"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 River Hydroelectric Dam Destruction and the former KBRA/Klamath Basin Restoration "Agreement" and related Klamath Dam Removal settlement agreements, articles, letters, videos, press releases, documents, and Who's Who

Mercy Chefs needs our help feeding hurricane victims in Florida, fire victims in California

***Fundraiser prime rib dinner for Save the Dams in Yreka Oct 14, 2017, Siskiyou County Water Users Association. Speakers James Buchal and Larry Kogan.

Trump official says government won’t stand in the way of removing Klamath dams, SacBee 10/9/17

Court denies water users’ compensation claims in ‘Takings Case,’ H&N 10/03/17

Trial Court Denies 2001 Klamath Project Takings Claims, Attorneys at Law Somach, Simmons and Dunn, Oct 4, 2017

Eulogy of a WWII veteran, 2nd Lt John William "Bill" Quinn, who felt "lucky" to live in Tulelake after the war, spoken by his son Kevin Quinn: "...Dad had said of Tulelake...it was the best place for him after the war because it was a city filled with Veterans.."  posted to KBC 9/20/17

PUBLIC COMMENT: PacifiCorp - Iron Gate Dam Spillway Dewatering Project; Public Notice for Water Quality Certification and/or Waste Discharge Requirements (Dredge/Fill Projects). KBC News Question: Why is Iron Gate chosen for inspection? Are all California dams being dewatered and inspected? Is there a suspected problem with this particular dam? Posted to KBC 9/13/17

Judge rejects claims of Klamath Basin irrigators, H&N, posted to KBC 9/13/17. "...The plaintiffs argued their wells were drilled into a confined aquifer that’s separated from the Sprague River by layers of rock and clay, as well as a shallower alluvial aquifer. Shutting down the wells isn’t allowed because OWRD only has jurisdiction over wells drilled into an aquifer “adjacent” to the surface water..." “There’s nothing to stop Oregon Water Resources from regulating every aquifer in a basin (within a mile of surface waters) and calling it an aquifer system,” (attorney Laura Schroeder) said."

Chiloquin water could be vulnerable to water call, H&N, posted to KBC 9/13/17. KBC NOTE: Klamath Tribes made a call on this flood year to shut down ranchers' wells. Now that they learned their call would effect their town's, Chiloquin's, well, they are trying to find an exemption "solution" for their own well.

'Let it burn' approach to wildfires creating a disaster for our forests, Senator Dennis Linthicum guest writer for H&N, posted to KBC 9/13/17. "...Up until the 1980s, the average duration of wildfires was just six days. The number of distinct fires or ignitions hasn’t changed over time but wildfires, today, are much larger and last much longer. Today, the average fire lasts 52 days, or nearly two months. The Chetco Bar fire is estimated to double the 52-day average, with nearly four months of burn. Last winter was a record-setting winter for cold, snow and rain. The drought is over; our reservoirs and dams are full; rivers and streams are still flowing with snowmelt. Could it be that these extraordinary burn rates are directly related to policy and not to global warming?..."

New law makes it way too easy to take guns away from people without cause, H&N by Rep E. Werner Reschke, posted to KBC 9/13/17. "SB 719 calls for the forced confiscation of property (guns) by the police with no due process, no conviction of a crime and no accusation of a crime. It allows anyone, including strangers off the street, to make assessments and a case before a judge. It allows judges, with no mental health credentials, to render judgment on another person’s state of mind whom they have never met or spoken to. Furthermore, it actually forbids judges from considering assessments of the respondent’s mental health by people who actually do have mental health credentials. The law even goes so far to allow a judge to confiscate every firearm in a household because one person in the household has a past DUI conviction."

U.S. interior chief recommends changes on some protected lands, H&N, posted to KBC 9/13/17. "Twenty-seven monuments were put under review in April by President Donald Trump, who has charged that the millions of acres designated for protection by President Barack Obama were part of a “massive federal land grab..." “The eco-tourists basically say, ‘Throw out all the rubes and the locals and get rid of that mentality of grazing and utilizing these public lands for any kind of renewable resource such as timber harvesting and even some mineral production,’” Noel said. “That’s a very selfish attitude.”

California Farm Bureau Federation Friday Legislative Review, posted to KBC 9/13/17. " require California to enforce the federal Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act (ESA) and their implementing regulations and policies as they were on January 19, 2017. If it is determined that the federal government has weakened any of those laws, California agencies are required to adopt regulations, with extremely limited public input, that are at least as stringent as what was in place on January 19, 2017, requires sellers of electricity to procure a minimum of 60% of their electricity products from eligible renewable generation resources by 2030, ..."

U.S. Representative Doug LaMalfa Monday, August 21, 4:30-6, Community Meeting at the Tulelake Honker Community Center 810 Main Street.

Klamath Falls - Local officials oppose misdemeanor possession law, H&N, posted to KBC 8/16/17. "House Bill 2355 was signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Kate Brown after it passed the state legislature with largely-Democratic support. The bill makes personal-use possession of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and other controlled substances misdemeanors (punishable by no more than a year in jail) rather than felonies (punishable by up to several years in prison)."

