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 Our Klamath Basin Water Crisis
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Archive 62 - July 2007
also  see main archive page

Around 1900, Link River, between Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna, occasionally went dry before the Klamath Project was built. There was no hydropower, no hatcheries, occasionally no fish (fish need water), no artificially-raised river flows or lake levels.  HERE for more

Wolf Ideologues & Responsibility, 7/30/07 by Jim Beers, retired FWS biologist. "On 8 November 2005 Kenton Carnegie a 22 year-old college student from Ontario was working at a mine in northern Saskatchewan when he went for a walk. Hours later his body was found at the edge of a lake in snow covered with wolf tracks. He had been chased and knocked down several times before he was killed and worse."  HERE for Wolf Page.

These lakes could be toxic. Water board posts warning signs around Copco, Iron Gate; CDC, Karuk to study water, blood samples, Pioneer Press, posted 8/2/07

No secrets, Pioneer Press, posted 8/2/07. Water quality control board had secret tour/meeting with Karuk Tribe, Klamath Forest Alliance subgroup Riverkeeper, and kicked out the press.

{KBC COMMENT: After the following hearing, dozens of green media reporters did not mention the statements of Dr William Lewis, National Academy of Science Committee Chairman, during the 2002 fish die-off review, yet the democrats and the press are determined to nail Cheney regardless of the fact Lewis said the NAS science by the top scientists was not influenced by politics. We will spare you the drivel.}

Cheney did not manipulate science to kill fish in 2002 on the Klamath, by KBC 7/31/07. Today we listened to some of the 'Cheney-killed-Klamath River fish-in-2002' Congressional hearing in D.C. instigated by Democrats against the Vice President. Mary Kendall, Deputy Inspector General,  Department of the Interior, said regarding Senator Kerry's request in 2003 for fish die-off investigation, the IGO found no political influence or pressure in their '03 investigation, and she stands by their 2004 letter to Kerry. She said there has been no information submitted to the IGO that would change her mind from the '04 letter denying any political influence.
   Dr. William M. Lewis, former chairman of the Committee on Endangered and Threatened Fishes in the Klamath River Basin (National Research Council National Academy of Sciences), and professor of environmental science, said in 2001 the Bureau of Reclamation questioned the validity of shutting off all the irrigation water to the Klamath Project and requested the NAS peer review the science. Contrary to the democrats' accusations, Lewis said the NAS deals with "science and technology, not policy and politics." He said the committee is comprised of scientists screened for their objectivity, the committee must all agree on the final report, and it must pass scrutiny of several peer reviewers and overseers. There was no political influence. The committee found that agencies did not take actions on the rest of the Klamath River, but focused totally on the Klamath Project. He said there is no scientific basis for operation of the River based on minimum flows, and said the agencies made their own plan regardless of the NAS findings; the agencies acquired 100,000 AF water and did more conservation contrary to what earlier data called for. "Agencies are not required to take our advice; they took some and not the rest."
   Lewis said the 2002 fish mortality was at the mouth of the Klamath river, and 33,000 chinook salmon died from a run of 170,000 fish, 99% being chinook. It was a year of "low flows in the grips of drought." He said until '98 there had been five previous droughts with no salmon mortality, and some flows were  lower than in '02. He said the committee found it unlikely the Klamath Project caused the die-off. There has been no change in Project operations since 1909. The Project is 185 miles from the mortality, and the Project accounts for only up to 10% of the water at the mouth of the river. It was a drought, salmon waited for a signal to go upstream, disease overtook them and killed a portion of them. Warm Project water would not have helped them . They found the 2001 water shutoff to the Klamath Project unjustified because agencies made decisions that went against data. Agencies made and enforced  opinions.
   Some of the democrats insisted that more hot water would have helped the fish and surely, in spite of testimony by the IGO and Lewis to the contrary, they insisted Cheeny manipulated science which killed the fish, because they said Bush administration is bad for the environment and fish.
   Oregon Congressman Walden said in '93 suckers became endangered because of the Chiloquin dam and prior administrations did nothing to help. Bush administration put in multimillion $ fish screen on A Canal saving baby suckers, promoted removing Chiloquin which blocks 90% of sucker habitat, made a waterbank and provided euip funds for hundreds of conservation projects, putting over $90 million into Klamath Basin environment and ecosystem.
  So, according to the Chairman of the highest esteemed science committee in America, and the Inspector General's office, Vice President Cheney did not manipulate science to kill fish in the Klamath River in 2002.
HERE for 2002 Fish Die-off Page

