"Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act." Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Christian Pastor executed by Nazi Germany 1945

Klamath Basin Settlement Page including current Klamath Dam removal settlement efforts and failed KBRA/Klamath Basin Restoration "Agreement" and related Klamath Dam Removal settlement agreements, articles, letters, videos, press releases, documents, and Who's Who

KBC's KRRC / Klamath River Renewal Corporation (Dam Destruction Group) Page  
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!!! JOIN OUR KLAMATH BASIN CRISIS FACEBOOK PAGE FOR LATEST KLAMATH BASIN RESOURCE-USER'S NEWS AND DISCUSSIONS

Luke 1:30-33 - "But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.' "

Press Release - LaMalfa Introduces Election Certainty Act, posted to KBC 12/4/2020

Rogue Pack wolves strike again, kill cattle, H&N, posted to KBC 12/4/2020

The case of the disappearing chinook salmon, Capital Press, posted to KBC 12/4/2020. "... a new study poses a question for which fisheries biologists and managers appear not to have an answer: Why are chinook salmon returns decreasing not only in rivers that have dams but also in those that don’t?...It would be folly to destroy the region’s river transportation system, irrigation system, power generation and economy and still not help the chinook."

President Donald J. Trump is Modernizing America’s Water Resource Management and Infrastructure, Whitehouse, posted to KBC 12/4/2020.

Saving salmon to feed orcas? Capital Press editorial posted to KBC 12/4/2020. "...Among the reasons they give for wanting the dams removed is to increase the number of native-run salmon — so orcas can eat them."

Klamath salmon not a distinct population, H&N by Jerry Jones, Chiloquin, posted to KBC 12/4/2020. "Dam removal is not about salmon restoration. Any salmon species that existed in the Upper Klamath river basin have been extinct soon after the first Copco dam was built in 1920."

PRESS RELEASE - Calif. U.S. Congressman LaMalfa Says He Will Keep Fighting Dam Removal After Announcement 11/17/2020

DEQ meeting announcement and Press Release: VIDEO Today: Governor Kate Brown, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Tribal Leaders and Owner of Klamath River Dams to Announce HIstoric Agreement in Virtual Event, followed by DEQ Press Release 11/17/2020

Memorandum of Agreement 11/13/2020 released today 11/17/2020. Top-down agreement between California and Oregon governors, PacifiCorp, KRRC, and Karuk and Yurok Tribes to destroy the Klamath River hydroelectric dams and make the taxpayers liable for everything that goes wrong.

New MOA on Klamath Dams results in further divided views and questions authority, Klamath Falls News 11/17/2020

Matthew 5:7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy"

Reschke, Iverson: Oregon must stop sending Klamath water to California, H&N, posted to KBC 11/15/2020. "Instead of complying with the court order, however, OWRD announced they plan to fight the ruling. OWRD is seeking a legal stay to allow them to continue to illegally divert water while their appeal is pending. And now California special interest groups are joining OWRD in the lawsuit."

Klamath Irrigation District court case continues, H&N, posted to KBC 11/15/20. KID attorney Reitmann: “Just because the Bureau has an obligation to provide water for the Yurok Tribe doesn’t give them the right to go steal someone else’s...” 

Wolves kill two more cattle in Fort Klamath area, H&N 11/11/2020. "So far this year there have been nine cattle killed in Klamath County, all in the Fort Klamath area."

Study finds salmon survival rates same with, without dams, Capital Press 11/13/2020. "Breaching the Snake River dams won’t necessarily improve the survival rate of chinook salmon, because returns of the fish appear to be similar everywhere, including areas with pristine freshwater habitats, a new study finds."

USFWS PRESS RELEASE: Gray Wolves Delisted -Trump Administration Returns Management and Protection of Gray Wolves to States and Tribes Following Successful Recovery Efforts, USFWS, posted to KBC 11/4/2020. "Ranchers across the American West have lost livestock because of ever growing gray wolf populations with no way to protect their herds from this threat,” said U.S. Representative Doug LaMalfa (CA-01). "Gray wolf populations have exceeded recovery expectations for years, and three Administrations have tried to de-list the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act. President Trump and Secretary Bernhardt finally got it done. Turning gray wolf population management back over to states and tribes will give back local control and inevitably save cattle, sheep, other livestock, and families from the threat of a grey wolf. This is a great win for the West, and I thank the Trump Administration for consistently prioritizing agribusinesses across America.”

Executive order aims to conserve land, biodiversity, "an executive order from Gov. Gavin Newsom aimed at conserving 30% of California's land and marine areas by 2030," AgAlert, posted to KBC 11/4/2020

Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled."

Judge says no jurisdiction for suit over Tulelake Airport sale, H&N, posted to KBC 10/10/2020. "A case claiming the city of Tulelake, Federal Aviation Administration and Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma/Modoc Nation acted improperly in selling the land under the Tulelake Airport to the Modoc Tribe has been dismissed."
For more on continuous efforts and litigation by the Japanese Tule Lake Committee to shut down our Tulelake airport and acquire more Tulelake property, go HERE.