Longtime KID board member resigns, H&N, posted to KBC 8/18/17

SEND COMMENTS NOW!!! Federal Indian Policy: “Mom Always Liked YOU best!”, Elaine Willman for New American, posted to KBC 8/11/17. "It’s 83 years late in coming, but at long last the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (IRA) is finally getting its first-ever review, and hopefully serious reform. IRA (48 stat. 984) forms the backbone of federal Indian policy across the country and has been extended, expanded, and abused far beyond the original intent of Congress...Johnny’s governments (tribes) may directly finance political parties, incumbents, or candidate election officials. Jimmy’s government may not. Johnny’s businesses are all tax-exempt and growing enormously. Jimmy’s businesses are taxed to the max. Johnny’s government members can hold elected office anywhere across the country, passing land use and taxation laws upon Jimmy that do not apply to Johnny. Johnny has priority over most of the river and water systems throughout the Western states because Johnny was here first, and Jimmy’s needs don’t matter — he shouldn’t exist."   Willman's Biography

Matthew 5:9: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

Making America More Secure; Breakdown of Funding, U.S. Congressman Doug LaMalfa, Calif. District 1, 7/30/17.

Arizona man gets 68 years in prison in Nevada standoff case, H&N, posted to KBC 7/30/17. “...Even though a shot was not fired...” "Defendants in the case have maintained they were moved not by anti-government sentiment, but instead by images of U.S. Bureau of Land Management agents using stun guns and dogs against Bundy family members."

Oregon approves measure requiring insurers to cover abortion, H&N, posted to KBC 7/30/17. "...patients would have access to the procedure for virtually any reason, at any time, including sex-selective and late-term abortions."

Farming inside refuges transforms Klamath Basin agriculture, H&N by OPB, posted to KBC 7/30/17
HERE for Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges, articles and information

Spending Money with Reckless Abandon, by Oregon State Senator Dennis Linthicum, District 28, posted 7/30/17. "...I might be naive, but I thought everyone knew that even millionaires can run out of money..."

2nd pack of gray wolves spotted in Northern California, Bristol Herald Courier, posted to KBC 7/30/17

Linthicum, Reschke, freshmen legislators, recount wins and losses, H&N, posted to KBC 7/30/17

Klamath Tribes meet with Interior's Zinke, H&N, posted to KBC 7/30/17.

U.S. Senate bill includes Klamath measures, H&N, posted to KBC 7/30/17. "Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, both Oregon Democrats, as well as U.S.Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., and Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., worked with KWUA for six months on the elements of the amendment. The bill amendment also received support from U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, both California Democrats, and the leadership of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee." 7/31/17 - See article for CORRECTION

Legislature's House Democrats sidestep State Constitution to raise $670 million, by Oregon State Legislator Werner Reischke, House District 56, posted to KBC 7/30/17

Local rancher, Tom Mallams, challenging well shutdown, H&N, posted to KBC 7/26/17. "...Mallams has petitioned Marion County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Hart to overturn OWRD’s order because it’s “not supported by substantial evidence” as required by Oregon law..." KBC NOTE: Tom Mallams told KBC News he has not been interviewed by Herald and News or Capital Press regarding this matter within the past two years.

BOR acting commissioner tours Basin; New biological opinion, future of water agreements considered, H&N, posted to KBC 7/26/17

Interior Secretary Zinke to meet with local (Klamath Falls) officials Saturday, (regarding Obama's monument expansion, OC&E land act, and water negotiations,) 7/14/17

Ranchers fume as ‘Rainbow Family’ set to camp on federal land in Oregon, H&N, posted to KBC 7/14/17. "He said the “takeover of federal ground” is no different than the Bundy group’s occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters...."

California Farm Bureau Federation Friday Legislative Review 7/14/17, Bills: Cap and Trade, Commodities, Labor ( requires employers to demand search warrants or subpoenas for ICE enforcement and to notify the Labor Commissioner and employees and their representatives about ICE enforcement and its results), Natural Resources ( would require California to enforce the federal Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act (ESA), and their implementing regulations and policies as were in place on January 1, 2016 or January 1, 2017, whichever version is the most stringent), ( would make several changes to the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) ), Transportation, Water (more requirements and demands).

POSTED TO KBC 7/11/17 *** Chrysten Lambert: Klamath River Compact Commission, former Klamath Basin Rangeland Trust director, and current Trout Unlimited Water Project Director * Chrysten Lambert, Obama Appointee for Federal Representative, Klamath River Compact Commission 2/5/15 Lambert, Jim Root's daughter, was former director of KBRT / Klamath Basin Rangeland Trust. KBRT merged with Trout Unlimited, so now Lambert is director of TU Water Project * NOTE: Jim Root biography: President KBRT / Klamath Basin Rangeland Trust, Board of Directors National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, owner international company Sobroso Company, international consultant, chairman of the Crater Lake National Park Trust, secretary treasurer for Klamath dam-removal group Klamath River Renewal (along with attorney Richard Collins-Roos and others) * Klamath Basin Rangeland trust: Water savings less than hoped in payment effort, H&N 2/22/04 * Klamath Basin Rangeland Trust and Trout Unlimited announce merger, award of $7.6M from NRCS to support partnerships with agriculture in upper Klamath Basin, Trout Unlimited 2/18/16. "Chrysten Lambert, formerly of KBRT and now Director of TU (Trout Unlimited) Oregon Water Project" * Articles regarding former KBRT closed door meetings in the Klamath Basin * Trout Unlimited Run by Wall Street Banks & Energy Giants, and Klamath Basin Crisis: Farmers Know Trout Unlimited All Too Well, by Toni Thayer April 29, 2014, Watching-the-Watchers.com. "One day you're farming, minding your own business, and life's good. The next day, and for the following nine years, you're fighting thieves who want your property and your livelihood. Using junk science and lots of propaganda, the thieves band together in meetings to hammer out the details of stealing your property and divvying it up amongst themselves. And you, the lawful property owner, are only one against the massive den of thieves." * Trout Unlimited was a "stakeholder" in the Klamath dam-removal water agreements: http://klamathbasincrisis.org/settlement/stakeholders/list010810.htm

Bills moving through Congress: House Natural Resource Meeting 6/27 for Mark Up of Bills - Important! posted to KBC 6/26/17. Proposed Federal Land acquisitions, etc.