Investigators not told about Cheney contact, official says, Capital Press 7/31/07

Non-tribal Klamath mid-basin left out of Settlement Group, by Marcia Armstrong, Siskiyou County Supervisor District 5, posted to KBC 8/1/07

Suckers show sign of recovery, H&N, posted to KBC 8/1/07. "(Tribal Chairman Joe Kirk) was disappointed the decision came while the Tribes and other Klamath Basin stakeholders are working to resolve Klamath River issues, including the future of four hydroelectric dams, coastal fisheries and irrigation and tribal needs. 'To have something of this importance dropped on us without consultation while we are trying to settle Basin resource issues is a disservice to everyone,' Kirk said." (KBC Question?? Since irrigators have done numerous conservation and habitat projects to make more suckers for the Tribes who want to restore their sucker fisheries and sucker diet, why aren't they rejoicing? Are there things in the secret settlement that would be affected by thriving suckers?)

Klamath Lake Levels and River Flows, July 23-30, 2007 Herald and News.
Bureau of Reclamation Water fact sheet, posted to KBC 8/1/07

Chapter closed, H&N  posted 8/1/07. "Radical Environmentalism Failed."

                            LINK AVAILABLE
****July 31 House Natural Resources Hearing Info Packet Includes:

Following is outline of contents of the Top link:
  • Event Timeline
  • Settlement Group
  • National Academy of Science Report
  • Inspector General Responds to Senator Kerry
  • Conservation Efforts
  • 2002 Fish Die-Off

Background Documents

  • Letter – Senator John Kerry asking Department of the Interior Inspector General Earl Devaney to investigate political influence in the Klamath water crisis (August 6, 2003)
  • Letter – Response from Inspector General Devaney addressing Senator John Kerry’s concerns (March 1, 2004)
  • Summary – 2003 National Academy of Sciences final report on the situation in the Klamath Basin
  • Testimony before the Natural Resources Committee – Dr. William M. Lewis, former chairman of the Committee on Endangered and Threatened Fishes in the Klamath River Basin (National Research Council National Academy of Sciences), and professor of environmental science (July 31, 2007)

Letters of Support

  • Klamath Settlement Group Press Release (July 24, 2007)
  • Agriculture Community Alliance (July 26, 2007)
  • Klamath Project Farmers-Coastal Fisherman Alliance (July 25, 2007)
  • Washington Farm Bureau (July 25, 2007)

Some key points regarding Cheney hearing that Congressman Walden, Oregon, thought important to highlight and a list of witnesses testifying, July 30, 2007

Gold or fish? Battle brews on California rivers  FOLLOWED BY: Miners say bill that would limit dredging to protect native trout and other species goes overboard, Sacramento Bee, posted 7/31/07. HERE for mining page.

Senator amends bill addressing Klamath Basin dam issues, Eureka Reporter, posted to KBC 7/31/07

Klamath River hearing won’t help settlement group’s efforts, Congressman Greg Walden, H&N, posted 7/30/07

Water hearing stirs up debate, H&N, posted to KBC 7/30/07

Water ignored and vulnerable, Capital Press editorial, posted to KBC 7/30/07

Family Farm Alliance July Update.

Letter by farmer coalition in support of Klamath Project irrigators was sent to the chairman and ranking member of the House Natural Resource Committee yesterday. Three dozen organizations from nine different states showed their support for Klamath Project irrigators. The committee it was sent to will be conducting the upcoming oversight hearing regarding Klamath and the Bush Administration.7/27/07
Letter of support of Klamath resource users by Washington Farm Bureau, representing 35,000 member families, 7/27/07

Ruling a blow to salvage logging, H&N, posted to KBC 7/27/07. (KBC note: it's a sad sad day as those such as George Sexton would destroy the American infrastructure, towns, economies, people, for the agenda of an untouched earth. Oregon won't allow timber harvest when the trees, and little owls and bambies, are already dead and burnt. Congratulations George.) See Forest Page for more.

Today's California Farm Bureau Friday Review is an update on California's budget negotiations.  This edition also includes updates on several bills on the subject of renewable energy generation.

FWS completes status review for Klamath sucker populations, 7/27/07

Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA) Statement on Klamath Sucker Status Review, posted 7/27/07

COOL and NAIS explanation in Farm Bill: This was sent to KBC from Congressman Walden's office 7/27/07

The silent summer; When farms and refuges work together the animals are the ones who benefit, by Lance Waldren, Pioneer Press July 25, 2007

GOP stages mutiny on farm bill after Dems reveal offset plan, E&E Daily, posted 7/27/27, with forward by Family Farm Alliance director Dan Keppen.

