KWUA and Other Oregon
Interests Honored in Salem for Watershed Efforts The Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA) on Wednesday was one of thirty organizations and individuals honored in Salem for contributing to the goals of the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds. Governor Theodore Kulongoski, Senate President Peter Courtney, and Speaker of the House Karen Minnis joined state department directors in the one-hour recognition ceremony that took place on the front steps of the Oregon State Capitol.
“The exceptional actions and leadership of these honorees reaffirm the shared vision, commitment and stewardship of Oregonians to ensure that the watersheds where we live, work and play remain treasured parts of the Oregon landscape,” said Governor Kulongoski.
Oregon Department of Agriculture Director Katy Coba presented KWUA Executive Director Dan Keppen with a certificate of appreciation on Wednesday, and awarded the association with the “Leadership in Conservation Award” for 2004. The Leadership in Conservation Award is given to organizations or individuals who exemplify the spirit of the Oregon Plan.
“The Klamath Water Users Association is recognized today because of their tireless efforts in support of the many entities dependent on Klamath Basin water,” said Coba. “Their ongoing support of area landowners, as they continually improve and maintain operational practices that support conservation while promoting sustainability, is a model for water use associations throughout Oregon and the West.”
Over the past ten years, local water users have engaged in a multitude of actions intended to gain water supply reliability, recover endangered suckerfish populations, and conserve water on farm and ranch land (see inset, page 3). Over 250 individual restoration projects have been completed throughout the Upper Basin in the past 10 years. In the past two years, over 800 applications have been received for on-farm water conservation projects using Farm Bill funds that KWUA helped secure. And Klamath Irrigation District, in partnership with the Bureau of Reclamation, completed a $14 million state-of-the-art fish screen that will prevent the entrainment of endangered sucker fish.
“The association’s staff, along with the Board of Directors made up of landowners, water users and stakeholders, have done a remarkable job working with federal, state, tribal, and local agencies to provide the quantity and quality of water needed in the area for a variety of uses,” said Coba on Wednesday.
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