Salmon parasites not a problem caused by Project irrigators, by KWUA Deputy Director Mark Johnson, 10/7/2020.  

Congress frees up $10 million for Project drought relief, H&N, posted to KBC 10/10/2020.

<Tucker's Facebook Photo. House passes bill aiming to expedite Klamath dam removal, H&N, posted to KBC 10/10/2020. “ 'The Karuk Tribe lauds Congressman Huffman’s amendment,' said Craig Tucker, natural resource specialist for the Karuk Tribe. 'It’s irresponsible to allow PacifiCorp to operate these dams at status quo and continue the destruction of our fishery.' ” KBC NOTE: Craig Tucker: "we worked with the Klamath Project irrigators, the enemies of the tribes since those guys showed up; we did work out a water sharing agreement. ...We did not solve all the problems in the Klamath Basin with these agreements. We did not get rid of all the farmers, we did not rebuild all the wetlands, but we do pull off the biggest dam removal in the history of the world...and if we're still gonna deal with water quality issues at Keno, at the end of the day, I can guarantee the Karuk Tribe and Craig Tucker will be in the front seat dealing with that next."
Water coalition aims to coordinate conservation efforts, H&N 11/19/19. "The Coalition of the Willing, a group of about 50 to 60 individuals...hired a facilitator whose salary is being financed in part by county funds, with pledges made by state and federal entities....Dan Keppen and Craig Tucker informally chair the stakeholders coalition."

Idaho leads the way in water management, Capital Press, posted to KBC 10/10/2020. "...In addition to expanding reservoir capacity behind dams, the state has an aggressive aquifer recharge effort underway." " ...should leaders in Washington, California and Oregon continue to succumb to the fad of taking out dams and face more water shortages, higher electricity costs and a jumbled transportation system as a result, they need only look to Idaho to see where they went wrong."

Diamond M ranch strikes back in lawsuit over wolf management, Capital Press, posted to KBC 10/10/2020. "The Diamond M has Forest Service permits to graze 736 cow-calf pairs. The ranch has been grazing in the Colville National Forest since 1945 and has never violated its permits, according to the ranch’s court declaration. Wolves began attacking the ranch’s cattle in 2008. Wolf packs saturate the region...The Diamond M has refused to apply for state compensation for cattle losses. The payouts are temporary and entice ranchers to accept an overpopulation of wolves, according to the ranch..."

New study: Cattle grazing significantly reduces wildfire spread, Capital Press, posted to KBC 10/10/2020. "Recent record-shattering wildfires across California, Oregon and Washington have demonstrated the need for better fire control. Researchers say their study shows that without the 1.8 million beef cattle that graze California’s rangelands annually, the state would have hundreds to thousands of additional pounds per acre of fine fuels on the landscape, and this year’s wildfires would be even more devastating."

Simmons: If jury is still out, why presume farmers are guilty? H&N, posted to KBC 10/10/2020. "For nearly 30 years, Klamath Project irrigators have been presumed guilty and punished, even though there is no evidence that their use of water from Upper Klamath Lake has anything to do with endangered sucker populations."

Klamath Irrigation District Manager responds to the question, "How much water was illegally taken from Project irrigators and sent to the ocean this year?" 9/15/2020

TimberUnity supporters from Klamath Falls donate hay for wildfire victims' livestock, Capital Press, posted to KBC 9/15/2020. "A convoy of trucks on Sept. 12 hauled over 170 tons of donated hay from the Klamath Basin to a Tangent-area drop-off point to feed displaced animals from Willamette Valley farms burned out by wildfires. Organized by the group #TimberUnity, the event was begun through the combined efforts of basin growers and other statewide ag-related businesses. Fred Simon, a hay farmer from the Southern Oregon community of Malin, was credited by #TimberUnity members as the man behind the idea for the hay effort."

Matthew, 25 35-40: JESUS: "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? ³⁸ And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? ³⁹ And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ ⁴⁰ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,^[a] you did it to me.’ "

Klamath Basin farmers and ranchers donate and deliver hay to those who lost their homes in the Oregon fires, from Klamath Basin Crisis Facebook page, posted to KBC 9/13/2020    "It’s not the best looking load, but it will feed plenty of animals up North, who lost their homes to fire! Irvin Petersen Supplied two trucks, driven by himself and Rodney McGee to haul hay Donated by Mockridge Farms, Jeff Boersma, Moxley Brothers, Lorenz Brothers, Stan and Heidi Gorden, Walt and Nancy Hammerich, Leonard and Jacen Jespersen and Schooler Farms. Also just a shout out to Fred Simon for coming up with this plan. I believe he rounded up at least four more loads to take up North as well! If I left anyone out I apologize! Thanks also to Brad Hadwick, Brant Alvis and B.L. Haskins for donating and driving Trucks! "

