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Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA)
Statement on Klamath Sucker Status Review
by Greg Addington, Klamath Water
Users Association Executive Director, and Luther Horsley, President of KWUA
7/26/07
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Today the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS) announced that it has completed a comprehensive review of
two listed fish in the Upper Klamath Basin, the Lost River Sucker and the
shortnose sucker. According to USFWS the Lost River suckers are not at risk
of extinction in the foreseeable future. The review recommends that the fish
should remain protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) but
recommends a down-listing of the Lost River Sucker from Endangered to
Threatened. The review recommends maintaining the shortnose sucker status as
endangered
KWUA expressed encouragement regarding the news. “This should be good news
for everyone,” said Greg Addington, Executive Director of the Klamath Water
Users Association which represents irrigation, drainage and improvement
districts within the Bureau of Reclamation’s Klamath Project. “This action
shows us that the support and advocacy for restoration activities and
funding is doing some good,” he said.
KWUA has long maintained that the producers in this Basin should get some
“credit” for the impressive restoration projects that have been completed
and planned. The USFWS recommendation is a sign that we are moving towards a
point that some day will provide regulatory relief for irrigators.
“There has been a significant investment in conservation made by the Bush
Administration and supported by many stakeholders including irrigators,”
said Luther Horsley, a farmer and President of KWUA. “It’s nice to know we
are starting to see some benefits from those actions, it’s a step in the
right direction.”
While the news is good, KWUA points out that there is a lot of hard work
left to do.
“The USFWS shouldn’t stop at the 5-year review, they must move forward on
defining reasonable recovery goals for both species,” said Addington. “This
doesn’t take anyone off the hook. We have to continue to work with the
federal agencies and our neighbors, particularly the Klamath Tribes to find
lasting solutions and to meet everyone’s needs,” he said.
Klamath Water Users Association
2455 Patterson Street, Suite 3
Klamath Falls, Oregon 97603
Phone (541) 883-6100
FAX (541) 883-8893
kwua@cvcwireless.net |