July 26, 2005

Mr. Dan Thorndike, Chairman
Oregon Water Resources Commission
725 Summer Street NE, Suite A
Salem, OR 97301

Chairman Thorndike, members of the Commission and Director Ward;

We understand that the Oregon Water Resources Commission will be considering a petition submitted by Water Watch and other parties at your July 28-29 Commission meeting in Salem. We appreciate the opportunity to provide our input with regard to "the petition to withdrawal from further appropriation all the groundwater and surface waters of the Klamath and Lost River Basins".

We are concerned that this may be an attempt to influence new Commissioners with regard to an issue that has been appropriately dealt with by a previous Commission (July 2002). After review of the new petition and study of the OWRD staff response, it is the position of the undersigned to support in full, the recommendations made by Director Ward in his Memorandum to the Commission on this issue.

As pointed out in Director Ward’s memo, "the Department has made, and continues to make, substantial progress in developing tools for effective water management in the Klamath Basin". The Department currently has a successful process in place for dealing with water management. The Water Allocation Policy (OAR 690-410-070) was adopted by the Commission to deal with just such issues.

Given the uncertainty with regard to water deliveries in the Basin, we believe it is prudent to maintain the flexibility that is currently in place by having water appropriations handled on a case by case basis, based on their merit and the science available, by the experts at the Oregon Water Resources Department.

We appreciate your consideration in this matter,

Signed (See attached)

("…letter that was sent to the Commission and signed by nearly 50 members of the community including the following businesses and organizations:
The Mayors of Klamath Falls and Merrill
Two County Commissioners
Klamath County Economic Development Assoc.
Klamath County Chamber of Commerce
The Family Farm Alliance
The Epicenter Bowling Ally
Webb Wilson Insurance Agency
Sterling Savings Bank
Floyd A. Boyd Co.
Les Schwab Tire Center
Bogatay Construction
Basin Fertilizer
Winema Elevators
S. Oregon Drivetrain
PHP Health Plans of Oregon
Klamath Bucket Brigade)