 AP
photoMembers of the tribes along the Klamath River stage a demonstration during a reception before the annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting, in Omaha, Neb., Friday. The protesters want four dams on the Klamath River removed so salmon can spawn again. The dams are owned by PacifiCorp, one of Berkshire’s utilities. Four Klamath Basin city councils have endorsed the proposed Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, and now supporters are trying to convince Klamath County commissioners to do the same. The cities of Merrill, Malin, Chiloquin and Tulelake agreed to officially support the settlement following presentations by proponents. Stakeholders also plan to meet with the Klamath Falls City Council, Klamath County Chamber of Commerce and other businesses. |
Klamath County
Commissioner John Elliott said the board would likely wait
for a hydropower agreement with PacifiCorp and a
recommendation from the county’s natural resources
advisory committee before making a decision.
There is no indication when a hydropower agreement with
PacifiCorp would be reached. Some stakeholders, including
Klamath Tribes attorney Bud Ullman, have said that a
crucial development could come mid-month.
Klamath County, which had
a representative at the table during settlement talks, is
the only stakeholder that hasn’t made a decision. Siskiyou
County commissioners voted to oppose the deal because they
don’t agree with removal of four hydroelectric dams on the
Klamath River.
Agreement supporters hope drumming up support from other
local governments and organizations will show Klamath
commissioners that the agreement is good for their
community.
“We’ve got a lot at stake here,” said Jeff Mitchell,
Klamath Tribes council member. The Tribes’ General Council
has voted to support the agreement.
Representatives of agricultural, environmental, tribal,
fishing and government interests spent two and a half
years crafting the 256-page document in closed-door
meetings. Released Jan. 15, it calls for a variety of
projects and actions to allocate water among Basin
communities, including dam removal. Money to help pay for
the purchase of private land for the Klamath Tribes and
establishment of a stable power rate for irrigators also
are included.
Among supporters are 13 irrigation and drainage district
and companies, three tribes, coastal fishermen, many
environmental groups, the government of Humboldt County,
Calif., many of the irrigators on the Klamath Reclamation
Project, Winema Hunting Lodge, Oregon Water Resources
Congress, Klamath County Economic Development Association
and Cal-Ore Produce.
Opponents include the Hoopa Valley and Shasta Nation
tribes, a few environmental groups, the government of
Siskiyou County and many off-Project irrigators.
The need to shore up support for the agreement and address
misinformation led representatives of the two most visible
supporters in Klamath County — the Klamath Water Users
Association and Klamath Tribes — to meet with local
groups.
Mitchell and Steve Kandra, a Klamath Water Users
Association board member, have met with the councils of
the county’s towns, businesses and other organizations to
answer questions and secure endorsements.
Kandra said there is a lot of misinformation, and other
groups had no information on the agreement.
“We’re trying to deal with what I call the little red
herrings,” he said.
Tribal leaders are continuing meetings with off-Project
irrigators to address their concerns and gain their
support, Mitchell said. The Tribes so far have met with at
least 40 to 50 of those irrigators.
Those opposed to the agreement also are staying involved.
Ed Bartell, president of the Klamath Off-Project Water
Users, said he continues to work and push for a more
equitable settlement.
He said he doesn’t have plans to meet with local groups to
seek support and is waiting to see what happens next.
“We don’t see a great deal of movement,” he said.