Phoenix-Talent Schools Fire Relief Information  WHERE TO DONATE, 9/13/2020

Modoc Point Irrigation District illegally turns on pumps, 9/13/2020. "As watermaster of Modoc Point Irrigation District, Combs made the decision to defy Oregon water law and take water from the Williamson to fill irrigation ditches on about 25 percent of the land in the district. He said he did it to prevent the area from being scorched by the fire should it take an unexpected turn south...For the last several water years, the Klamath Tribes — who retain senior water rights —have made calls for water to keep river and lake levels stable for red band trout. Combs said the district used to receive about 10,500 acre-feet every summer from the Williamson until the deliveries stopped entirely...“My main concern is to try to keep the community from burning up,” said district rancher John Hammack. “It’s gonna be a tragedy if we don’t turn those pumps on today.”

Farmers, ranchers can run Basin better than 'experts,' H&N letter to editor by David Hill, Merrill, posted to KBC 9/13/2020. "...For more than 20 years now, the agriculture community have been the whipping boy for all the problems concerning the salmon, sucker and algae in the Klamath Lake Basin. So called “experts” from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the tribes above and below the lake, fisheries personnel, a local MD, biologists and others have told us how to fix the problem: Fence the riparian area of all streams, remove 30-40,000 acres of productive farm ground along the lake, keep water levels high in lake, remove cattle or keep manure out of lake. All the above have been done and nothing works. Maybe the decline in suckers is due to the trophy trout population consuming the sucker fry or the cormorants and terns and other fish eating birds are responsible. Cormorants and terns are major factors with salmon fry in the Columbia River system...
KBC NOTE: for more on fish predators cormorants and predators Caspian Terns relocated TO the Klamath Basin, go to our  Refuge Page articles

Oregon water regulators to recoup Klamath costs, order devices, Capital Press, posted to KBC 9/13/2020. "Oregon’s water regulators plan to recoup the cost of investigating Klamath Basin irrigation diversions from farmers while requiring others to install measurement devices. The actions stem from a court ruling that determined the Oregon Water Resources Department had unlawfully allowed the federal government to release water from Upper Klamath Lake for in-stream purposes that should have gone to the Klamath Irrigation District."

Letter from John and Loy Beardsmore to FERC and PacifiCorp regarding PacifiCorp and Klamath Dam Removal
FOLLOWED BY Response from PacifiCorp, posted to KBC 9/13/2020. "Unfortunately, the same sediment modeling calculations used for the Condit, have been used to model sediments behind the Klamath Project. While estimated at 20-30 million cubic yards of sediment behind the project, as in the Condit, this will be off by a factor of two, resulting in actual sediment amounts being closer to 40-60 million cubic yards of sediment. No amount of dam removal experience can envision that amount of sediment will magically travel over 230 miles down the river and flow out into the ocean without decimating spawning beds, creating flooding issues, and sedimentation issues at the mouth of the Klamath River requiring dredging operations for the harbor at Crescent City and the river delta. These amount of sediment deposits will most surely negatively affect the fisheries. Inadequate studies of the possible toxicity of the sediments is concerning as well. This sediment deposition alone will require river restoration at a cost of billions of dollars, if at all possible..."

Feds Using Tribal Govenments for Tyranny The New American magazine, posted to KBC 9/13/2020. This video features tribal expert, Cherokee Elaine Willman, telling about her new book TNA Magazine: "Federally funded tribal governments are being used as a battering ram against the U.S. Constitution, state sovereignty, and individual liberty, Indian policy expert and author Elaine Willman told The New American magazine's Alex Newman. In her new book American Tribal Tyranny, Willman lays it all bare. She gives insight into the new Supreme Court ruling on Oklahoma, and explains how the federal government's complex and unconstitutional Indian policy mess is helping destroy the nation."

Wolves strike again near Fort Klamath; now 12 confirmed kills in three months, H&N, posted to KBC 9/13/2020. "During at least five of the kills, hazers had been active, driving around and staying overnight on the Wood River Valley pasture lands, trying to keep wolves away from cattle. But the human presence hasn’t deterred them...three or four wolves were seen standing 400 to 500 yards away while biologists examined a dead steer..."(Defenders of Wildlife) organization is looking at ways to provide technical support to ranchers, including ways to re-teach cattle defensive, herd instincts. They also offer financial support for range riders and other non-lethal deterrents..."

Reclamation announces more water for Klamath Project, refuges, H&N 9/6/2020

ANNOUNCEMENT: AMMON BUNDY August 29, 2020, Come Stand For Freedom Tri Tip Dinner - $25.00
Doors open at 4:30 pm - Dinner 5:00 pm Educational Presentation 6:00 pm
Nielsen Shop 7941 Elliott Rd, K. Falls Call 541-281-5639 to reserve your ticket
Go to our KBC News Page: Bundys and Hammons and LeVoy Finicum for more information on their story

Jesus: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength...and the second: love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." Mark 12: 30-31.

