Meetings are underway after a historic Memorandum of Understanding was signed into agreement earlier this month, marking the official collaboration between Tribal, agricultural and federal stakeholders in Klamath Basin restoration.
Enacted as part of Klamath Basin Drought Resilience Keystone Initiative, the MOU recognizes a partnership between the Klamath Tribes, Yurok Tribe, Karuk Tribe and the Klamath Water Users Association for ongoing and future cooperative restoration projects.
“The [p]arties shall share the common goals of achieving sustainability and resilience for the Basin, its communities, fisheries and tribal trust and other natural resources,” the MOU reads.
The MOU mandates the parties to conduct meetings at which they are to discuss potential “priority projects” (projects that can be initiated and completed within one to two years) in the scope of ecosystem and habitat restoration as well as effective water management.
Over the past month, the parties have met several times, most recently in Ashland earlier this week.
KWUA Director of Marketing and Public Relations Brian Gailey said the water users presented a “suite of projects” which support operability of irrigators within the Klamath Project that involved benefits beyond agriculture.
“These projects are built around the concept of ‘flow-through’ within the Klamath Project, principally the two national wildlife refuges within the Project, and then back to the Klamath River,” Gailey said.
The purpose of the “flow-through” model, Gailey said, is the natural filtration of water so that water quality in the river is improved for the sake of endangered fish species and ecosystem health overall.
“It was an excellent opportunity for us to present our projects to the Tribes, for which we are grateful,” KWUA Director of Water Policy Moss Driscoll said. “Further discussions are needed, however.”
Driscoll said the KWUA and irrigation districts “adamantly contend that agriculture can not only help support, but is critical to the restoration of the fish, wildlife and overall ecosystem of the Klamath Basin.”
Tracey Liskey, president of the KWUA, thanked the Klamath, Karuk and Yurok Tribes as well as the Bureau of Reclamation for their engagement and presence at this week’s meeting.
“I heard some great restoration opportunities being pitched by all parties,” Liskey said. “Some could be easily completed, while other will take more time for refinement. I look forward to working together on projects we can all support equally.”
Representatives on behalf of the Klamath Tribes and Reclamation have not yet responded to comment on the meetings.
KWUA In the News: Herald and News, March 22, 2024
Original: https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/restoration-agreement-meetings-are-underway-priority-projects-being-developed-discussed/article_e2f59b1c-e89b-11ee-9982-afce48bd50b8.html
Cover Image: KWUA File photo