"Gimme a Break" from Karuk Tribe spokesman Craig Tucker to KBC, posted to KBC 7/25/07
 Response to 'Gimme a Break" from KBC to Karuk Spokesman Craig Tucker, 7/25/07

What caused salmon deaths, by Barry Clausen, rerun in the Pioneer Press July 2007. (Note from author: "I spent three weeks on this story. The Washington Post story on this issue and their criticism of VP Cheney is so inaccurate IT IS PATHETIC.") This and related articles are on our Fish Die-off page.

Klamath River Settlement Takes Shape, USFWS and DOI News Release, posted 7/25/07. "

Timber fight pits judge vs. judges, 9th U.S. Circuit - Sen. Smith's brother blasts decisions, then faces blowback, Oregonian 7/25/07. "In an unusually blunt and wide-ranging opinion on a lawsuit over a small Idaho timber sale, Milan D. Smith Jr. blamed his own court for taking the law too far and causing much of "the decimation of the logging industry in the Pacific Northwest" and the loss of legions of timber jobs."

* Water Quality meeting, Yreka 7/25, "Several local residents are encouraging fellow Siskiyou County residents to attend the meeting to discuss one proposed resolution in particular, authored by Klamath River Basin resident Felice Pace."

Tulelake Irrigation District well water pumping 7/24/07
TID groundwater levels 7/24/07

House passes Walden's water bill, posted 7/25/07. (KBC NOTE: In the Wallowa bill, federal funds to fix this private dam would entail giving all control of the dam to the Umatilla Tribe from Idaho who never lived at Wallowa Lake. Many community farmers were against this bill. When they realized the consequences of this bill they had KBC go to their spring symposium to inform them what lies in store with tribal control. We'll keep you posted.)

NOAA indicators show improving ocean conditions for salmon, CBBulletin, posted to KBC 7/24/07.
 This year's early zooplankton arrival bodes well for salmon, CBBulletin, posted to KBC 7/24/07

Long Lake part of the answer to water problems, H&N 7/23/07

State lawmakers voice frustration, H&N, posted to KBC 7/23/07. "...Democrats pushed a new ballot measure onto the coming November ballot, Ballot Measure 49, which would eliminate 85 percent of the law as it is now, stripping private property rights."

House Agriculture Committee Unanimously Passes Groundbreaking Farm Bill, Congressman Walden, posted to KBC 7/23/07

Reasons to oppose Clean Water Restoration Act, HR 2421, 7/23/07 Oregon Women for Agriculture

‘Science’ again trumps sense, Albany Democrat-Herald, posted to KBC 7/23/07. "In the case of Oregon coastal coho salmon, we’ve had another case of judicial interference with good sense and the political process on the grounds of, supposedly, “science” as required by the Endangered Species Act. FISHERMAN COMMENT: "In my experience, I've seen a steady upswing in Coho numbers for the past few years, and it's been the direct result of coordinated (not pure scientific) Oregon efforts. (volunteer stream enhancement projects, hatchboxes, etc.) Last week off Charleston, I caught and released over 50 fat ones."
(KBC COMMENT: Is it a surprise that Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen, environmental group representing some California fishermen, sued against delisting coho, thus harming the fishermen. They've sued the Klamath Project so our power rate would increase 2400%. They sued to shut down coastal fishing seasons in the summer of 2006, decimating their livelihoods.)

USGS 7/23/07, "Wildland fires in the western United States are wreaking havoc on the people, plants and wildlife in their way. As of July 13, more than 50 thousand fires had burned 2,832,759 acres in 2007.  This area burned is 20 percent more than the 10-year average (1997-2007) for the same date. For details, go to the National Interagency Fire Center Web site http://www.nifc.gov/fire_info/nfn.htm)."

Bill To Extend U.S. Assistance for Dwindling Asian Elephant Population Approved By U.S. House, House Resources Committee 7/23/07. "H. R. 465 will extend the ability of the Secretary of the Interior to make conservation grants at the existing level of up to $5 million per year until September 30, 2012. Since its enactment into law, Congress has appropriated $8.3 million in federal funds..." More on Endangered Species expenditures HERE.

Property-Rights Showdown, Measure 37, posted to KBC 7/23/07

Die-off continues to be controversial, Pioneer Press, posted to KBC 7/20/07

California Farm Bureau Federation Friday Review 7/20/07

Blue-green algae concerns on water board agenda, Siskiyou Daily News, posted 7/20/07. "(Felice) Pace is requesting the Water Board to order the Montague Irrigation District, operator of Dwinnell Reservoir, “to submit a report of waste discharge and/or to issue waste discharge requirements.”