Action Alert! SB 252 Hampers Progress of SGMA / Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, 6/26/17, California Farm Bureau Federation  6/26/17

Why California gun owners may be breaking the law on July 1, Sac Bee 6/26/17.

Democrats vs Republicans in Salem's Senate; "Salem's priorities are twisted", Sen. Alan Olsen 6/26/17.

Dems kill Republicans' effort to safeguard academic faculty from being exploited by thuggish Unions, Senator Dennis Linthicum 6/26/17

California Farm Bureau Federation Friday Legislative Review 6/23/17, posted to KBC 6/26/17. California Beef Commission assessment, rodent control, 'Call Before You Dig,' employers to provide 1q2 weeks parental leave to bond with baby, vineyard assessment, exemption for Cal/OSHA regulations from regulatory assessment, water diversions, irrigation ponds, mandate for new water well permit applicants.
California Farm Bureau Federation Friday Legislative Review 6/16/17, posted to KBC 6/26/17: a record high $183.2 billion state budget, BOE reforms that eliminate checks and balances, oversight, and accountablilty, dam safety, new well permit requirements.

"Brown AWOL on veterans issues" by Oregon State Senator Kim Thatcher 6/12/17

Water adjudication: Wogan hears exceptions to state's decree, H&N, posted to KBC 6/12/17.

Water discord: Upper Basin ranchers seek solution with Tribes, and A long family history on the homestead H&N, posted to KBC 6/12/17

Permanent ban on suction dredging passes Oregon House, H&N, posted to KBC 6/12/17.

Reclamation cancels water surges on Klamath River, H&N, posted to KBC 6/12/17.

Letters opposing the National Park Service (NPS)-preferred  Alternative Plan C to develop the WWII Japanese Relocation Camp. With the current lawsuit by the Japanese Tule Lake Committee against our Tulelake Airport, Modoc County, and City of Tulelake, NPS encouraging tours to be conducted on the airport throughout the day, efforts to buy more land for their monument, etc, our community opposes the NPS multimillion $ plan to develop 1400 acres already acquired for their monument.
*Letter from U.S. Congressman LaMalfa to National Park Service regarding Alternatives for developing WWII Japanese Relocation Camp, Tule Lake Unit of WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument General Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (GMP/EA) posted 5/29/17.
* Letter from Modoc County to NPS regarding Alternatives for WWII Tule Lake Unit Valor in the Pacific NPS GMP and EA, posted 5/29/17
*Letter from Siskiyou County to National Park Service regarding Alternatives for developing WWII Tule Lake Unit Valor in the Pacific NPS GMP and EA posted 5/29/17
* Letter from Macys Flying Service, Tulelake, to their community regarding NPS General Management Plan for Tulelake WWII Japanese relocation camp
* Letter from Tulelake Growers Association to National Park Service regarding Tule Lake Unit of WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument General Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (GMP/EA) posted 5/29/17.
* Letter from Tulelake Irrigation District to National Park Service regarding Alternatives for developing WWII Tule Lake Unit Valor in the Pacific NPS GMP and EA posted 5/29/17
* Letter from City of Tulelake to NPS regarding Alternatives for WWII Tule Lake Unit Valor in the Pacific NPS GMP and EA, posted 5/29/17
* HERE for KBC News Japanese relocation camp/Tulelake airport page

*Tule Lake Committee website, where our community of WWI and WWII veterans and their families are called "white supremists." 

Opposition expressed to Lava Beds status change, H&N, posted to KBC 5/13/17. "A recurring theme was the fear the Japanese-American group opposing fencing of the Tulelake Airport might try to incorporate expansion of the Tule Lake Unit of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument with legislation re-designating Lava Beds...The committee recently refiled a lawsuit against Modoc County for plans to develop a fence around the Tule Lake Airport."  "Mickey Gimmel, Pit River Tribe chairman, mostly focused his sometimes angry comments on concerns about the Medicine Lake Highlands, which border the park and have been considered for geothermal development. “You better take us seriously and talk to us,” he barked. “We can be in opposition or we could be with you.”

'In the judge's hands now,' Attorneys deliver closing arguments in (Klamath 2001 Water) 'Takings' case, H&N, posted to KBC 5/12/17.

California Farm Bureau Federation Friday Legislative Review, 5/12/17. Millions of $ to State Water Resources, Fish and Wildlife, Cal Fire,  "Governor is proposing a significant increase in funds to cover the cost of Proposition 64 (recreational cannabis legalization) implementation." $94.6 Million, $3M to promote California Grown, minimum salary overtime increase, "significant new mandates on agricultural water suppliers, costing districts hundreds of millions of dollars..." well permit mandates.....

