Governor Kulongoski to be Honored at KWUA 50^th Annual Meeting on July 20th
July 1, 2004
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Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski will be honored by local water users at the 50^th Annual Meeting of the Klamath Water Users Association next month. The meeting will be held at the Reames Golf and Country Club in Klamath Falls on Tuesday, July 20, 2004.

"It is an honor to us and a testimony to his commitment to our Basin that Governor Kulongoski is coming to our meeting", said Dan Keppen, KWUA Executive Director. "We want to publicly thank him for his efforts to promote the economic, social and environmental viability of the agricultural community served by the Klamath Irrigation Project. Our fiftieth anniversary is a special occasion, and we’re lucky to have such a special guest attend."

The luncheon buffet will be opened at 11:15 a.m. and the meeting is scheduled to begin at noon. The governor will stay for the first hour of a 90-minute program.

In the past year, Governor Kulongoski and his staff have taken clear action to address three primary requests put forward by the irrigation community in early 2003. The governor and his resources advisors last year allowed Oregon to make its presence felt in the PCFFA, et al. v USBR, et al litigation by submitted an amicus brief to the court. And, according to water users, he has promoted balanced Klamath River watershed-wide planning and management, as well as supporting local water users efforts to educate the public about the importance of agriculture to Oregon’s environment.

"The award we intend to present the governor at our annual meeting is intended to honor him in front of our community for showing that he cares about the Klamath Basin and is committed to the continued long-term viability of agriculture in the Basin.  The Governor has displayed a much needed willingness to cut through political polarization and to seek real solutions," said Steve Kandra, KWUA President.

Kulongoski will also deliver brief remarks at the water users meeting. In the first hour of the program, a short film entitled "Where the Water Goes" by OIT community television director Don Haynes will be shown. Local independent filmmaker Anders Tomlinson will also present a brief video clip that summarizes Kulongoski’s 2003 visit to the Klamath Basin. Kandra, Keppen, and others will review 2003 and discuss critical water challenges facing local water users in 2004 and beyond.

The second half of the meeting will feature presentations made by KWUA consultants that will focus on federal political issues, the association’s involvement with power matters, ongoing litigation, and hydrology.

If you are interested in attending the KWUA Annual meeting, please send a $5 check per person to:

For more information on the Klamath Water Users Association, check out the organization’s new website at: www.kwua.org

Klamath Water Users Association
2455 Patterson Street, Suite 3
Klamath Falls, Oregon 97603
Phone (541) 883-6100
FAX   (541) 883-8893  
kwua@cvcwireless.net