Rogue Pack kills another steer near Fort Klamath 8/17/20, H&N, posted to KBC 8/21/2020.

Wolves kill three more cattle near Fort Klamath 8/14/20, posted to KBC 8/21/2020.

Wolves kill two more cattle near Fort Klamath 8/2/20, posted to KBC 8/21/2020

Wolves kill steer near Fort Klamath 7/24/20, posted to KBC 8/21/2020.

Feds affirm opposition to breaching Snake River dams, Capital Press, posted to KBC 8/21/2020. " (breaching the dams) would damage the federal system’s other uses, such as flood control, irrigation, navigation, recreation and electricity generation...If the four dams were gone, greenhouse gas emissions would increase, according to the government report. Natural gas-fired power plants would have to ramp up, unless more expensive and less reliable wind and solar power sources were built.Farmers would be forced to move crops, mostly wheat, by trucks and trains. Transportation costs for wheat farmers would increase 10% to 33%, the report estimates. Irrigation water would be cut off for 48,000 acres, costing farmers $460 million a year in lost sales and their employees $232 million in lost wages, according to the report..."

Gov. Newsom Urges Billionaire Warren Buffett To Back Klamath Dam Removal, Without any follow up flood control systems, the area would be at risk,’ California Globe, posted to KBC 8/21/2020. “The Klamath dams are amazingly important up North,” explained dam engineer Kyle Richardson, who studied the dams for his Masters dissertation. “Protecting endangered species are important, but no one has really thought about what dam removal can bring. Without any follow up flood control systems, the area would be at risk. Electricity would have to come from elsewhere, and it wouldn’t be solar or wind most likely. That means fossil fuels and gas, and that means pollution from power plants. But it would be especially disastrous for the many farmers in California and Oregon. We’ve seen what dam changes did to the farmers in the Central Valley. Getting rid of the dams and reservoirs would just get rid of that faucet entirely, having them rely on the natural ebbs and flows largely, and that’s reckless. There is much more danger in tearing down the dams than keeping them up. It’s not even close.”

Reclamation invests in new science updates for Klamath Project, BOR News Release, posted to KBC 8/21/2020.

Klamath Irrigation District scores victory in water rights case, Capital Press, posted to KBC 8/21/2020. "No party has provided this court with law or fact which allows the bureau the right to use stored water in the (Upper Klamath Lake) without a permit or license,” Bennett wrote in his opinion. “OWRD’s failure is a deprivation of a precious resource belonging to the people of Oregon. OWRD failure is also an infringement of property rights of established users, permittees and licensees.”

 
< US appeals court denies bid to resurrect Bundy standoff case, H&N, posted to KBC 8/21/20. "Navarro found “deliberate attempts” by the FBI and prosecutors “to mislead and distort the truth.” She blamed FBI agents for “reckless disregard” of requirements to turn over evidence relating to government snipers and cameras that monitored the Bundy homestead...government agents “threatened the Bundys’ lives, killed their cattle, assaulted family members and perpetrated tyrannical executive power over them.”

US officials seek limits on "habitat" for imperiled species, H&N, posted to KBC 8/21/20. "The dispute arose after the Fish and Wildlife Service designated 1,500 acres of land and ponds in neighboring Louisiana as critical habitat for the frog even though none lived there."

Siskiyou County Water Users Association letter to CPUD regarding FERCs directive to PacifiCorp and Klamath dam removal, posted to KBC 8/21/2020. "The FERC in its wisdom and with a great deal of public input wisely decided that PacifiCorp could not shed the license and liability for the destruction that will result from removal of these hydro- electric clean energy facilities...We are requesting that the CPUC immediately suspend the transfer of rate payer funds to KRRC (the Klamath dam destruction group).

  Jesus Matthew 6:19-21 - “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

***KID / Klamath Irrigation District vs OWRD/Oregon Water Resources Department, posted to KBC 7/31/20: "...respondents are ordered to stop releasing Stored Water from the UKL (Upper Klamath Lake) without determining that the release is for a permitted purpose by users with an established right, license, or permit to use the Stored Water in the UKL"

DOI secretary makes rare appearance at Klamath Project Says Trump will “expect results” Western Livestock Journal, posted to KBC 7/31/2020. “The Hoopa and Yurok tribes never made a claim to a water right in the Klamath adjudication,” he said. “Under law, if you don’t make a claim, you don’t have a right.” ...a briefing filed by the state of Oregon in 2018 made the same point, stating “the Yurok and Hoopa Tribes have no rights to the waters of Upper Klamath Lake.” “As for the Klamath tribe,” Rietmann (KID attorney) added, “they were effectively granted a 1908 water right, which is junior to the farmers’ 1905 water right and can’t curtail that senior right.”

7/30/2020 - Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office: EVACUATION ORDER UPDATE - MEDICINE LAKE
The evacuation order for the Medicine Lake cabins has been lifted and residents may return. Please be cautious of fire apparatus on the roadways. The Medicine Lake Campground remains closed to the public and continues to be occupied with fire personnel and equipment.

