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Our Klamath Basin Water Crisis
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own property, and caretake our wildlife and natural resources.
 

Archive 81 - February 2009
also  see main archive page

Around 1900, Link River, between Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna, occasionally went dry before the Klamath Project was built. There was no hydropower, no hatcheries, occasionally no fish (fish need water), no artificially-raised river flows or lake levels.  HERE for more

Oregon Senator Doug Whitsett newsletter, Budget and Revenue: "The reductions in funding for the Judicial Branch of government were so severe that they will result in the closure of all state courts every Friday from March 13, 2009 through June 30, 2009..." posted to KBC 2/28/09  

U.S. Gov't Accountability Office testimony on Potential Effects and factors to consider in a move of the  Forest Service into the Department of the Interior, posted 2/28/09

Delta Town Hall meeting in Walnut Grove (6/24/08) questions to regarding the taking of their irrigation water. http: //ww w.water.ca.gov/deltainit/docs/062408WalnutGrove.pdf

Why should people pay for (Klamath) dam removal? by Rick Sonerholm, letter to editor H&YN posted to KBC  2/27/09. "A 1896 study of Klamath Basin aquaculture by Barton Warren Evermann, S.E. Meek and A.B. Alexander, described Upper Klamath Lake this way: “Very shallow, vast amounts of decaying vegetation carried into it and the ever-increasing area of tule lands render it more shallow year by year. Water quality degradation in the Upper Klamath Lake watershed has led to large-scale fish kills related to algal bloom cycles in the lake. This has probably always been a problem, even prior to farming and ranching in the area. The source of the lake’s nutrients was volcanic soils.”

Congressman (Radanovich) launches effort to ease ESA, Capital Press, posted 2/27/09. "Radanovich, who has represented the 19th Congressional District for seven terms, said he has the support from his Valley colleagues and hopes to convince both California senators of the importance of keeping water flowing to farmers."

Obama’s budget brings strong ag reaction, 2/27/09, by Forrest Laws, Farm Press Editorial Staff

Lawmakers seek billions to expand, improve California's water supply, LA Times 2/27/09.

California Farm Bureau Federation Friday Review (of Bills), 2/27/09 "Two water bond proposals, one from Senator Dean Florez (D-Shafter), and another from Senator Dave Cogdill (R-Fresno) were introduced this week for the purpose of financing water supply reliability and environmental restoration programs"

Schwarzenegger declares Calif. drought emergency, Capital Press 2/27/09

Farmers' groups need to get angry, Capital Press, posted 2/27/09

Supreme Court redefines tribal and federal understandings of IRA; Tribes may seek Congressional fix, Indian Country Today 2/27/09

Agencies ordered to share documents with environmentalists, Capital Press, posted to KBC 2/27/09.

Water hopes drying up, Capital Press 2/27/09

Uncompensated Takings by Susan Sutton (regarding California Delta water takings) 2/25/09

Tie 'em to a tree so they can visit with the spotted owls, Pioneer Press, posted to KBC 2/25/09 by Margo Perryman

Hastings Speaks on House Floor to Expose Democrat Grab for Vast New Climate Change Powers Hidden in Spending Bill, House Natural Resource  Committee News Release 2/25/09

Interior’s Delay on OCS Leasing is really a Moratorium, House Natural Resource Committee 2/25/09

Calif. judge gives federal government three more months on new rules to protect endangered fish, McClatchy Newspapers, posted to KBC 2/25/09

$740 Million Goes to States for Fish and Wildlife Projects;  Pacific Region States Receive $57 Million, FWS News Release, posted 2/25/09

Revised Critical Habitat Designated for Canada Lynx, FWS, posted 2/25/09. "39,000 square
miles fall within the boundaries of the revised critical habitat designation....Excluded
areas include: Tribal lands..."

