MEETS WITH IRRIGATORS, TRIBES Walden reassesses local water bill in Congress By LACEY JARRELL H&N Staff Reporter Basin irrigators are “cautiously optimistic” a pact designed to soothe decades-old water conflicts may gain congressional support in 2015. “I was encouraged by the fact that Greg Walden has taken time to come down and discuss water matters in the Basin,” said Dan Keppen, former executive director of the Klamath Water Users Association. On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., met with irrigators and the Klamath Tribes to discuss the Basin’s water conflicts and options for resolution —namely, Klamath Water Recovery and Economic Restoration Act, Senate Bill 2379. SB 2379 rolls three settlements — the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement and the Upper Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement — into one comprehensive piece of legislation aimed at creating certainty for Basin water users. Stakeholders had hoped the bill would be signed into law this year.Walden has previously said he won’t support a settlement that includes provisions for removing four dams from the Klamath River. On Thursday, Walden told KOBI reporter Lyle Ahrens that it’s time to reassess the issues and figure out what stakeholders’ and lawmakers’ next steps are. “I’ve not been for dam removal, but we’re taking a second look at that because of all the issues that are at play with no real alternative on the table,” Walden said. Walden was interviewed by Ahrens at EagleRidge High School. Walden visited Kingsley Field earlier that day. According to Basin Fertilizer co-owner Bob Gasser, at the Wednesday meeting, about 30 irrigators met with Walden to ask him to throw his support behind SB 2379.“It was a good meeting — things have changed over the last two months,” Gasser said. Gasser said Walden seemed receptive to the irrigator position, but several hurdles remain. Dam removal is still a hot topic, he added. “It’s something that has to be considered because it’s the only option,” Gasser said. Klamath Project farmer Tracey Liskey said several stakeholders who opposed dam removal are realizing that without the dam component, the settlement package disappears. Walden noted that after several additional irrigators, and the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association and Klamath Falls Farm Bureau, announced their support of SB 2379, the dynamic of the pact and its outcomes shifted. Time for stakeholders to figure out a strategy is running out, Walden said. About SB 2379 The Klamath Water Recovery and Economic Restoration Act, Senate Bill 2379, encompasses the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement and the Upper Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement. Together, the three agreements attempt to establish reliable water and affordable power rates for farmers and ranchers, and the Klamath refuge complex. The pact also provides an economic package for the Klamath Tribes, and aims to restore aquatic and riparian habitat in tributaries of Upper Klamath Lake and to remove four dams on the Klamath River. Klamath Tribal Represenatives also met with Congressman Walden when he was in Klamath Falls regarding SB 2379 and the future of this basin. Work will be ongoing in 2015 to Bring the Salmon Home. And today, Gregg Addington provided several boxes of potatoes to his friends at the Klamath Tribes. It is part of an ongoing effort as good friends and neighbors as we begin to work together now and into the future to build a stong and healthy community. Potatoes are from our partners on the Agreements and come from both on-project and off-project irrigators. Some were also delivered to Klamath Falls, our congregate facility, and some Klamath Housing units. Boxes are also at the tree at the tribal administration office in Chiloquin and will be first-come-first-serve until late Tuesday. Merry Chirstmas and Happy Holidays to everyone as we move together into a brighter future.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 21:08:41 +0000
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