Matthew 5:8: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God

An old injustice won't justify a newer one, H&N letter to editor by David Porter Misso, posted to KBC 5/7/17. "Great news for lawyer fees, thanks to the (Japanese) Tule Lake Committee / TLC and its new and improved lawsuit to shut down our Tulelake Airport and close the largest non-governmental business in this part of Modoc County...The TLC must start working to improve their anti-rural prejudice and help build a top notch educational visitor center..."

Fish over farms — again? We have get back to the table, by Oregon State Senator Dennis Linthicum, District 28, guest writer for H&N. "...On April 13, the Klamath Tribes, who have senior instream rights, notified OWRD of a call on the Wood, Sprague and Williamson Rivers and tributaries, including Upper Klamath Marsh...Riparian areas are thriving and current flows are off the charts, making any talk of drought or shortage simply ridiculous... If the tribes call water during one of the highest water years on record, one can safely wonder if their goal is fishing, hunting or other heritage practices?..."

Water call should send message Basin needs a real answer, Area needs congressional help for a long-term plan, H&N View, posted to KBC 5/7/17. "...The local community should accept the fact that an overall settlement isn’t going to happen without a land settlement with the Tribes. Yes, land for water. Accept it and move on..." KBC ANALYSIS: H&N got it right...it's not about fish, it's "land for water". Tribes sold reservation. Tribes will call on irrigation water (like happening in this flood year) until they can get their land given back to them again, and the Klamath hydroelectric dams destroyed. Some call it 'blackmail.'

CALIFORNIA - CFBF Friday Legislative Review, posted to KBC 5/7/17: restricts an employer’s ability to consider an applicant’s criminal or conviction history in making employment decisions, water measurement, streambed clarification, expand values to preserve rivers in their free-flowing state designated as wild and scenic under the California Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, imposes significant new mandates on agricultural water suppliers, costing districts hundreds of millions of dollars, well permit mandates, drinking water fund...

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

Tribal chairman defends water call, H&N posted to KBC  5/1/17. "Ranchers in the upper basin have criticized the call, claiming they will have a short window to irrigate and water their cattle this spring, and they have no water available the rest of the summer. Some believe this call could put them out of business....“We're just asking for justice,” Gentry said. “We're just trying to hang onto what has been reserved by treaty despite what has happened to us..."

KBC NOTE: The Klamath Tribal members voted to terminate their tribe. $220,647,000 was paid to the Klamath Tribes. Regarding their votes, "There were return receipts signed by each and every member of the Klamath tribe(Unconquered, Uncontrolled, by Carrol Howe). "One Klamath Indian, Edison Chiloquin...refused to accept the payment and demanded land instead..."  

Regulation headed for Wood River, H&N, posted to KBC 5/1/17. “Everybody above the Lower Williamson system, all the way up to Sprague and Sycan and on up into the Williamson itself are effectively regulated..." "snowpack ...ranges anywhere from 130 to 146 percent (in some areas) of average for the water year..."

Tribes Issue Water Claim, Ranchers Fear the Worst, H&N, posted to KBC  5/1/17. "In April 2014, ranchers and the Tribes signed the Upper Basin Comprehensive Agreement. The ranchers agreed to retire 18,000 acres of land or 30,000 acre feet of water and do riparian repair work on the rivers in exchange for an allotment of water each year…At the end of February, the Tribes indicated to the ranchers they wanted to terminate the agreement..."

EXECUTIVE ORDER: REVIEW OF DESIGNATIONS UNDER THE ANTIQUITIES ACT by President Donald Trump 4/27/17. "The review of monuments to reverse goes back 10 years and designations must have been over 100,000 acres.  Congressman LaMalfa will be meeting with Secretary Zinke April 26,"  LaMalfa rep Erin Ryan.
President Obama's expansion of National Monuments in Oregon and California January 2017

Naked and Poor, April 2017 Newsletter by Oregon State Senator Dennis Linthicum - District 28. "Our real problem is that government growth has outpaced revenue growth by the $1.8B shortfall."

List of 15 regulations to be repealed; 11 alone will save $10 billion, Kevin McCarthy, Majority Leader, posted to KBC  5/1/17.

California Farm Bureau Federation Friday Legislative Review, posted to KBC 5/1/17. WELCOME TO CALIFORNIA! "...would create individual facility GHG emissions caps and empower the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to establish “no-trade zones” and facility declining caps; forbids an employer from granting federal immigration enforcement authorities access to their place of business without a search warrant or providing employee-related records to federal immigration enforcement authorities without a subpoena. It requires an employer to provide notice to employees of known future enforcement action by a federal immigration agency;  would create a state-operated single-payer universal health insurance program intended to provide health care to all California residents. SB 562 includes no mechanism to pay for this program. SB 562 passed the Senate Health Committee on a 5-2 vote;  would have imposed a state inheritance tax if the federal inheritance tax law is repealed;  would require California to enforce the federal Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act (ESA), and their implementing regulations and policies that were in place on January 1, 2016 or January 1, 2017, whichever version is the most stringent; new mandates on agricultural water suppliers, costing districts hundreds of millions of dollars

EPA Disregard for "WOTUS" Prior Converted Cropland Exclusion Kills Ag Jobs and Contributes to National Security Risk, Canada Free Press by Laurence Kogan, posted to KBC 5/1/17

Wolf foes, friends have their say, Citizens speak out about wolf management at ODFW hearing, H&N posted to KBC 5/1/17. SEND COMMENTS

Matthew 4:6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled."

