"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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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 !