Center for Biological Diversity Declares Legal War on Global Warming, WBRT 2/25/09

CARCIERI, GOVERNOR OF RHODE ISLAND, et al. v. SALAZAR, SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, et al., certiorari to the united states court of appeals for the first circuit, No. 07-526. Argued November 3, 2008--Decided February 24, 2009. (KBC Note: a case of Tribes trying to acquire and put land into trust.)

Summary, comments end Camp, Dresser and McKee report, Siskiyou Daily News 2/24/09.

Congressman Greg Walden's Oregon Congressional Connection, 2/24/09. "Another common frustration I heard was with the rushed, closed-door process that produced the stimulus bill. A complete copy of the legislation was placed online for the first time at midnight on Feb. 12; then voted on a little over 12 hours later. Not even speed-reading legend Evelyn Wood could have read through all 1,073 pages of the bill in time to vote."

Democrats Slip Rider into Omnibus Appropriations Bill Allowing the Interior Department to Regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions, House Committee on Natural Resources 2/24/09

Family Farm Alliance: February 2009 "Monthly Briefing" (PDF) posted 2/24/09
* Final Family Farm Alliance Conference Schedule
* Stimulus Package Includes $1 Billion for USBR
* Alliance Sends Spending Rx to Cabinet Secretaries
* Congress Sets up New Water Committees
* Bob Johnson Joins Water Consult
* Thanks to our Donors!

Obama Releases Terrorist Binyam Mohamed, Move America Forward 2/24/09

S. Ore. (Savage Rapids) dam awaits removal; questions raised, posted to KBC 2/24/09

**Response to Klamath Hydroelectric Project (FERC 2082), Water Quality Certification, request to extend the February 23, 2009 comment deadline for scoping comments, sent to KBC by Ca State Water Resources Control Board, posted to KBC 2/23/09. Go HERE for more info on what comments the board is looking for.

Respecting Siskiyou County Resolution, Pioneer Press, posted to KBC 2/23/09. "...California Republican Party; Endorses, the Siskiyou County Republican Central Committee's support of the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors resolutions; opposing dam removal, and proposed solutions for the Klamath Basin,..."

No Feud between Cowboys, Indians, Shasta Indian, County Republicans unite against dam removal, Pioneer Press, posted to KBC 2/23/09

Removing (Klamath) Dams, H&N 2/23/09

6 boys and 13 hands - see our Military Page

What does your power bill pay for? and Breaking down a power bill, H&N, posted 2/23/09. Source-PacifiCorp

Obama signs 4th pro-union regulation; Projects must aid Big Labor, Washington Times, posted to KBC 2/23/09. "This executive order encouraging all federal agencies to adopt discriminatory, union-only project labor agreements is a shameless giveaway to Big Labor, which spent over a billion dollars to get Obama and pro-forced-unionism Democrats elected last year," said Stefan Gleason, vice president of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation."

New Report Highlights Extensive Economic Benefits from Offshore Drilling, Over a Million New Jobs Would be Created, House Committee on Natural Resources 2/23/09

2/23: Comments due regarding Klamath Dams for Ca. Water Board.

Shasta Nation Supports Siskiyou County Resolution, Pioneer Press, posted 2/23/09. "Let it be duly noted that the Shasta Nation recognizes green-energy, and supports hydro-power currently in place within Shasta Nation territory."

Potential socio-economic liabilities discussed in (Klamath Dam) report, Siskiyou Daily News, posted 2/23/09

California Farm Bureau Federation Friday Review…legislative update posted to KBC 2/23/09. More HERE

Salmon and Hydro, An Account of Litigation over Federal Columbia River Power System Biological Opoinions for Salmon and Steelhead, 1991-2009, February 2009 by CB Bulletin

Liability concerns part of (Klamath) discussion, H&N 2/23/09

Drought to Cut Off Federal Water to Calif. Farms, Newsmax, posted to KBC 2/23/09

(Columbia) Preseason Run Forecasts Show Improved Coho, Fall Chinook Numbers For This Year, CB Bulletin, posted 2/23/09

Small farmers irked by water cutback, Capital Press, posted 2/23/09

Family Farm Alliance Water Infrastructure Recommendations, posted 2/23/09

Department of Interior report, H&N, posted to KBC 2/22/09. "A recently released Department of Interior report that indicates liability costs for removing four Klamath River dams could be between $466 billion and $837 billion."

