Reliable water the reason Klamath Project was built by Dan Keppen, former KWUA director, H&N 12/15/03. "The community should be assured that any sort of proposed settlement can never be implemented without congressional action, which will require a great degree of local and regional support. There is simply no chance of a "secret deal" being cut on this matter." *Negotiations regarding Tribes, Klamath Water Users, Klamath Basin Rangeland Trust, and DOI: 2003-2007, closed-door meetings where the Klamath Tribes want 690,000 acres of the Winema/Fremont National Forest returned to them again. *FOREST TOUR HOSTED BY THE KLAMATH TRIBES This is a complete transcript taken from videotape. This day-long tour was conducted October 17, 2003 for the purpose of showing to local farmers, ranchers, businessmen, and the Klamath County Commissioners, tribal biology and the proposed forest land acquisition. Some of the topics include sucker habitat, tribal traditions, thinning brush, deer-take practices, power plants, gentlemen farmers, and termination. Some of the topics include sucker habitat, tribal traditions, thinning brush, deer-take practices, power plants, gentlemen farmers, and termination.

5/31/15 - 1st John 1:1-4 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life - the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which with the Father, and was manifested to us - that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. - Sent from Frank Tallerico

*Hundreds of cormorants shot to protect Columbia salmon, H&N 5/29/15
*Oregon Senator Doug Whitsett 6/13/13 Newsletter: Thousands of fish-eating Cormorants eating baby suckers? "What is NOT commonly known is that the second largest nesting colony of Double Crested Cormorants in the Western United States and Canada is located on Upper Klamath Lake. There may be as many as six thousand breeding pairs of these birds reproducing in the Upper Klamath Basin...When will the biologists look to see if the immense population of Double Crested Cormorants living in the Upper Klamath Basin may be simply eating the young endangered suckers?"

California Farm Bureau Federation Friday Legislative Review of Bills and Laws, CFBF 5/29/15. Some bills include minimum wage to $11 next year, adjudication of ground water, fire fee, farm tax credit for donations, State Water Resources Control Board has a Budget Change Proposal (BCP) in the budget that would establish 16 new permanent positions at a cost of $7.8 million annually.

California farm economy surprisingly resilient amid drought, SacBee, posted to KBC 5/31/15. "An estimated 800,000-plus acres will sit idle this year"

Senator Whitsett's help to Klamath Basin irrigators Senate Bill 206-A, posted to KBC 5/31/15

Preservation plan unveiled for sage grouse. Proposal could affect 10 states, oil and natural gas development, H&N 5/29/15 followed by Interior proposes land controls to preserve Nevada sage grouse, Las Vegas Review Journal. “The economic impact of sage-grouse restrictions on just the oil and natural gas industry will be between 9,170 and 18,250 jobs and $2.4 billion to $4.8 billion of annual economic impact across Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming,”..."Department of Interior is updating management plans covering 165 million acres — an area the size of Texas — in consideration of the sage grouse"

5/17/15 1st Corinthians 7:20-24 "Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. Were you called while a slave?  Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather us it. For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ's slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called." Sent by Frank Tallerico

Public Comment due 5/28/15 on non-Project water conveyance

Tracking suckers in drought proves to be a tricky task. Spawning data hard to come by in low water, H&N 5/21/15. "75 Clear Lake suckers received telemetry tags, more than 10,000 have been fitted with another type of tag..."  KBC NOTE: Clear Lake was historically a meadow. When Reclamation rerouted water to create farmland, they put water in the meadow to evaporate. Our government has made it into a bird refuge with a mandate of how many suckers must exist, thus restricting stored water use for farms.

California waterboard curtailment notices

In Central California - Calif. salmon get truck rides and more during drought; Fish taxi service in place to make sure young salmon survive the trip to the ocean, H&N 5/17/15.
In Klamath Basin - Water deliveries devastated. Allocations slashed to less than half of average annual use, H&N, posted to KBC 5/17/15. "... 11 out of 15 Project irrigation districts that take water from the Klamath system are already shut down and unable to receive water...National Marine Fisheries Service has overspent their environmental water account, which is affecting the Klamath Project irrigators in a negative way,” Addington said. “There’s no consequence for them not managing the water properly.”
In Stanislaus River - "Last week, per order of your federal government, the California Bureau of Reclamation ordered the release of 15,000 acre-feet of water into the Stanislaus River. That comes to 4.8 billion gallons, enough water to supply 178,301 Californians for a year...Six fish needed saving. Not six species of fish; a total of six fish..."

