Our Klamath Basin Water Crisis
Fighting for Our Right to Irrigate Our Farms and Caretake Our Natural Resources

SAMPLE LETTER

<Insert Date>

Honorable Joe Doddridge
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks
U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C Street NW, Room 3156
Washington, D.C. 20240

Dear Secretary Doddridge:

I write this letter at a time when the actions of your agency will directly effect the welfare of my family and the vitality of my community. My name is John Doe, and my family has produced potatoes and grain in the Klamath Basin for over 50 years.

The year of 2001 was a devastating one for farmers and ranchers in the Klamath Basin. Despite the best efforts of our local communities and elected officials, the federal government - with the direct involvement of your department - cut off irrigation water supplies from Upper Klamath Lake and the Klamath River to the Klamath Irrigation Project. For the first time in nearly 100 years, our farmers were left without water.

The resulting impacts to the local community were immediate and far-reaching. Hundreds of thousands of acres of valuable farmland were left without water, resulting in unprecedented damage to my neighbors and the broader Basin community, as well as myself. The wildlife benefits provided by farms left without water - particularly the food provided for area waterfowl - were also lost with the water.

It is now January 12, 2002 - time to make farming decisions and prepare for the planting season. We still do not know how much - if any - water will be provided to Klamath Project farmers and ranchers. As your department assists in the development of the 2002 operations plan for the Klamath Irrigation Project, I implore you to consider the following:

· The “human element” which was overlooked and seriously underestimated in last year’s decision to withhold our water must be addressed.

· The uncertainty associated with the science used in last year’s decision must be carefully considered.

· What will you and your department do too further the commitment made by President Bush last January 5^{th to “do something about getting the water turned back on in the Klamath Basin”?}

The first step towards success in your endeavor is the swift completion and public release of Reclamation’s draft Biological Assessment. We fully expect our local water users to have full access and recourse in the negotiations that follow leading up to the final Biological Opinions developed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service.

Last year, the government took 100% of the water for fish, disregarding farmers, ranchers, families, and numerous other species of wildlife in the Klamath Basin. This year, your input into the development of the 2002 Klamath Basin operations plan can help restore our lost faith in the government and provide for coexistence of all species, including rural Americans.

Sincerely,

<Your name and address>

Suggestions for Letters to Government Officials

· You are encouraged to write letters to the government officials included on the attached list who will play an important part in the development of future water operations plans for the Klamath Project. Your letter can form an effective means to influence high-level policy makers who are currently developing the 2002 (and beyond) operations plan and associated biological consultation for the Klamath Irrigation Project.

· The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is currently developing a draft biological assessment (BA) that will propose operations and assess related impacts to imperiled fish species in the Klamath Basin. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) will assess the BA and write biological opinions (BOs) to determine whether the proposed operations plan will jeopardize the existence of these fish species. USFWS will develop the BO for sucker species in Upper Klamath Lake and the Lost River, while NMFS will write an opinion for Lower Klamath River coho salmon.

· Names and addresses of Washington high-level agency policy makers involved with the Klamath Project consultation process are included on the attached list. Please note that NMFS is an agency under the direction of the Secretary of Commerce, while USFWS and Reclamation are agencies within the Department of Interior, headed by Secretary Norton.

· Two of the individuals shown on the attached list (Mr. Doddridge and Mr. Jones) are in acting capacity, while two others (Mr. Manson and Mr. Williams) have been nominated for appointment but have yet to be confirmed by the Senate. All four should be sent a copy of the letter.

· The attached letter is provided as a suggestion only to hopefully save you time as you assist in this effort.

· In the first paragraph, include a brief description of who you are and your history with farming and water in the Klamath Basin. Another paragraph should describe how you were personally affected by last year’s water cutoff. The letter should wrap up with the points you want the reader to consider:

ü The “human element” which was overlooked and seriously underestimated in last year’s decision to withhold our water must be addressed.

ü The uncertainty associated with the science used in last year’s decision must be carefully considered.

ü Mention President Bush’s commitment made on January 5th to “do something about getting the water turned back on in the Klamath Basin” and ask how this will be addressed. The first step toward meeting this commitment is the swift completion and public release of Reclamation’s draft Biological Assessment.

ü Demand that local water users have full access and recourse in the negotiations that lead up to the final BOs developed by USFWS and NMFS.

· Thank you for your efforts to help our community.

IMPORTANT ADDRESSES:

Honorable Gale Norton Secretary of the Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W., Suite 7229 Washington, D.C. 2040-0000	Ms. Sue Ellen Wooldridge Deputy Chief of Staff U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W. Room 6140 / MS-7229 Washington, D.C. 20240
Honorable Joe Doddridge Acting Ass’t Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street NW, Room 3156 Washington, D.C. 20240	Mr. Craig Manson (Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks Appointee) Sacramento County Superior Court Department 93 B.T. Collins Juvenile Court 9601 Kiefer Boulevard Sacramento, California 95826
Honorable Marshall Jones Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1849 C Street NW, Room 3012 Washington, D.C. 20240	Mr. Steve Williams (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Appointee) 1849 C Street NW MS-7229 Washington, D.C. 20240
Honorable Bennett Raley Assistant Secretary for Water and Science U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street N.W. MS-6640 Washington, D.C. 20240	Honorable John Keys Commissioner of Reclamation U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W. MS-7659 Washington, D.C. 20240
Honorable Donald L. Evans Secretary of the Department of Commerce 14th Street & Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20230	Honorable Conrad C. Lautenbacher Under Secretary of Commerce National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration 14th Street & Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20230
Mr. William T. Hogarth Assistant Administrator National Marine Fisheries Service 1314 East-West Highway Silver Springs, MD 20910	Write Your U.S. Representative http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Write your Senator http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index.cfm	Contact the White House  http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/