Why help ‘sex-crazed’ salmon return to spawn? H&N letter by H W Payne, 2/22/09

Oregon Senator Doug Whitsett Newsletter 2/20/09. "Explanation of the Budget Forecast," "Contemplated Closure of Kingsley Field."

A life in lumber, Claud Olsen, H&N, posted to KBC 2/22/09

Here’s why taxes can rise when property values drop, posted to KBC 2/22/09 by Klamath County Assessor Reg LeQuieu

Malin traditions, Jaternice dinner celebrates Czech heritage, H&N, posted to KBC 2/22/09

Stimulus may help Klamath irrigation; locals have been lobbying two federal departments, posted to KBC 2/22/09

’Tis the season to remember the reason for water storage, H&N, posted to KBC 2/22/09

Oregon Senate passes Klamath bill on dam removal funding, Capital Press 2/17/09

Agriculture in danger if dams are removed, H&N 2/17/09, letter to editor by Steve Rapalyea

Klamath Lake levels and River flows 2/9-2/16/09
Klamath Lake levels and River flows 2/2-2/9/09

Klamath Bull and Horse sale brings in more than $300K, Capital Press, posted to KBC 2/17/09

2/17 Klamath Water and Power Agency meeting   

Put hard caps of costs to power users for taking out (Klamath ) dams, H&N editorial 2/15/09. Plus KBC NOTE.

Paying for folly (Klamath hydrodam destruction) Albany Democrat Herald Editorial, posted 2/14/09

*House Bill 2157: The $96 Million Tax Increase, Oregon Senator Doug Whitsett Newsletter 2/13/09. "While Congress is racing to pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act to help address the economic free fall that our nation is experiencing, your Oregon legislature raced to pass legislation that unilaterally prohibits Oregonians from benefiting from that stimulus package."

Not all farmers favor Klamath deal, Capital Press by Tom Mallams, posted to KBC 2/14/09. "... I appreciate your mentioning the 1,850 individuals who signed petitions against the whole plan."

Who gets the real dam removal money? by C.E. “Mac” McEwen, Siskiyou Daily News, posted 2/14/09 

Unemployment compensation to be taxed in Oregon. Federally allowed rapid depreciation for new business equipment to be disallowed; Oregon Senate passes bill disconnecting state income taxes from federal tax breaks, Oregonian 2/14/09

Local farms lose operators and acreage; Latest agriculture census shows Klamath County losing 21 farms in past five years, H&N, posted to KBC 2/14/09

Multitude of issues meet at Klamath, Capital Press, posted 2/14/09. (KBC NOTE: the settlement 'agreement' was supposed to be public Jan. 2008, however since draft 11, it has been negotiated extensively in close-door meetings, Reps have been lobbied by the few at the settlement table, Calif and Oregon governors and PacifiCorp have agreed to dam removal pending studies and funding, and Senate Bill 76 is Oregon legislation to fund dam removal. NO public information, input...no transparency. We the public aren't allowed to read what rights the negotiators have given away. Siskiyou Co, where 3 of the 4 hydrodams are located, is opposed to the 'agreement'. 1850 community members are opposed to this being rammed down their throats in top-down force with no regard for the people's wishes.)

People don’t listen, and that’s a problem, H&N Letter to the Editor 2/14/09, Nell Kuonen, Klamath Falls, former County Commissioner

Klamath proposal gains support in Legislature, Committee endorses plan that would remove four dams, Capital Press 2/12/09. "One basin farmer in the Feb. 4 hearing handed committee members a petition opposing the plan signed by 1,850 Klamath-area landowners."