OWRD responds to Tribes' call on (Klamath) water, H&N, posted to KBC 4/23/17. "I’m very disappointed that this call has been initiated by the Klamath Tribes and validated by the Oregon Water Resources Department at a time when our rivers are literally running over their banks,” (State Rep. E. Werner) Reschke said in a statement. “This decision negatively impacts farmers and ranchers up and down the basin and defies conventional logic. Oregonians lose when we allow one group to exercise exorbitant control over the rights of others..."

(Klamath) Tribal water call: 'Devastating.' Ranchers in the upper basin react to water call, H&N, posted to KBC 4/23/17.

Oregon wolf management plan, Finding balance with a new apex predator, H&N posted to KBC 4/23/17. "...The state documented 64 wolves at the end of 2013, and a minimum of 112 by the end of 2016, including 11 packs and eight breeding pairs..." "The draft plan requires three confirmed depredations or one confirmed and four “probable” attacks within a 12 month period. The previous standard was two confirmed depredations or one confirmed and three attempted attacks, with no time period set...The groups also believe ODFW should continue collaring wolves, and should set a population cap for wolves in Oregon. Without a benchmark, 1we will not be able to tell when wolves have reached their natural carrying capacity' in the state, the Farm Bureau said... ranchers’ views aren’t reflected in the draft plan...' "

US Food Security and Farmers’ Livelihoods at Stake in “Waters of the US” Rule Rewrite, WLF by Lawrence A. Kogan, posted to KBC 4/23/17.

Lava Beds deserves to be a national park, H&N, posted to KBC 4/23/17. "...The National Park Service is also adding another historical aspect to the local area with development of the Tule Lake Unit of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, which is being administered by personnel at the Lava Beds. It will include remnants of the Tule Lake Segregation Center and Camp Tulelake, in which Japanese Americans were forcibly interned after World War II began...."

!! Lava Beds tour May 10, 2 pm regarding National Monument designation change

? !!! Klamath Tribes make call on Upper Klamath water, Water Resources Department, Klamath Falls April 14, posted to KBC 4/17/17. "Klamath Tribes have notified OWRD of a call (request) for water on the Sprague, Williamson, and Wood Rivers and tributaries, and the Klamath Marsh..."     FROM MARCH 2017: Flows from Upper Klamath increase amid flood mitigation, Sprague River remains high, H&N, posted to KBC 3/25/17. "... the local snowpack is 113 percent of normal...No evacuations have yet been ordered as high waters along the Sprague River flow downstream, posing minor flood threats to properties in the Chiloquin and Sprague River areas." Flooding possible along Sprague River, H&N posted to KBC 3/25/17 Klamath Basin water year looks promising, H&N, posted to KBC 4/17/17. "...It’s looking like there will be full deliveries of water to the Klamath Basin water users...As of April 1, the snowpack was 122 percent of average and the total precipitation was 139 percent of average, the bureau said... 'Collaboration has been a successful model for solving problems in the Klamath Basin and biological opinion consultation should not be an exception to that.' ...

The Klamath Project’s 2017 Operations Plan is available at https://on.doi.gov/2pqXcgn  If you encounter problems accessing the document, call 916-978-5100 (TTY 800-877-8339) or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov

***Wolf report review slated for ODFW meeting April 21, followed by: Wolf numbers continue to rise in Klamath County, PUBLIC COMMENT SOUGHT ABOUT MANAGEMENT PLANH&N, posted to KBC 4/17/17. "Information about the meeting agenda, wolf survey results and the revised draft wolf management plan are available at http://bit.ly/2p57Zxv "

Signs of change: Congressional aides visit Lava Beds, H&N, posted to KBC 4/17/17: "...ongoing efforts to rally Congressional support for having Lava Beds redesignated as a national park...a second meeting is planned for 2 p.m., May 10, again beginning at the Tulelake-Butte Valley Fairgrounds office in Tulelake, with a longer tour of Lava Beds, possibly including a cave visit..."

Irrigators file lawsuit over Klamath refuge restrictions, H&N from Capital Press 4/13/17. "The Tulelake Irrigation District, Klamath Water Users Association, Tulelake Growers Association and three private farms have now filed a complaint against the agency, arguing that plans for the Tule Lake and Lower Klamath refuges violate federal laws."

