KBC KWUA weekly update 071004

Klamath Water Users Association
2455 Patterson Street, Suite 3
Klamath Falls, Oregon 97603
Phone (541) 883-6100
FAX (541) 883-8893
kwua@cvcwireless.net

Weekly Update
July 9, 2004

Congressional Field Hearing Looking for Constructive Ways to Help Fish, Farmers

In the agricultural heart of the Klamath Basin, a congressional field hearing is planned for July 17^th that will address a National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report that could act as a blueprint for change in the Klamath River watershed. The House Resources Committee will hold a field hearing in Klamath Falls, Oregon on the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The hearing, to be held at 9:00 a.m. on July 17 at the Ross Ragland Theater in downtown Klamath Falls, will cover the ESA's impact on the Klamath Project, one of the nation's oldest federal irrigation projects.

A recent report completed by the NAS National Research Council (NRC) on Klamath River fishes will also be addressed at the hearing. Local community leaders are preparing for this important event, and are organizing a pre-hearing rally in Klamath Falls.

"This field hearing is the first meaningful look at making constructive changes to the Endangered Species Act," said Rob Crawford, who farms near Tulelake, California. "The conscience of America knows it is time to begin cooperative approaches."

The Klamath Project was the subject of international coverage in 2001 when ESA regulations protecting sucker fish and coho salmon forced the bulk of the project to virtually shut down its water delivery system for almost the entire growing season. Local business leaders estimate that the termination of water deliveries in 2001 inflicted $200 million worth of economic damage on the Klamath Basin community.

Congressional Field Hearing Looking for Constructive Ways to Help (Cont’d)

"A lot of hard working people were damaged by ESA-driven decisions in 2001," said Randy Shaw, a Klamath Falls realtor and former logger. "The draconian implementation of the ESA came within a whisper of killing our community."

Although federal and state efforts have focused on resolving the situation, the Klamath project was nearly shut down last summer because of ESA requirements. Klamath irrigators face another dry summer this year, prompting many worries of another devastating irrigation water cut-off.

"The tribes, the farmers, the environmentalists - everyone’s unhappy. Current application of the ESA doesn’t work," said Tracey Liskey, who farms near Lower Klamath Lake. "This is ridiculous."

Meanwhile, an NRC Report last year questioned some of the underlying endangered species science behind the 2001 shut down. More importantly, it recommends a watershed-wide approach to solving the fishery challenges of the 10.5 million acre river basin.

"The upcoming field hearing will provide a great forum to focus the spotlight on preventing another injustice like the one that occurred in 2001 in the Klamath Basin," said Dan Keppen, Executive Director of the Klamath Water Users Association.

"Constructive approaches can be taken to move in a new direction, and the road map that can take us there is the NRC report," said Keppen.

A pre-hearing march and rally are scheduled to begin at 7:00 a.m. on July 17^th

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Klamath Water Users Association
2455 Patterson Street, Suite 3
Klamath Falls, Oregon 97603
Phone (541) 883-6100
FAX (541) 883-8893
kwua@cvcwireless.net

Weekly Update
July 9, 2004

March Through Klamath Falls and Rally Scheduled Before Field Hearing

Local community leaders are organizing a pre-hearing rally in Klamath Falls that will begin with an early morning march through the streets of the city. Several logging, recreation, and agricultural groups are involved with putting this together. The procession will feature farmers, loggers, community youth organizations, and over 40 mounted horsemen. The group will proceed to the Ross Ragland Theatre for a pre-hearing rally.

Itinerary: July 17^th March & Rally

7:00 a.m. - Gather @ Veteran’s Park in Klamath Falls
7:30 a.m. - March to Ross Ragland
8:00 a.m. - Rally - with invited speakers
8:40 a.m. – Doors Open to Theatre

The Ross Ragland Theatre is located at 218 N. 7^th Street in downtown Klamath Falls. The street area in front of the theatre will be cordoned off to accommodate pedestrian traffic.

The speakers invited to the rally represent a diversified group of resource managers and policy makers involved with Klamath River issues. Klamath watershed farmers, timber companies and fishermen – from Crater Lake to the Pacific Ocean - have completed an impressive array of conservation measures in the past decade. These hardworking rural Americans know that more actions can, and will, be taken – but incentives and regulatory relief to landowners, rather than more regulations – should drive these measures.

July 17, 2004 Rally at

the Ross Ragland Theatre

Speeches Will Begin Between 7:45-8:00 a.m.

Master of Ceremonies:

John Elliott, Klamath County Board of Commissioners.

The speakers:

The Honorable Doug LaMalfa, California State Assembly, Sacramento, California.

Barry Beshue, President, Oregon Farm Bureau Federation, Salem, Oregon.

Dan Keppen, Klamath Water Users Association, Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Bill Krum, Save our Scott and Shasta Valleys and Towns (SOSS), Yreka, California.

Bill Pauli, President, California Farm Bureau Federation, Sacramento, California.