"Modeling program on wells done by OWRD (Oregon Water Resource Department) is majorly flawed," Klamath County Commissioner Tom Mallams 5/17/15. "This is the same model that "claims" all the upper basin wells are also connected to surface water...At the March 23rd Senate Hearing in Salem, on Senate Bill 206 & 264, OWRD and Richard Whitman, Policy Director for Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber’s Natural Resources Office, admitted under questioning from Senator Doug Whitsett that they "hoped" their accuracy rate on this modeling program could be 50%..." KBC NOTE: Whitman is a major player of supporting the Klamath Dam Removal Agreements.
Geosyntec consultants City of Klamath Falls review of OWRD model for Frement and Wocus wells, and the Congor well field 5/4/15
Geosyntec Executive Summary 4/6/2015. "OWRD requested shutoff of two city wells...The OWRD model is flawed for municipal use for several reasons..."

NEWS RELEASE - Reclamation Releases Draft Environmental Documents for Proposed Excess Capacity Contracts for Conveyance of Non-Klamath Project Water 5/14/15
* PUBLIC COMMENT due 5/28/15
LINK Reclamation proposes to enter into contracts with the Klamath Irrigation District, Tulelake Irrigation District, and Langell Valley Irrigation for the use of excess capacity in Klamath Project facilities for storage and conveyance of “Non-Project” water acquired or obtained for private use during the spring-summer irrigation season for a five-year period, from 2015 through 2019.
* Draft FONSI/Finding of No Significant Impact EPA report - KBC
* Draft Environmental Assessment of 5 year contract of water storage and conveyance of non-Project water in Klamath Project for 2015-2019

* Klamath County Commissioners RESOLUTION TO DELIST GRAY WOLVES UNDER THE OREGON ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT, posted to KBC 5/17/15
* Klamath officials - Delist gray wolf in Oregon: Commissioner Tom Mallams taking endorsement to Salem, H&N, posted to KBC 5/17/15. "The Oregon Wolf Conservation Management Plan requires a minimum of four breeding pairs of wolves for three consecutive years in Eastern Oregon for the animals to be considered for state delisting.   In 2014 there were eight breeding pairs in nine packs, and 77 known wolves in Oregon"
* New lone wolf tracked into Oregon, H&N, posted to KBC 5/17/15. "He was the first wolf known in that part of the U.S. for many decades. A mate somehow turned up for OR-7 in southern Oregon, and they now have three pups from last year."

Nelle Takacs 1907-2015, Tulelake. Nelle came to the Klamath Basin by covered wagon in 2010 when she was 3. She speaks in 'Homesteading in a Promised Land' DVD. Posted to KBC 5/17/15

Congress tries to rein in EPA ‘waters’ proposal, CFBF, posted to KBC  5/6/15. "The Senate version also directs agencies to issue a revised rule that does not include features such as isolated ponds, ditches, agricultural water, stormwater, groundwater, floodwater, municipal water supply systems, wastewater management systems, and streams without enough flow to carry pollutants to navigable waters...the Obama administration reinforced its support for the proposed rule."

California Farm Bureau Federation Friday Legislative Review, posted to KBC 5/17/15. $Millions and $billions more spending: water, groundwater, $380 million to low income workers, Undocumented healthcare would be funded at $67 million, to grow to 200$ million in 2016-17...more

Governor signs bill expanding gun background checks; Oregon law requires background checks for firearm transfers between private parties, H&N, posted to KBC 5/17/15. Related article and video: Oregon Representative Gail Whitsett short video on the proposed background checks for guns..what could land you in prison for decades, with hundreds of thousands $'s fines, posted to KBC 5/7/15
OREGON - Legislature passes expanded background checks for guns. Measure heads to Gov. Brown for final approval, H&N, posted to KBC 5/7/15.

Colossians 2:1-5 - "For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ in which are hidden all treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.  For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and steadfastness of faith in Christ."

Irrigators asked to scale back usage. Shutoffs could start on June 1 if water draws continue, H&N, posted to KBC 5/7/15

Oregon Representative Gail Whitsett short video on the proposed background checks for guns..what could land you in prison for decades, with hundreds of thousands $'s fines, posted to KBC 5/7/15
OREGON - Legislature passes expanded background checks for guns. Measure heads to Gov. Brown for final approval, H&N, posted to KBC 5/7/15. "... the bill would trample Second Amendment rights or would make criminals of gun owners who choose not to get a background check every time they hand over a gun to a friend or neighbor. The seller of a gun would face a misdemeanor for a first offense, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $6,250 fine. A second offense would be a felony, with a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine" 