Tule Lake Committee re-files airport fencing lawsuit, H&N 4/13/17. KBC brief overview: Indians dwelled in this region, including where our Tulelake Airport is, for hundreds or more years. It was farmed since the turn of the century. For four years, after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans were relocated to Newell, within the Tulelake Basin. Later those who refused to pledge their allegiance to the USA were confined here with their families until the end of WWII, while our local veterans were either fighting in the foreign war or in Japanese POW camps. As with other relocation camps, after the war the camp was removed. In the 1950's the Tulelake Airport was built to service 200x200 / 40,000 square miles of agriculture, along with emergency airlifts, Forest Service wildfire airplane refueling, emergency landings, and to be a regular airport for our basin. In the past several years, the Japanese have acquired over 1400 acres of land to tell their story. They feel over 6000 acres, wherever they walked, is their sacred land. The Japanese Americans and their partners CAIR,  Council on American-Islamic Relations, are encouraging the lawsuit against our county, city and family-run airport, so they can acquire our airport to add to their monument. Our local National Park Service is encouraging their getting onto the airport. The Indians and local communities support our airport and oppose the Japanese expansion of more land. The NPS General Management plan option C, many millions of dollars, was opposed by our communities after the NPS encouraged the Japanese to get onto the airport. Opposition was from the City of Tulelake, Modoc County, Siskiyou County, Tulelake Irrigation District, Tulelake Growers Association, Congressman LaMalfa, and KBC News constituents. The Tule Lake Committee website blasts our White veterans who homesteaded here and us "white supremacist", https://www.tulelake.org . Our community initially looked forward to working together and telling our whole community's history; their lawsuits don't appear to make good neighbors. Japanese vs Tulelake Controversy page

Siskiyou County Supervisors meeting agenda for April 11 , Yreka 3:15. Discussion will continue regarding proposed Siskiyou County Counsel Brad Sullivan.

California Farm Bureau Federation Friday Legislative Review, posted to KBC 4/11/17. " $52 billion in additional fuel and vehicles taxes, the state’s largest fuel tax in history..." $.20/gallon diesel tax, .12/gal. gas, additional diesel taxes, minimum salary increase, parental leave requirement, ESA changes, expands wild and scenic protections to 1/4 mile on each side of river, streambed and drinking water issues, ......

Tomorrow, April 4th, is vote on proposed Siskiyou County Counsel Brad Sullivan, member of Sierra Nevada Alliance, 4/3/17. Call your Siskiyou County Supervisor, or, attend meeting. Sierra Nevada Alliance is anti-dams, anti-mining.

Top 10 Stupidest New Laws in California for 2017, by Former California State Assemblyman, posted to KBC 4/3/17. Backpacks for cow farts, felons voting, early release for rape and sex trafficking of minors, legalize child prostitution, ...

Miners Group Urges Reversal of California Mining Ruling by William Perry Pendley, Mountain States Legal Foundation, posted to KBC 4/3/17.

Oregon Legislative Review Newsletter by OFS, posted to KBC 4/3/17: pesticide labeling, foresters against HB 3226, EPA Pruitt denies pesticide ban petition, Gov. Brown fires DEQ commissioners, hemp bill, doubling Cascade-Siskiyou Monument, regulation of COW FARTS: "...in addition to smelling bad and causing global warming, cow farts can irritate your eyes, cause memory loss, and even death..."

California Farm  Bureau Federation Friday Legislative Review, posted to KBC 4/3/17. CARB regulations against diesel trucks, " 500% increase in the sales tax collected for diesel," seed and plant labeling requirement, "AB 450 (David Chiu, D-San Francisco) was substantially amended on March 23 to add language forbidding an employer from granting federal immigration enforcement authorities access to their place of business without a search warrant or providing employee-related records to federal immigration enforcement authorities without a subpoena... $10,000 to $25,000 per violation," Cal ESA changes, "...expand the extraordinary values for 1,362 miles of rivers designated as wild and scenic under the California Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. It would also expand current protections to include the river and adjacent lands within one-quarter mile on each side of the river," new regulations for new groundwater well permit,...)

James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

*** Oregon Rep Reschke seeks comments on three water bills, H&N, posted to KBC 3/25/17. "Installation of measuring devices on streams can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Daily maintenance can add up to thousands of dollars in additional labor costs. The annual reporting, and more often if the Oregon Water Resources Department requests, of 'water amount, rate, and duty' will add thousands of more dollars, annually, in time and additional out-of-pocket expense. 'The inclusion of a $500 civil penalty for each day of violation of the act...' "

Top-notch Deception by Oregon State Senator Dennis Linthicum - District 28, News Ticker Opinion, Wallowa Valley Online, posted to KBC 3/25/17. Linthicum represents Jackson, Klamath, Lake, Deschutes and Crook counties. "If a Democrat House member gets his way, the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) will load stiff economic, land and water management problems right into the lap of Oregon’s farmers, ranchers, cattle and dairymen..."

Flows from Upper Klamath increase amid flood mitigation, Sprague River remains high, H&N, posted to KBC 3/25/17. "... the local snowpack is 113 percent of normal...No evacuations have yet been ordered as high waters along the Sprague River flow downstream, posing minor flood threats to properties in the Chiloquin and Sprague River areas."

Flooding possible along Sprague River, H&N posted to KBC 3/25/17

California Farm Bureau Federation Friday Legislative Review, posted to KBC 3/25/17. "AB 975 would expand the extraordinary values for 1,362 miles of rivers designated as wild and scenic under the California Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, as well as expand current protections to include the river and adjacent lands within one-quarter mile on each side of the river...Farm Bureau opposes as written."

California Farm Bureau Federation Friday Legislative Review posted to KBC 3/25/17. "SB 49 would require California to enforce the federal Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act (ESA), and their implementing regulations and policies as they were on January 1, 2016, or January 1, 2017, whichever version is the most stringent..."

Federal agencies work to create water shortages Commentary by Dennis Wyatt, CFBF Ag Alert, posted to KBC 3/25/17. "...As the Army Corps of Engineers was busy trying to juggle releases from Don Pedro not to have a repeat of the 1997 flooding south of Manteca, and 200,000 people were fleeing for their lives when it looked like Oroville Dam might be overwhelmed, the fine bureaucrats at the National Marine Fisheries Service were busy working on the next water shortage..."