Caldwell Fire grows to 70,000 acres, H&N 7/29/20. "A mandatory evacuation remained in place for the Medicine Lake Recreation Area. The Lava Beds National Monument remains closed..."

Jesus: "Always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the Law and the prophets."  Matthew 7:12

172 FERC ¶ 61,062 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION ORDER APPROVING PARTIAL TRANSFER OF LICENSE, LIFTING STAY OF ORDER AMENDING LICENSE, AND DENYING MOTION FOR CLARIFICATION AND MOTION TO DISMISS (Issued July 16, 2020)

"...we approve a partial transfer of the license for the Lower Klamath Project from PacifiCorp (transferor) to the Renewal Corporation (transferee), contingent on PacifiCorp remaining on as a co-licensee."

ARTICLES AND PRESS RELEASES IN RESPONSE TO FERC'S ORDER APPROVING PARTIAL TRANSFER OF LICENSE FOR KLAMATH RIVER HYDROELECTRIC DAMS PacifiCorp's statement regarding FERC's order on partial transfer of Klamath River dam's license, Yreka News on Facebook, posted to KBC 7/18/2020. FERC approved "Partial License" transfer for Klamath River Dams, PRESS RELEASE: Siskiyou County Water Users Association / SCWUA, posted to KBC JULY 18, 2020 FERC Agrees with LaMalfa: KRRC Can’t Handle Klamath Dams’ License, Yreka News, posted to KBC 7/18/2020 Federal decision leaves future of Klamath dam removal unclear, H&N, posted to KBC 7/18/2020 Federal regulators clarify path to Klamath dam removal, Trout Unlimited, posted to KBC 7/18/2020. * Here is KBC's KRRC (Dam Removal Group) Leadership page updated...Who's Who

Interior Secretary Bernhardt came to Klamath Falls to help find water solutions, Liz Bowen Column in Siskiyou Daily News, posted to KBC 7/18/2020

	Submitted photos taken off of Tingley Lane here in Klamath Falls July 12, 2020. The pasture is KID “A” land west of Tingley Lane. One is KBID land at the NW corner of Tingley Lane and Cross Road. "I never saw Tingley Lake like this growing up here in the 70s and 80s. There are a good number of KBID and Warren Act lands upstream from Tingley Lake which are not receiving water…in addition to my requirements to reduce flows, minimize spill, and otherwise constrain farming practices, there is not enough return flow into Tingley Lake to keep it healthy."

Jesus: "This is my commandment to you: love one another." John 15:17

< From left to right: Congressman Greg Walden, BOR Brenda Burman, Secretary of Interior David Bernhardt, and Congressman Doug LaMalfa speak Thursday on a field in Midland
Secretary of Interior Bernhardt tours Midland field of crosses, H&N, posted to KBC 7/12/2020. "Gasser said Bernhardt is responsible for returning the Project to receive 140,000 acre feet of irrigation water. 'He saved this community … even though there are still a lot of farmers out there who have no water. There’s a lot of hurt still going on, but if he wouldn’t have done what he did, it really would’ve been horrific because a lot of investments were made planning on the (140,000 acre feet) … millions of dollars would’ve been lost and a lot of growers would’ve been lost.' "

Interior Secretary Bernhardt and Reclamation Commissioner Burman travel to Klamath Basin at LaMalfa’s Request, Congressman Doug LaMalfa News Release 7/12/2020. "After Congressman LaMalfa continuously engaged with the Trump Administration, water allocations were restored to the April commitment, and the tens of thousands of acres of already planted crops would be able to survive the growing season. Congressman LaMalfa and Congressman Greg Walden (OR-02) extended the invitation to Secretary Bernhardt and Commissioner Burman to visit the Basin for today’s events..."

Interior officials tour Klamath Basin, promise solutions, Western Farm Press, posted to KBC 7/12/2020. "U.S. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman promised to seek a resolution to the decades-long water conflicts in the basin after meeting with growers, local water officials and other affected parties.

Congressional Delegation pushes flexibility in $10M water relief, H&N, posted to KBC 7/12/20.

Ninth Circuit Court decision could benefit many Oregon ranchers, H&N, posted to KBC 7/12/2020

'Takings' case closed, H&N, posted to KBC 6/24/2020. "After nearly two decades, the takings case stemming from the water shutoff to the Klamath Reclamation Project in 2001 is closed. The U.S. Supreme Court made the announcement on Monday that it has denied a petition to review a lower federal court’s decision that ruled that Project irrigators of about 175,000 acres on the Oregon and California border are not entitled to compensation for the re-allocation of water under the Endangered Species Act in 2001..."

SCOTUS Blog Coverage: Baley v. United States, posted to KBC 6/24/2020.

