Ron,  I understand you held a meeting with Lease Land growers on July 14^th and announced that FWS had “fired the Bureau” and would be taking over the lease land program.  Since I have not heard from you regarding the lease land program since April/May, I am surprised to hear of this announcement. 

If FWS is indeed taking over the Lease Land Program, I would expect that FWS and Reclamation would need to at least meet to determine how a transition would be realized.  Additionally, I would expect there would be many discussions between our Regional Directors in Sacramento as well as discussions at the Department level.  Did these discussions take place?  If so, do you have any meeting notes?  I would also expect memos between Reclamation and FWS to document the new arrangement.  I am not privy to any memos documenting the transition.  If indeed you have these memos please provide them to me.  

I am sure you understand have investigated and understand the difficulties in this transition.  The primary one I would be concerned about if I were FWS is that until Federal law is changed, all revenues from the Lease Land program are deposited in the Reclamation Fund.  I personally am unsure how FWS would be able to access these Restoration Funds in the future. 

I look forward to hearing from you on this matter.  Sincerely, Sue

Sue Fry

Area Manager

Klamath Basin Area Office

Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region

Phone:  541-880-2554

6600 Washburn Way

Klamath Falls, OR  97603