Camp Dresser & McKee Inc. (CDM Report or Report) costs of dam removal preface 2/12/09
CDM Report - Klamath Liability Determination 7/18/08. (Note by Siskiyou County Supervisor Marcia Armstrong, "
The cost estimates from these reports is $800 million, but they include the costs of impacts to Siskiyou County and sediment removal, while the American Rivers/ dam removal proponent's studies do not. These are additional costs for all the impacts and issues that Siskiyou County has raised which have not been considered/mitigated in either the KBRA or the AIP.")

Klamath dam removal bill clears senate committee, Oregonian 2/12/09. "The bill (SB76) passed the Senate Environment and Natural Resource Committee, 4-1, and could go before the full Senate as early as next week."

Proposed Amendments to Senate Bill SB76, posted to KBC 2/12/09

Don’t use power rates for dam removal costs, H&N 2/12/09

Dr. Ken  Rykbost comments on book by Dan Tarlock and Holly Doremus, Water War in the Klamath Basin, addressing some of the myths in the following article by the same authors: The Klamath Basin: The Tricky Business of Water Rights in the West, by Dan Tarlock and Holly Doremus, Center for Progressive Reform, posted to KBC 2/12/09

Legislators hear Klamath deal’s pros, cons; Sweeping proposal would require four dams to be removed, Capital Press, posted 2/7/09. Rancher and hay farmer Tom Mallams, meanwhile, handed committee members a petition signed by 1,850 farmers and ranchers in the basin opposing the plan.

Water Wars Wage in Fresno, KMPH Fox News26. 2/4/09, Lloyd Carter, CA. Board member of Water Impact Network and President of CA Save Our Streams council was on a panel debating Delta farmers and farm workers; "What parent raises their child to be a farm worker? These kids are the least educated people in America or the southwest corner of this Valley. They turn to lives of crime. They go on welfare. They get into drug trafficking and they join gangs."   (KBC Note: this is the anti-American mentality of well-funded groups trying to rewild the West and decimate our livelihoods, our people, our infrastructure (dams), and our farm supplies.)

Bleeding Heart Bureaucrats, Craig Chenoweth, Edna, 2/7/09

Family Farm Alliance Conference March 5-6.

Senator Doug Whitsett newsletter 2/6/09: Klamath dam demolition, destination resorts, real estate transfer tax, and stimulus package.

California Farm Bureau Federation Friday Review 2/6/09

2/7/09: Benefit dinner in memory of Nicholas Huffman, and raffle

Karuk Tribe and Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen sued Calif Dept of Fiah and Game to shut down suction dredge mining on the Klamath River, 2/5/09.

Salazar Voids Drilling Leases On Public Lands in Utah, Washington Post 2/5/09. "Interior Secretary Ken Salazar yesterday canceled oil and gas leases on 77 parcels of federal land after opponents said the drilling would blight Utah's scenic southeastern corner"...Kathleen Sgamma, director of government affairs for the Independent Petroleum Association of Mountain States, said natural gas producers in Utah and the intermountain West produce more than a quarter of the country's natural gas on less than 1 percent of its public land. 'We wonder why the administration is implementing policies that will limit economic development in the West, decrease energy security and make addressing climate change even more difficult.' "

Water Wars Wage in Fresno, KMPH Fox News26. 2/4/09, Lloyd Carter, CA. Board member of Water Impact Network and President of CA Save Our Streams council was on a panel debating Delta farmers and farm workers; "What parent raises their child to be a farm worker? These kids are the least educated people in America or the southwest corner of this Valley. They turn to lives of crime. They go on welfare. They get into drug trafficking and they join gangs."   (KBC Note: this is the anti-American mentality of well-funded groups trying to rewild the West and decimate our livelihoods, our people, our infrastructure (dams), and our farm supplies.)

