Klamath River News - January 21, 2007

Klamath River News - January 21, 2007 - Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day

* KLAMATH SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT RELEASED DESPITE PACIFICORP'S NON-COOPERATION
* PACIFICORP REMAINS HURDLE IN CONTROVERSY
* KLAMATH TRIBE'S PROPOSED RESERVATION LANDS UNDER CONTROVERSY
* HOOPA TRIBE REJECTS SETTLEMENT

Action Alerts
* LETTERS TO THE EDITOR NEEDED ON KLAMATH SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
* COMMENT AT HUMBOLDT AND SISKIYOU COUNTY SUPERVISORS MEETINGS ON KLAMATH SETTLEMENT - Tomorrow!

Announcements
* UN-DAM THE KLAMATH INFO & FILM AT THE ASHLAND FLY SHOP'S FIRST FRIDAY CONSERVATION NIGHT, 2/1/07


KLAMATH WATER DEAL REACHED
Los Angeles Times - 1/16/08
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-klamath16jan16,1,6366227.story?coll=la-headlines-california
After more than three years of negotiations, a collection of long-quarreling Klamath Basin farmers, fishermen and tribes announced a breakthrough agreement Tuesday that they said could lead to the nation's most extensive dam-removal project. The $1-billion plan proposes to end one of the West's fiercest water wars by reviving the Klamath River's flagging salmon population while ensuring irrigation water and cheap power for farmers in the basin, which straddles the Oregon-California state line.

Proposed Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement Website
http://www.edsheets.com/Klamathdocs.html

KLAMATH DAMS SHOULD REMAIN
Albany Democrat-Herald -1/17/07
http://www.dhonline.com/articles/2008/01/21/news/opinion/from_last_week/4edi01_klamath.txt

Klamath Riverkeeper Responds - 1/21/07
http://www.dhonline.com/articles/2008/01/21/news/opinion/7edi04_warming.txt

PACIFICORP REMAINS HURDLE IN CONTROVERSY
Salem Statesman-Journal - 1/20/08
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080120/OPINION/801200307/1050
It seems like there's only one more obstacle to the just-announced amazing win-win solution to the long-running Klamath River controversy... PacifiCorp stubbornly maintains that it's protecting its ratepayers from higher rates. But the utility refuses to acknowledge that adding the fish ladders, water control and other measures that are required for relicensing the dams will cost ratepayers -- and raise rates -- much more than just dismantling them, an estimated $100 million more.

HOOPA VALLEY TRIBE REJECTS KLAMATH RIVER DEAL
San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media - 1/16/07
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/01/16/18472980.php
The Hoopa Valley Tribe of northern California will not endorse the latest draft of the Klamath River Basin Restoration Agreement (KRBRA) released on January 15th because the agreement lacks adequate water assurances for fish. Despite being in the minority among the negotiators, Tribal Chairman Clifford Lyle Marshall said Hoopa would never waive its fishery-based water rights, as demanded by federal and other negotiators, in a deal providing no assurances for fisheries restoration. "The terms of this so-called restoration agreement make the right to divert water for irrigation the top priority, trumping salmon water needs and the best available science on the river," Marshall said... Hoopa Councilman Joe LeMieux said, "We cannot waive the rights of generations to come. Dangling a carrot like this will not work for Hoopa."

TRIBAL LAND PLAN CLOUDS DEAL
Oregonian - 1/20/08
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1200716707296330.xml&coll=7
The Klamath Tribes' proposal to rebuild its lost reservation with federal money is stirring old animosities here and threatening to upset a hard-fought agreement to tear down four Klamath River dams... On a frigid Thursday night, about 50 people stood outside the Klamath County courthouse on Main Street holding placards protesting the tribes' land deal and other portions of the agreement. At a three-hour meeting of the county's Natural Resource Advisory Committee that followed, Edward Bartell of the Klamath Off-Project Water Users Association urged the committee to reject the settlement.


ACTION ALERTS:

* WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
The proposed KLamath Settlement Agreement has been a media boondoggle. It is more important than ever that we get the facts straight on what dam removal means for Klamath communities. We're focusing on Oregon newspapers this week, where the majority of Pacificorp's ratepayers are concentrated. For talking points and newspaper contacts, please go to: http://www.klamathriver.org/Dam-Removal-TalkingPoints.html.

* COMMENT AT HUMBOLDT AND SISKIYOU COUNTY SUPERVISORS MEETINGS ON KLAMATH SETTLEMENT - Tuesday, January 22, 2008
On Tuesday, Feb 22nd, the Humboldt County Supervisors will meet at 10 am, and the Siskiyou County Supervisors will meet at 11 am to discuss proposed adoption of the Klamath Settlement Agreement. Please attend these meetings or call or email your comments. Ask County Supervisors to support the settlement but to push for protections for endangered species and river flows during drought years.

Humboldt Supervisors:
Jimmy Smith, jrsmith[at]co.humboldt.ca.us, (707) 476-2391
Roger Rodoni, roger.rodoni[at]co.humboldt.ca.us, (707) 476-2392
John Woolley, jwoolley[at]co.humboldt.ca.us, (707) 476-2393
Bonnie Neely, bonnie.neely[at]co.humboldt.ca.us, (707) 476-2394
Jill Geist, jill.geist[at]co.humboldt.ca.us, (707) 476-2395

Siskiyou Supervisors:
Jim Cooke, jimcook[at]snowcrest.net, (530) 459-0459
Lavada Erickson, erickson5031[at]sbcglobal.net (530) 926-1285
Michael Kobseff, mkobseff[at]co.siskiyou.ca.us (530) 918-9128
Bill Overman, bandm[at]nctv.com (530) 842-5389
Marcia Armstrong, marmstrong[at]co.siskiyou.ca.us (530)468-2824


ANNOUNCEMENTS:

* UN-DAM THE KLAMATH INFO & FILM AT THE ASHLAND FLY SHOP'S FIRST FRIDAY CONSERVATION NIGHT, 2/1/07
Join us for First Friday at 5:30 pm at the Ashland Fly Shop, 399 East Main St. in Ashland.

* UN-DAM THE KLAMATH T-SHIRTS FOR SALE
Our organic, made in America tees are for sale at Solutions in Arcata, Roger's Market in McKinleyville, the Somes Bar Store, and the Ashland Fly Shop. Contact us if you'd like to sell them at your store!

The most effective way to show your support for the work of Klamath
Riverkeeper is to join us as a member. For more information on how to become
part of Klamath Riverkeeper, go to http://klamathriver.org/.

Contact us with submissions, questions or comments for the Klamath River News at
541.821.7260 or email malena [at] klamathriver.org.

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