Ranchers oppose cuts to wolf compensation, predator control, Capital Press, posted to KBC 3/21/17.

Judge dismisses lawsuit against grazing on eight Oregon allotments, Oregonian, posted to KBC 3/21/17. "A federal judge has rejected environmentalist arguments that cattle grazing has unlawfully harmed endangered sucker fish in Oregon’s Fremont-Winema National Forest." 

Worst Klamath chinook run on record forecast, management option could close vast swath of fishery, Oregonian, posted to KBC 3/21/17.

Rethink (dam) Removal, The Malibu Times letter to the editor, posted to KBC 3/21/17. "The rationale for spending $160 million or so over eight years to bring down the dam and cart off the silt behind it: To allow Steelhead trout to swim another 10 miles upstream in Malibu Creek. (That is about $1.6 million per fish, I figure.)"

Judge rules groups can intervene in Cascade-Siskiyou lawsuit, H&N, posted to KBC 3/21/17

Thousands of irrigators could be eligible to join 'takings' suit. Forms must be submitted for compensation, posted to KBC 3/14/17

KID rejoins KWUA after a year's absence, H&N, posted to KBC 3/3/17

California Farm Bureau Federation Friday Legislative Review 3/3/17. SB 50 would prohibit the filing or recording of a deed for property sold by the federal government unless the State Lands Commission is provided the right of first refusal to purchase the land or the right to arrange for the transfer of property to another entity. Over $3billion for trails and land acquisitions etc. Mandate for Calif. to enforce Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and ESA. Permanent taxes and fees to raise $5.5billion. Gas, diesel and vehicle registration tax,

Comments due Feb 28 NPS General Management Plan for Tulelake WWII Japanese relocation camp

Comments due Feb 27, Monday, Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, Water Code 10720, regarding should City of Tulelake, Siskiyou County, Modoc County, and TID each become a Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA). We have been given no previous information on the pros and cons, however comments are due tomorrow at the informational meeting or to be received tomorrow by mail.
Meetings: Tulelake 10am Feb 27 at firehall, 1 PM Tulelake Airport.
Link to California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014: recommendations for preventing and resolving groundwater conflicts, such as groundwater adjudication, management fees, legal and policy issues, "property rights reform", tiered pricing vs pumping tax, pros and cons. One interesting quote p 28: "State board needs to provide real and concrete threat of state takeover and criteria that will cause it." Another link for information--mentions possible tribal control of management.  http://www.water.ca.gov/groundwater/sgm/pdfs/Proposed_GSP_Regs_2016_05_10.pdf  

Letter from Macys Flying Service, Tulelake, to their community regarding NPS General Management Plan for Tulelake WWII Japanese relocation camp Includes where to send comments.

Increased flows begin at Link River Dam, H&N, posted to KBC 2/26/17
See how full area reservoirs are:   www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/klamath/teacup.html

Tule Lake Unit, World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument comments by Rudy Hiley February 26, 2017

Transcribed VIDEO - Klamath County Board of Commissioners Meeting 2/14/17, Reaffirmation that the Klamath County Board of Commissioners opposes Klamath Dam Removal, posted to KBC 2/25/17.

George Takei sets phaser to ‘American Spring,’ calls for revolution against Trump, Washington Times 2/27/17.
George Takei, filmmaker/actor, 'Stop the Fence Tulelake', opposes erecting a security fence around our airport in Tulelake which services from Chiloquin, Oregon to Susanville, CA, 40,000 square miles for rural agriculture land. Takei just released films in 400 cities (NOT the Klamath Basin) on life in the relocation camp in Tulelake after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Presently there is a lawsuit to stop the fence, and the Japanese want our airport gone so they can eventually develop the camp where they lived for four years.

Stop Scaring People George Takei 11/21/16 Breitbart. "Star Trek icon George Takei recently sent me — and perhaps thousands of other people — an email on behalf of the Democratic Party, under the subject “Japanese internment. The purpose of the spam is to scare liberals into donating to the Democrats, on the theory that President-elect Donald Trump is planning to round up Muslims in the same way..."

What is being proposed is a “Taking” pure and simple. NPS encroaching onto the Tule Lake airport and the advocation group involved are an overreach on the part of NPS, letter to KBC News by Werner Hoyt, posted to KBC 2/25/17

BRING ON OVER 4000 NEW CALIFORNIA REGULATIONS/MANDATES! California Farm Bureau Federation Friday Legislative Review, posted to KBC 2/24/17. "The tally for this year is a total of 2,495 bills introduced with the Senate producing 808 bills and the Assembly with 1,687 bills..." Climate change policies, mandate where prisons and schools buy food, OSHA, prohibits employers to enquire about job applicant's criminal history (murder?, rape?, child molestation?, robbery?) paid 12-16 weeks parental leave, safe harbor, water storage, ...

Klamath 'Takings' trial adjourns, H&N 2/15/17. "The two-week trial started on Jan. 30 at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, within walking distance of the White House. More than 20 irrigators or those representing the interests of irrigators testified during the trial of their losses in 2001 when water was shutoff to benefit endangered fish downstream."