5/7/15***18 minute VIDEO - Tribal law expert Elaine Willman on water compact: Federal Agencies Have Gone Rogue  Here for her biography Of Cherokee descent, she traveled to many reservations then wrote a book about tribalism, The Dismantling of the United States of America. She has been involved in many bills and Supreme Court decisions that have proved many water compacts and agreements to be illegal. "...the priority is to grab illegally off reservation in stream flows and control all the waters...using the hoax of aboriginal rights and time immemorial grabbing off-reservation waters, and they will be the primary purpose of the compact. ...uping the in stream flows, reducing the irrigation waters and playing holy hell with stock water for cattlemen. That's the theme. ..It breaks my heart that legislators would legitimize what is not legitimate, and that is aboriginal rights and time immemorial. "1981 - Montana vs U.S. Supreme Court ruling, ruled that a tribal government may not govern a non tribal person or a nontribal parcel..."

Klamath Tribes quest for Winema Fremont National Forest that they previously sold; they voted to sell their land, and voted for termination. Here are the payments in actual dollars and more recent dollars they were paid.

(Klamath) Tribes look at forest land transfer. Returning tribal land could help move water pact forward, H&N, posted to KBC 5/7/15. So what's the deal according to the Tribes?, by KBC editor 12/15/03. KBC Note: in 2003 the Klamath Tribes, KWUA/Klamath Water Users Association, KBRT/Klamath Basin Rangeland Trust, and Department of Interior were negotiating a land for water deal with the Klamath Tribes who wanted the Winema Fremont National Forest. Dan Keppen was former KWUA director during the 2003 negotiations. He is presently Family Farm Alliance Executive Director and works for KWUA. Chrysten Lambert, Appointee for Federal Representative, Klamath River Compact Commission, is the Klamath Basin Rangeland Trust’s (KBRT) Director of Water Transactions, and was former Executive Director from 2001-2003.. Lambert was Director of Procurement and Planning from 2007 to 2010 and the Global Sourcing Manager for the Sabroso Company.  She served as a Geomorphologist with the Pacific Groundwater Group. Department of the Interior is still involved and supportive of the controversial KBRA / Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement. Interior fired Dr. Paul Houser, hydrometeorologist, and expert scientist on "Scientific Integrity." He was the highest level scientist in the Bureau of Reclamation, and the only scientist in the D.C. office. Houser was fired for exposing the Secretary of Interior's "intentional falsification," "bias," and  "predetermined intention" to destroy the Klamath dams.    What stopped the closed-door negotiation deal of land return to the tribes in 2003? Thousands of local citizens sent letters and petitions to their reps opposing giving the Klamath Tribes land they previously sold. Their elected officials listened. Go to Negotiations Page and scroll down to read dozens of letters and articles regarding the former attempt to convince the community and reps that trading land for claimed water was a bad deal. Constitution of the Klamath Tribes FOREST TOUR HOSTED BY THE KLAMATH TRIBES This is a complete transcript taken from videotape. This day-long tour was conducted October 17, 2003 for the purpose of showing to local farmers, ranchers, businessmen, and the Klamath County Commissioners, tribal biology and the proposed forest land acquisition. Klamath Tribe document of intensions -  putting land into tax-exempt trust, ...intends to "buy back private lands....and secure funding for purchasing retired water rights, conservation easements...assert tribes senior water rights...expand gaming...exchange for federal lands..." as presented in the early closed-door planning meetings of the KBRA.

70th anniversary of Bly (Oregon) bombing recalled. Picnic outing turns deadly when Japanese bomb discovered, followed by Ceremony marks 70th anniversary of WWII deaths, H&N 5/6/15. "The killings were caused by a Japanese balloon bomb. About 9,000 hydrogen-filled balloons carrying 30,000 bombs were launched from Honshu, Japan, during a five-month period that ended in April 1945."
HERE for 2015 Japanese demand for Tulelake land page.

Washington ranchers wary of (sage) grouse agreement, Capital Press 5/5/15. "Creston, Wash., rancher Dawn Nelson says she would have to reduce her herd of more than 120 by roughly half if she were to sign up...They say it’s voluntary to sign up, but if you don’t sign up and you happen to have a bird die on your place or an accidental take, they can come back and sue you,' Nelson said."

$4 million for wildfire strategy -Sage Grouse Habitat , H&N, posted to KBC 5/7/15.
Feds spend $236M to help landowners protect grouse, H&N 5/1/14.

(Columbia-Snake River) Irrigator group sues Bureau of Reclamation, Capital Press, posted to KBC 5/7/15. "...the agency “arbitrarily delayed and blocked” a new water service contract for a privately funded $42 million pipeline to deliver surface water east from the East Low Canal to roughly 14,000 acres of farmland..."