Klamath Project, Siskiyou Daily News by Liz Bowen, posted to KBC 6/24/2020. "The saga of the government taking away legal water right allocations to 1,200 farmers in the government-encouraged Klamath Project continues...But, last month, federal agencies said the project’s water allotments would be reduced – again – meaning no water for July, August and September...A rally called “Shut down and Fed Up” was held on May 29, 2020 with more than 2,000 people showing-up with tractors, log trucks, hay trucks, pick-ups and cars rolling from Merrill, OR. into Klamath Falls, OR. and down through the basin to Midland, OR. It was over 20 miles long..."

Wolf call: Oregon ranchers frustrated by criteria of state investigators, Capital Press, posted to KBC 6/24/2020. " 'You can go murder somebody and be convicted quicker than you would convict a wolf, with the criteria they have...' Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife released its annual wolf report documenting 158 wolves statewide in 2019 — a 15% increase from the previous year..."

Judge in Seattle to rule on wolf removal, Capital Press, posted to KBC 6/24/2020. "The Wedge pack has attacked at least four calves in Stevens County between May 11 and June 17, but the department has not opted for lethal removal. The calves belonged to two different producers."

Jesus' brother James 1:5 - "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."

Walden, LaMalfa, Bentz: Supreme Court must prevent uncompensated theft of Western water, Pens Op-ed in Washington Examiner, posted to KBC 6/21/2020. "

Earthjustice plays fast and loose with the truth about the Klamath Project, SDFU / Shut Down and Fed UP, posted to KBC 6/21/2020. "One of the biggest challenges about Klamath Basin agriculture are the false narratives that get treated as fact. Maybe it’s accidental, but in most cases it’s calculated misinformation to push an agenda. When these bits of fiction get pushed out to the public, it creates an atmosphere that makes it hard for everyone up and down the Klamath River to find a solution to save fish and farms...."

April's EXTREME "pulse flows", 6000cfs, dewatering Klamath irrigators' stored water, posted to KBC 6/21/2020 from rancher Rex Cozzalio, Hornbrook, CA on the Klamath River. The 3 photos of flooding are Iron Gate flow wasted over the spillway, Hornbrook on the Klamath River, and Klamathon Bridge near Hornbrook.


On our Klamath Basin Crisis Facebook Page, a question was asked "Why are the Yutok stating they did not receive the 40,000af flushing flows per the Herald and News ? "
Klamath Irrigation District manager Gene Souze responded, "the 40,000 is an additional augmentation to 400,000 environmental water agreed to by Reclamation to stay a 50,000 litigation for more in this drought year. To date they have received nearly 250,000 + 7000 + 8000...and should have well over 422,500 by the end of September. For them to complain about not getting water..."

 

 

 

6/14/2020 - We just received this message from Rex Cozzalio, from Hornbrook on the Klamath River, after the flood last week: "Just found out about it (extreme high water) when the flood occurred.  1780 cubic feet per second, or the equivalent of the top 10-20% WETTEST years on record.  No idea yet why, other than assuming the 'triggering' spore count is above 5 spores/liter, though the OSU report site doesn't support that, so it is likely a 'behind closed doors' special interest arrangement.  The 'flushes' are insane on their own, ESPECIALLY in a drought year, considering the already 'confounding' (their words) results from prior 'experiments' (last year REALLY didn't fit their modeled 'profile').  Since Copco and Iron Gate lakes are already way down from 'borrowed' water to support the prior waste, I can only imagine where the water is coming from, beyond possible programmatic UKL sucker fish reduction of lake level, more from the irrigators, or tapping possible unexpected input flows.  Ironic and worst part is, their 'collaborators' already acknowledge that under their (defective) scenario, due to the studies that prove the environmental benefits the deep water lakes provide, that once the dams are destroyed, the required 'pulses' using confiscated 'unnatural' artificially stored water will INCREASE in 'programmatic' perpetuity.

! Klamath Irrigation District requests a temporary restraining order against OWRD, Director Byler and Watermaster Watson, filed 6/12/2020. Bureau Of Reclamation, with an agreement with PacifiCorp, is presently diverting an extreme amount Klamath Irrigators' stored water into Klamath River, and Upper Klamath Lake elevation is rapidly lowering: "...enough to supply one acre foot of water to at least the 10,342 acres of land in Klamath Basin Improvement District, 3,911 acres of land in Shasta View Irrigation District, 2,981 acres of land within Enterprise Irrigation, and 904 acres of land in Pine Grove Irrigation District, which are shut-off and not receiving any water from UKL reservoir..."

Reduce Klamath Cormorant population to save the fish, by Debbie Klaja for H&N, posted to KBC 6/14/2020. "Has anything been done to reduce the number of fish-eating Cormorants? It seems everyone thinks the problem with no surviving baby sucker fish is the water level..." KBC NOTE: See our Refuge Page articles for more on fish-eating Caspian Terns lured to Tulelake and Lower Klamath refuges on million-dollar, FWS-made islands from eating baby salmon. 