Rob Rivett, Pacific Legal Foundation, Sacramento, California.

Elliott Schwarz, Rural Resource Alliance, Brookings, Oregon.

Craig Smith, Family Farm Alliance, Salem, Oregon.

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Klamath Water Users Association
2455 Patterson Street, Suite 3
Klamath Falls, Oregon 97603
Phone (541) 883-6100
FAX (541) 883-8893
kwua@cvcwireless.net

Weekly Update
July 9, 2004

Questions and Answers About the Congressional Field Hearing

Question: What is the purpose of the Congressional field hearing?

A: The July 17^th event is a field hearing of the House Resources Committee Subcommittee on Water and Power. This hearing is specifically designed to discuss the application of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to find a scientific solution to updating and improving the ESA so that further generations will not have to suffer as the Klamath farmers have. During this hearing, the committee will examine the National Research Council final report that repudiated the scientific justification behind the 2001 water shut-off. The hearing will be conducted at the Ross Ragland Theatre in Klamath Falls, Oregon, and is set to begin at 9:00 a.m. It will last for 2 ½ hours.

Question: Who will participate in the Congressional field hearing?

A: At least four members of Congress will be present in Klamath Falls for the hearing: Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert (R-CA), Rep. Wally Herger (R-CA), Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA), and Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR). The Resources Committee staff will release the names of witnesses participating in the hearing in the coming week.

Questions and Answers About the Congressional Field Hearing (Cont’d)

Question: Why is the field hearing so important to the Klamath Basin?

A: The hearing represents a landmark opportunity for elected officials and policy makers to seriously address a new approach to resources management in the Klamath River watershed. For years, the Klamath Basin has been marked by conflict and fragmented efforts to improve fishery and water supply conditions. Right now, Klamath farmers, tribes and environmentalists are all unhappy. Clearly, the current paradigm is flawed. In order to be successful, we need to better understand the real state of the watershed by developing the facts and best possible information to make the best possible decisions. Fortunately, we have a new road map that can lead us in a new direction, and it is the final 2003 report released by the National Research Council’s Committee on Endangered and Threatened Fishes in the Klamath River Basin. This report will form a key topic of discussion at the upcoming hearing.

Question: How can I make a difference?

A: You can show your support for resource producers by marching along side them at a pre-hearing rally, scheduled to begin at 7:00 a.m. at Veteran’s Park in Klamath Falls. You can also submit written testimony to: The Honorable Richard Pombo, Chairman, House Resources Committee, 1324 Longworth HOB, Washington, DC 20515. (typed single space white paper, 8.5 X 11, not to exceed 5 pages) Copies can be deposited in locked box at hearing or Microsoft Word documents can be sent to: resources.committee@mail.house.gov

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Klamath Water Users Association
2455 Patterson Street, Suite 3
Klamath Falls, Oregon 97603
Phone (541) 883-6100
FAX (541) 883-8893
kwua@cvcwireless.net

Weekly Update
July 9, 2004

KWUA Submits Written Testimony to House Resources Committee

In written testimony submitted to the House Resources Committee this week, the Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA) outlined its vision of how the National Research Council (NRC) report can be used to change the status quo in Klamath.

"We hope the NRC report can be used as a catalyst to improve the collaboration required to address the basin-wide problems we face," KWUA notes in its testimony. "We know we can develop locally derived solutions to address most of the NRC report recommendations."

KWUA has advocated that solving the problems of the Klamath River watershed requires a coordinated management program that spans two states in a watershed that is characterized by a strong federal presence. Competition among stakeholder groups – including four tribes, agricultural water users, and countless environmental groups – is fierce. In order to be successful, the association advocates that there needs to be a better understanding of the real state of the watershed by developing the facts and best possible information to make the best possible decisions. KWUA’s testimony will be available to view online this weekend at: www.kwua.org.

Annual Meeting Seats Still Available

Seats are still available for the 50^th Annual Meeting of the Klamath Water Users Association. The luncheon meeting will be held at the Reames Golf and Country Club in Klamath Falls on Tuesday, July 20, 2004. Governor Kulongoski will be honored for his efforts to support irrigated agriculture in the Klamath Project. Please contact Brooke at 541-883-6100 if you would like to attend.

Klamath Experiment Station Annual Field Day Planned for August 5

The Klamath Experiment Station Field Day will be held at 6941 Washburn Way in Klamath Falls on August 5. Registration will begin and refreshments will be served starting at 8:30 a.m. A field tour will begin at 9:15 a.m. and will include discussions of forage research projects, including orchard grass varieties, grassy-alfalfa variety combinations, alfalfa varieties for irrigated and dryland production, and a new-to-the-area warm season grass species for unique field situations and markets. Potato research project discussions will include nematode control with Vydate, skin color enhancement for red-skinned varieties, and variety development programs. A hosted luncheon will be followed by brief presentations. During the remainder of the afternoon, additional tours and discussions will be available for interested parties.