|
Contact: Dave Solem,
Manager Klamath Irrigation District (KID) Office 541-882-6661 Cell
541-891-0061
The Klamath Irrigation District Board
of Directors supports the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA),
Draft 11, as released on January 15, 2008 and intends to approve
the KBRA, subject only to finalization of the appendices that had
not been completed on January 15, 2008 and appropriate and minor,
clarifying and conforming revisions of the KBRA, and the
Board's final review of the same.
The resolution was
unanimously passed by the four Directors present at the KID Board
meeting. The District hosted a public meeting on January 25, 2008 in
Merrill to outline the KBRA and to answer questions. This meeting,
along with others hosted by the Klamath Water Users Association and
others, as well as media coverage, has generated much dialog and
attention among KID waterusers. The Board agreed the response has
been generally positive and supportive of signing on to the
agreement.
Dave Cacka,
President of the KID Board of Directors, said "The Klamath Basin
Agreement is the product of over two years of discussion. The need
for a reliable supply of water, affordable irrigation and drainage
power rates, and ESA compliance protection were our focus. You can
either deal with these issues up front or deal with them later. The
KID members have seen the impact of trying to settle conflicts in the
courts. The KBRA is an opportunity to prevent another 2001 crisis that
was devastating to our district and community."
The KBRA includes
settlement of water right claim contests the Project filed against the
Klamath Tribes in the Klamath River Adjudication. The settlement
preserves the Klamath Project water right claim to store and divert
supplies from Klamath Lake. During the adjudication, the Board has
approved the settlement of many other contests, primarily with
Off-Project irrigators.
KID waterusers are
encouraged to contact the KID Board members or staff with questions
and comments.
|