Fairness and Justice For Farmers, by Oregon Rep E. Werner Reschke, 6/14/2020. "For far too long farmers have been stereotyped as environment-trashing know-nothings. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is the favored tool of litigious-happy, urban environmental groups who attack rural America and are rewarded with court-ordered attorneys’ fees. In the Klamath Basin of southern Oregon and northernmost California, farmers and ranchers using water from a federal water project are on the bleeding edge of the onslaught..."

The Deep State destruction of rural America, (the Klamath Crisis), American Greatness 6/12/2020. "On May 29, in Klamath County, Oregon, thousands of farmers and community supporters showed up to protest reduced water allocations, announced earlier this year, which threaten to destroy the region’s agricultural economy. The protesters formed a convoy of more than 2,000 vehicles that passed through downtown Klamath Falls and ended up at a rally site in Midland, Oregon. This convoy, with a majority of the vehicles either farm tractors or semi rigs, was over 30 miles long."

BLM names state director for Oregon/Washington. Farmer and agriculture policy professional Barry Bushue named to oversee more than 16 Million acres of public land, BLM, posted to KBC 6/14/2020. "...Bushue was the President of the Oregon Farm Bureau Federation for nearly 20 years, where he advocated on behalf of the Federation’s farming and ranching members. He also served as the Vice President of the American Farm Bureau, based in Washington, D.C."

PRESS RELEASE: LaMalfa Applauds Trump Administration for Restoring Water to Klamath Basin Farmers, Congressman Doug LaMalfa June 9, 2020. "While Basin farmers are still only receiving 40% of their legal water right from Upper Klamath Lake, it will help to get them through the remainder of the growing season with the crops they currently have in the ground. I was pleased to partner with my colleague from Oregon, Congressman Greg Walden, in this fight to restore water to our farmers on both sides of the border."

Water Users React to Restored Project Allocation, KWUA PRESS RELEASE 6/9/2020

BOR PRESS RELEASE: Reclamation secures 2020 water supply for Klamath Project, 6/9/2020. "...Reclamation will deliver approximately 140,000 acre-feet to the Klamath Project from Upper Klamath Lake in 2020..."

Klamath County tractor convoy spans 20-plus miles; Going the distance for ag, H&N, posted to KBC 6/3/2020.
< More than 2,000 people attended the "Shut Down and Fed Up" rally on Del Fatti Lane in Midland Friday afternoon
"Congressman Doug LaMalfa, (R-Richvale) said he and Congressman Walden will be fighting to provide more water for farmers to finish their irrigation season...'This is your water,' LaMalfa told the crowd. 'It doesn’t belong to BOR (Bureau of Reclamation), it doesn’t belong to NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service), it doesn’t belong to Fish and Wildlife. It doesn’t belong to anybody else.' LaMalfa emphasized that the Klamath Project was created over 100 years ago for one purpose and that was for agriculture for those who came and settled in the Basin and were given the opportunity to farm...“We’re going to fight for getting the full allocation back right now...'We’re going to take what is rightfully ours...' "

!!! Bureau of Reclamation NEWS RELEASE: Reclamation to implement Klamath River flushing flow for salmon health 4/21/2020. "Increased flows to begin April 22 and continue through May 1; public urged to take safety precautions on or near the river while flows are high...flows below Iron Gate Dam will increase from approximately 1,325 cubic feet per second up to 6,000 cfs. Increased releases out of Upper Klamath Lake will occur simultaneously..." KBC NOTE: The Klamath Project is projected to receive less than 50% of their deeded water this season. With this huge increased taking of Project water, the Bureau of Reclamation's draft Project operation plan, (https://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=42926) states: “During the three-year period of the Proposed Action Alternative, the cumulative impacts (to help fish) are likely to be minor, as sucker recovery, coho enhancement, and changes to the biological resources would require a much longer time frame to be implemented and their effects are speculative beyond the period of analysis.” However they operation plan promises, "...involuntary land fallowing of productive irrigable land within the Proposed Action Alternative area would occur leading to an increased risk to local rural agricultural communities.” After the three years they will inform us of their NEW plan after they destroy the Klamath River Hydroelectric Dams and downsize agriculture in the Klamath Project.

Environmentalists and farmers lose lawsuits over Klamath refuges, Capital Press 4/22/2020. "The agricultural plaintiffs argued these burdens would threaten the viability of farming and interfere with a federal law governing leases of refuge lands."
WISH LIST FOR SUCKERS NAILS FARMS, February 11, 1992. KBC NOTE: The FWS Wish List for Upper Klamath and also Tulelake Refuges is finally coming true. "“Marshall Staunton, president of the Tulelake Growers Association, said the proposal ignores the impact on farmers in the Basin. He said he felt betrayed by the wildlife service. “We thought we were shooting for a win-win situation...I think it shows tremendous bad faith when we’re supposed to be working together.” 

The Population Living In Acute Hunger May Double This Year Due To Coronavirus April 21, 2020, NPR. KBC NOTE: Should we be downsizing Klamath Basin agriculture more than 50% this year for only "possible" results for fish?