Water decisions are not making any sense, by former Klamath County Commissioner Tom Mallams, H&N, posted to KBC 2/20/17. "The irony of this is so obvious. The rivers are at flood stage or very near it, and OWRD finally lifts the tribal call on the water...This applies to all uses on the listed water right, including stock water, and domestic...surface water, (rivers, creeks and springs), and ground water, (wells). Most all of the rights list irrigation as a listed use." "...A single judge and our federal government send extra water down the Klamath River for fish in the middle of a flood. You would certainly think a flood event would contain enough water for any fish needs, including flush or pulse flows. It is absolutely necessary that logic and true science drive the decisions critical to the survival of our local economies..."

Counties sue to overturn monument expansion, followed by Two lumber companies sue over monument expansion H&N, posted to KBC 2/20/19. "Filed Monday in federal court in Washington, D.C., the suit claims former President Barack Obama did not have the authority to include roughly 48,000 acres of designated timberland in the expansion, which affected land in Klamath and Jackson counties in Oregon, and Siskiyou County in California."

California - Minimum wage, truck exemption among new laws, CFBF, posted to KBC 2/20/17.

Groups seek changes in how national monuments begin, CFBF AgAlert, posted to KBC 2/20/17.

Judge mandates more irrigation water down Klamath River during flood, Liz Writes Life, Siskiyou Daily News, posted 2/20/17

Klamath River floods as Jerry Brown set to tear down dams, Breitbart, posted to KBC 2/18/17. "The un-noticed Klamath River, even with its dam system still in place, is expected to flood and potentially cause serious damage to the North Coast when the rains hit. If four of the seven dams were already torn down, the flood and destruction from the Klamath River would likely have been be epic."

Pulse flow curbed in wake of downstream concerns, H&N, posted to KBC 2/18/17. KBC note: Tribes and environmental groups sought court order to take 100,000 acre feet of water from Klamath Irrigator storage to wash a parasite out of the river on an already high water year.  Tribes saw their homes might get wet. "In the Happy Camp area, where river water levels were reaching the highway, residents were getting nervous...Due to the danger looming downstream and terribly high water levels just from the run-off from the river and side hills, we decided to scale back."

No major losses reported due to Sprague flooding, H&N, posted to KBC 2/18/17

California Farm Bureau Federation Friday Legislative Review 2/17/17. Includes rodent control, Calif. farm product buyer mandates, funding of the Open Space Subvention program,  more than a dozen water measures, Cal State Water Resources Control Board mandates, regulations for stockponds, and MORE.

California Farm Bureau Federation Friday Legislative Review 2/10/17. Blackbird regulations, Spotted Owl issues, water rights fees, groundwater management, well permits, access to affordable water....

Matthew 10:8 - "Freely you have received; freely give."

Reclamation pulls back on water releases, H&N 2/11/17.

Bureau to release Klamath water pulse Friday, H&N 2/10/17.

PRESS RELEASE: 2/9/17 - Statement From Representative Werner Reschke On Federal Court Decision Related To Klamath River.

Court orders extra water to protect salmon, H&N 2/9/17. "...The Yurok Tribe, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (PCFFA), Institute for Fisheries Resources (IFR), Klamath Riverkeeper and the Hoopa Valley Tribe sought a court order to compel the Bureau of Reclamation to manage river flows to protect juvenile Coho salmon. The case was heard last week. “Mismanagement of Klamath River flows below four major dams led to an outbreak of disease from a parasite called C. shasta in more than 90 percent of sampled juvenile salmon in 2015 and nearly that many in 2014,” according to a press release from EarthJustice.org... According to court documents, the defendants claim the proposed flows will require withholding more than 100,000 acre-feet of water from the irrigation districts that rely on water for agriculture in the Klamath Basin. The Klamath Water Users and the Klamath Irrigation District, and others on the project, filed as interveners on behalf of the federal agencies in the case. Scott White, director for the Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA), said he had not seen the order yet, but bemoaned the fact that the issue was not resolved at the negotiating table..."

KBC NOTE: Earthjustice is funded by George Soros.  "...Earthjustice was founded as the "Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund" in 1971.This group seeks to place severe restrictions on how U.S. land and waterways may be used. It opposes most mining and logging initiatives, commercial fishing businesses, and the use of motorized vehicles in undeveloped areas....Earthjustice has provided free legal representation to more than 600 client organizations."    Former Earthjustice clients: PCFFA, Klamath Riverkeeper (board members are Craig Tucker, Karuk Tribal Spokesman and Leaf Hillman, Karuk Counsel President, Yurok Tribal member Frankie Meyers and Klamath Tribal member David Taylor), PCFFA founded IFR. The Yurok Tribe, PCFFA, IFR, and Karuk Tribe were "friends" / "stakeholders" of KWUA, and claimed to support Klamath farmers in the KBRA / Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement. Yet in a 2011 video Tucker called the Klamath farmers "enemies", and pledged to work to destroy Keno Dam after the other Klamath River hydro dams are destroyed.

PRESS RELEASE: Reclamation to Release Water Below Iron Gate Dam to Address Fish Health Concerns in Klamath River, Bureau of Reclamation 2/9/17

(Klamath) Irrigators testify to their losses, Trial results could be wide-ranging, H&N 2/5/17. " 'I refer personally to it as Black Friday,' Horsley said."

For February 2017 chronological news, see Archive 177
For Main Archive Page go HERE.

God Bless America !