Gov. Ted Kulongoski, Who’s he represent? Willamette Weekly 2/4/09. "This week’s Rogue, Gov. Ted Kulongoski, seems to have forgotten he represents Oregonians—550,000 of whom are PacifiCorp customers—rather than PacifiCorp."

Defending the Karuk -  "They're liars", by Chairman Roy Hall, Jr., Vice Chairman Gary Lake, Shasta Nation, Pioneer Press 2/4/09. "There are MANY Karuk Tribal Members that are attempting to recall and depose their current Tribal Council leadership."

Is (Klamath) dam removal really the best option? by Rex Cozzalio, Siskiyou Daily News, posted to KBC 2/3/09

Power bill gets hearing, Bill would increase PacifiCorp rates to pay for removing 4 dams, H&N 2/4/09

Transparency and Open Government; Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies, from President Obama, posted 2/4/09. (KBC editor note: why does not this apply to the Department of the Interior that is pushing a possibly multi-billion dollar Klamath dam removal agenda and tribal land gift, and immense downsize of agriculture in the Klamath Basin, demanding closed-door meetings, not allowing the PEOPLE effected to see the latest document that will control our water and land rights, and not allowing some established agricultural groups at the table? Why does not this apply to National Marine Fishery Service who will not allow us citizens to see the latest biological opinion that could make us pump all our stored irrigation water into the Klamath River? Not to mention Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and a pack of other agencies at the Klamath Settlement table. Are you allowed to attend these meetings? Have you seen the latest edition of Draft 11? The advocates of these closed-door meetings have already drafted a bill for you power ratepayers to fund much of the agreement that you haven't seen. This isn't the freedom my father fought to defend).

2/5/09 Klamath Water and Power Agency public board meeting.

Today around 100 people drove to Salem to testify at a hearing on Senate Bill 76, Klamath dam removal financing.. Up to $4.5 billion, according to FERC report, is the pricetag. 1800 petitions from Karuk tribal members, Siskiyou County residents, on and off Project irrigators and community members signed petitions opposing SB76, and these were submitted to the senators. Signers oppose the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement. Advocates of SB76 tried to convince the senators and media that there is no opposition.

Testimony on Oregon Senate Bill 76, by Gail Hildreth Whitsett 2/3/09

Senator Doug Whitsett testimony of Senate Bill 76, posted 2/3/09. SB#76

Testimony of Oregon SB 76 by Rex Cozzalio 2/3/09, at the Salem Senate committee hearing

Dr. Richard A. Gierak's testimony at the Oregon Commission meeting in Salem opposing SB 76, 2/2/09. Gierak has Bachelor Degrees in Biology & Chemistry, Doctorate in the Healing Arts, Former FERC team member 2001, 2002.

Testimony before the Oregon Senate Environmental and Natural Resources Committee, Hearing on SB 76, by Katherine Lehman 2/3/09

Bill may raise power rates; Governor’s proposal is part of Klamath water settlement, H&N 2/3/09. "A study from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission indicates removal of that sediment could cost up to $500,000 per acre-foot, or up to $4.5 billion." "Opponents criticize the bill for being too open-ended, allowing PacifiCorp to raise rates at will for its half-million Oregon customers, potentially as much as $35 to $65 more per month."

Klamath Lake Levels and River Flows 1/25/09-2/01/09

Principles, Politics and Protest, guest opinion by Craig Chenoweth, Etna, CA. "Expose the waste and wrong doings before we can participate with them." 2/3/09

Dam reports available to public; Removal of the Klamath dams would affect regions in both Siskiyou County and southeastern Oregon, Siskiyou Daily News 2/3/09

(Calif.) State, local jobless rates soar (9.3) Sac Bee, posted to KBC  2/1/09
Calif. panel rejects new offshore oil drilling, Sac Bee, posted 2/1/09. "...House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other members of the California congressional delegation who also expressed concern that approving a drilling proposal could undercut their efforts to reintroduce the federal moratorium."

Lemmings, Disband! by Jim Beers, posted to KBC 2/1/09

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