Letter to Bureau of Reclamation on Lower Klamath Project; Klamath River dam removal, by Dr. Richard Gierak, posted to KBC 4/22/2020.

Federal Government agrees to reevaluate Northern Spotted Owl habitat after Supreme Court ruling, H&N, posted to KBC 4/22/2020. "The coalition brought legal action after the Fish and Wildlife Service designated 9.5 million acres of mostly federal lands as NSO critical habitat across Washington, Oregon and Northern California in 2012...The ESA requires the federal government to take “into consideration the economic impact, the impact on national security, and any other relevant impact, of specifying any particular area as critical habitat.”

Baley v. United States: Water Users in the Klamath Project Petition the U.S. Supreme Court for Certiorari, posted to KBC 4/22/2020, Somach Law firm.

Diverse Crowd of Parties Supports Request for Supreme Court Review in Klamath Water Takings Case, KWUA News Release, posted to KBC 4/22/2020.

The real thing or a wolf in sheep’s clothing? by Tom Mallams, posted to KBC H&N 04/22/2020. "I fully support State Senator Cliff Bentz for Congress....Cliff Bentz is not from Portland, is not a flip-flopper... and is not receiving major donations from out of our area...Cliff Bentz has a well known public record of supporting Oregon values such as Right-to-Life, pro Second Amendment and opposing Klamath Dam Removal...Cliff Bentz is endorsed by Congressman Bob Smith, Oregon Cattleman's Association, at least 32 County Commissioners, 17 elected County Sheriffs and many other State Legislatures..."

Oregon has at least 158 wolves, a 15% increase over last year, Annual Wolf Report released, DFW posted to KBC 4/22/2020.

Bureau of Reclamation ERROR - TODAY April 2014 by 11:59 pm you must RESUBMIT your public comment letter with a new address on the Klamath Project interim operations because they gave you the wrong email address. First they gave us only 9 days to review their entire plan to downsize irrigated agriculture, then they threw in one more day. Just yesterday, April 13, late afternoon they said they didn’t receive our public input because of their error and only gave us ONE MORE DAY to hopefully see their email and RESUBMIT our comments, in the middle of spring farming!  4/14/2020.
Public Comment by Oregon Rep E Werner Reschke on Klamath Project Operation Plan, submitted 4/10/2020.
Public Comment by Rex Cozzalio on Klamath Project Operation Plan, resubmitted 4/14/2020.
Public Comment on Klamath Project Op Plan, resubmitted by Tulelake Farmer 4/11/2020.

KWUA Announces Projected Klamath Project Irrigation Allocation; Drought Response Agency Expects to Open Programs April 15, posted to KBC 4/14/2020. “Bottom line, we’re looking at less than half of the water that’s needed,” said TID Manager Brad Kirby

PRESS RELEASE - Congressman LaMalfa: Farmers Need Maximum Water Allocations to Ensure Stable Food Supply Chain, April 9, 2020, followed by LaMalfa's full letter to President Trump. "...I ask that you direct the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of Commerce to waive any restrictions on granting 100% water allocations to farmers and water districts, along with waiving outdated Endangered Species Act requirements..."

Letter from the Siskiyou BOS Attorney NOSSMAN to FERC requesting delay for KRRC / Klamath River Renewal Corporation's Application for Klamath Dam transfer and surrender, posted to KBC 4/14/2020

U.S. Democrat Reps letter to FERC requesting immediate transfer to Klamath Hydroelectric dams so they can be destroyed, posted to KBC 4/14/2020. KBC NOTE: This is contrary of the will of the vast majority of the Klamath Basin Residents in Klamath and Siskiyou Counties where the hydro dams are located, and local Oregon Senator Linthicum, Oregon Rep Reschke, and Northern California U.S. Congressman LaMalfa.

The Executive Director of the California State Water Resources Control Board issued a water quality certification for the Lower Klamath Project License Surrender and certified the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Lower Klamath Project License Surrender, posted 4/14/2020

State Water Board Issues Key Documents That Further Efforts to Remove Klamath River Dams 4/7/2020

CA Department Of Fish And Wildlife Commissioner Wants To Close Sportfishing Season Due To COVID-19 posted to KBC 4/14/20.

*** PRESS RELEASE - COMMENTS Period extended to APRIL 11! Reclamation seeks public input on proposed Klamath Project interim operations 4/1/2020.  Please send your comments on these massive water acquisitions for whales, salmon, tribes and suckers; this is a temporary mandate to run through the projected Klamath dam removal in 2022-2023. Then they will unveil another plan made in coordination with the Yuroks (that are suing us for more water acquisitions) and other Tribes and government agencies to come up with much more water for whales, salmon and suckers after dam removal and dam reservoir storage is obliterated.

Matthew 5:9 - "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God"

 

For March 2020 chronological news, see Archive 214, April 2020 see Archive 215
For Main Archive Page go HERE.

God Bless America !