Judge: Flawed science used in coho no-list decision, Capital Press, posted to KBC 7/20/07

Testimony of Marcia Armstrong, Siskiyou County Supervisor before the California Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water, posted to KBC 7/20/07. "...various studies have shown that suction dredge mining has a negligible effect on fisheries and can have a positive rehabilitative effect in the restoration of spawning gravels. The Board of Supervisors would also like to bring to your attention the importance of suction dredge mining to micro-economies such as the Klamath River corridor and the certain devastating impacts that A.B. 1032 could have on a very economically fragile and depressed area of California "

Counts predict big year for little salmon, Oregonian 7/20/07

Pacific Northwest Wildlife Agencies Will Share $2.5 Million in Grants To Conserve At-Risk Species Grants will fund projects on private lands, FWS posted 7/20/07

Salmon die-off discovered on Oregon's John Day River, Oregonian 7/20/07. (KBC Note: if these fish had died in the Klamath, and if all went as usual, drums would be drumming, enviro (and PCFFA) lawsuits would be flourishing, politicians holding hearings to blame Bush, and the media would be especially focused on downsizing the Klamath Project irrigation. Here we go, the perfect example, temperature's rising and Yurok Tribe blasts Klamath Irrigators and want more flows (stored irrigation water,) which, by the way, is more HOT water > Stick game: Is the Klamath River headed for disaster, again? North Coast Journal posted 7/20/07

NOAA: Pacific Coast – Recovery Plan for Klamath River Coho Salmon Available Online, posted to KBC 7/20/07

Klamath-Cheney tale is all fiction, Register Guard 7/20/07, By Dan Keppen, Family Farm Alliance, and Todd Kelstrem, Klamath Falls Mayor.

Shasta River conservation programs  moving ahead, Mt Shasta News 7/20/07

Hospice to celebrate 25th anniversary, Friday July 21. Congressman Greg Walden and State Sen. Doug Whitsett will be among the special guests.

Important Water Quality Control Board Meeting in Yreka!, by Marcia Armstrong, Siskiyou Co. Supervisor, posted 7/19/07, followed by news on Detrimental Mining Bill. "There have been several unsuccessful lawsuits by the Karuk tribe and others to halt suction dredge mining in the Klamath River and its tributaries..AB 1032 was introduced to change the law legislatively and shift the burden of environmental impact analysis onto the backs of individual miners."

Want to be a Miner for Fish First? Fish First, posted to KBC 7/19/07. (Note from a Klamath River miner: "Looks like the Green movement in the USFS is alive and well and are trying to create another road block for gold recovery in our US streams by filing (false claims).  There was a study done that we should provide to Fish First showing the best fishing streams are those that have hard pack gravels loosened for spawning beds using our method of gold recovery. Someone would monitor and detect these claims when filed, and then bring an action against the perpetrators for conspiracy to defraud the government with false claims")

Stop the Myth-Making: Now’s the Time to Focus on the Positive, by Dan Keppen, Executive Director Family Farm Alliance, posted to KBC July 19, 2007, for Siskiyou Daily News. "Disease, warm water, and crowded conditions were contributing factors to the (2002 fish) die-off...A final report released by the National Research Council (NRC) also failed to find a link between the die-off and Project operations. These slightly important facts are consistently and conveniently ignored by outside anti-farming organizations and their messengers in large urban newspapers."

Top 10 taxpayers in Klamath County, H&N, posted 7/19/07. In 2006 "(PacifiCorp) paid $1,380,564.49 in taxes for its property in the county."

Idaho Water Leader to Testify on Clean Water Act, Semanko will represent Western water users at committee hearing, Family Farm Alliance 7/18/07. “The CWRA will extend jurisdiction to virtually all agricultural irrigation facilities, subjecting them to water quality standards the facilities were not designed for and are not operated to support,” said Dan Keppen, Alliance executive director. “Such a jurisdictional extension will paralyze the ability of water users to efficiently operate and maintain these facilities.” Semanko's Testimony

Weekly Water Report, Bureau of Reclamation for Herald and News, 7/9-7/16/07

Tulelake Irrigation District wells, 7/11 - 7/17/07
TID well water levels 7/17/07

Judge: Federal agency used flawed data in Ore. coho decision, The Oregonian, posted to KBC 7/18/07

Eminent domain continues to rear its ugly head, 7/18/07, SF Chronicle