Klamath Basin Water Crisis Upholding Americans

Klamath Basin Water Crisis
Upholding Americans' rights to grow food,
own property, and caretake our wildlife and natural resources.

Water Quality

USGS Klamath Lake water quality and sucker distribution updates.

Bureau of Reclamation Hydrology database of the Klamath Project.

State Water Quality Control Board website on Klamath TMDL's: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/rwqcb1/programs/tmdl/klamath/klamath.html

State Water Quality Control Board on blue-green algae: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/bluegreenalgae/index.html

North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board regarding TMDL Implementation Policy Statement for Sediment Impaired Receiving Waters in the North Coast Region: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/rwqcb1/programs/basinplan/tipfsiw.html

Power Point Presentation: Nutrient loading in the Klamath Basin: Agriculture and Natural Sources, Special Report 1023, , by K.A. Rykbost and B.A. Charlton, Oregon State University/Klamath Experiment Station. Posted 1/10/07

Nutrient Loading of Surface Waters in the Upper Klamath Basin: Agricultural and Natural Sources, by Dr. Ken Rykbost, Superintendent Professor, and B.A. Charlton, Faculty Research Assistant, Klamath Experiment Station, Klamath Falls, Oregon October 2006

Historical information on Klamath Watershed Hydrology and water quality in the Upper Klamath Basin Presented to the National Research Council Committee on Hydrology, Ecology and Fishes in the Klamath River Basin by Klamath Water Users Association, posted to KBC 10/13/06

Solution save Klamath Dams: To the attention of Mr. Craig Tucker, fellow (anti-dam)campaigners and Klamath Water Users, from Sean McKinney, Australia, 7/4/07.

Algae:
California Department of Public Health:
http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/ddwem/bluegreenalgae/index.htm
State Water Resources Control Board:
http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/bluegreenalgae/index.html
National Center for Disease Control:
http://www.cdc.gov/hab/cyanobacteria/facts.htm

Judge rules on toxic algae regulations, H&N, posted 6/16/08.

EPA affirms clean water permits, EPA News Release, posted 6/10/08

Water Quality, Shasta Valley, Wetlands & Riparian, by Marcia Armstrong, Siskiyou County Supervisor, posted to KBC 5/4/08

Commentary: The truth about the Clean Water Restoration Act, CFBF 4/16/08

Family Farm Alliance brings testimony and press release on Clean Water Act concerns, FFA 4/10/08

Don’t take away my fishing hole, H&N 4/1/08. "If algae in the Klamath River is a problem caused by the PacifiCorp dam system, then please explain the source of the algae blooms in Lake of the Woods, Fish Lake, Hyatt Lake, and all the other fishing sources in the area."

$48 million requested for Basin, Rep. Greg Walden asks for money to research salmon disease in the Klamath River, projects at OIT, H&N 4/1/07

Maps put basin's water, fertilizer in perspective, Geologic study changes thought on sources of irrigation, water quality, Capital Press, posted 3/29/08. "...new findings show phosphorous is naturally occurring in Upper Klamath Lake. Roseburg said phosphorous is a major element that contributes to algae blooms in the lake and the Klamath River. When the blooms die, the decomposition process uses oxygen in water, which can result in fish die-offs."

Do You Want The Corps Of Engineers In Your Backyard? You’ll get that result of S 1870 passes the Senate and Congress. Please Send Senate your Testimony On Clean Water Act (Wetlands) by April 8th! posted 3/28/08

Poll Results Back Group's Stance Against Expansion Of Clean Water Act, Western Business Roundtable, posted 2/28/08

From Senator Whitsett, posted 2/21/08. "...ranching and farming activities do not, and could not, cause these elevated phosphorous concentrations, and that steps to reduce fertilizer use or cattle grazing would have little or no impact on improving water quality in the Upper Klamath Basin."

‘Good science’ casts doubt on blame laid on Basin farms Herald and News 2/19/08. "Ian Madin, chief scientist for the department, however, questions how accurate that claim is and how much value there is in efforts to reduce fertilizer use and ranching to decrease phosphorous in the water. "Some of the impact of phosphorous is natural,” Madin said. “If a large percentage is natural and farmers are not allowed to use phosphorous, it could have no impact on the water quality, but could be detrimental to farmers.” (KBC NOTE: Much of the Klamath Settlement evolved from the 'Phosphorous myth.' It was used to acquire 100,000 acres of ag land in the Upper Basin by Nature Conservancy and feds, and in the settlement agreement it demands 30,000 acre feet more water of the dab they have left. The settlement also says this acquisition and flooding ag land will create more storage when in fact is will evaporate more water.)

***The PHOSPHOROUS SCAM! Mapping out a new mindset/Studies indicate phosphorous occurs naturally, H&N, posted to KBC 2/17/08. (KBC NOTE -- In the Klamath 'settlement' agreement, section 16 tells about 30,000 acre-feet being demanded from Off Project irrigators. Of 150,000 acres of land irrigated by surface water, 100,000 has already been taken out of agriculture and flooded, evaporating much more water than it saves. That leaves 50,000 acres, of which 1/2 must be retired according to this fair settlement, decimating off-Project folks. The excuse of The Nature Conservancy and Gov't agencies and tribes is more water and better water quality, when in fact it evaporates more water, and does not help water quality. Read phosphorous link above. Read Senator Whitsett's scientific knowledge regarding phosphorous. Read Klamath Tribe document on intentions from settlement land and money and taking private ag land -- water quantity and quality, along with casinos and etc.)

Retired vet teaches science in state Capitol. Years of experience help legislator bring rural perspective to issues, Capital Press 2/8/07. “As cattle develop, they convert vegetative phosphorus into muscle and bone. Ranchers are being blamed for polluting the waters with phosphorus while the cattle above the lake are removing as much as 300 tons of phosphorus out of the Upper Klamath Basin each year. What they said the cattle were doing to the lake is impossible.”

Attorney fears federal revision will engulf U.S. (with Clean Water Act); Proposed legislation broadens legal definition of waters of the U.S.’ Capital Press 12/7/07. WRITE! Comment period extended!