MP-04-0CIP

September 2, 2004

Public Meetings Scheduled on the Conservation Implementation Program

(The public meeting on the second draft of the BOR's Klamath River Basin Conservation Implementation Project (CIP) is scheduled for this Friday evening, October 22nd from 6 to 9 pm at the Klamath County Fairgrounds.)

The Bureau of Reclamation has scheduled a series of public meetings throughout the Klamath Basin to solicit input on the proposed multi-participant, basin-wide Conservation Implementation Program (CIP).  In addition to seeking confirmation that the current program in the CIP is what the participants requested, Reclamation is looking for interested parties to help identify consensus activities that can be immediately activated and to implement the CIP, a mechanism through which collaborators can work together to achieve program goals.

The purpose of the CIP is to (1) largely restore the Klamath River ecosystem to achieve recovery of the Lost River and Shortnose suckers and substantially contribute to the recovery of Coho salmon, (2) contribute to the Tribal Trust responsibilities of the Federal government, and (3) allow continued, sustainable operation of existing water management facilities and future water resource improvements for human use in the Klamath Basin. Reclamation will facilitate the program, compile and incorporate the comments into a final draft CIP for public review, with interested parties directing the CIP and its
activities. A draft CIP is available online at www.usbr.gov/mp/kbao/docs/CIP-ProgramDoc.pdf or by calling 541-883-6935.

Recent natural resource conflicts in the Klamath Basin have highlighted the need for a basin-wide forum to identify and implement solutions to these conflicts. Additionally, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries have issued biological opinions on Klamath Project operations calling for the formulation of a program to achieve or contribute to the recovery of several threatened and endangered species. Public meetings will be held from 6-9 p.m. at the following locations:

September 16         Best Western Miner’s Inn, 122 East Miner Street         Yreka, CA
September 29         Arcata Community Center, 321 Community Parkway, 736 F Street Arcata, CA
September 30         Klamath Community Center, 219 Salmon Avenue         Klamath, CA
October 21             Chiloquin Auditorium, 501 Chiloquin Boulevard             Chiloquin, OR
October 22             Klamath County Fairgrounds, 3531 South Sixth Street, Exhibit Hall No. 2 Klamath Falls, OR

Please send written comments on the draft CIP to Ms. Christine Karas, Deputy Area Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, Klamath Basin Area Office, 6600 Washburn Way, Klamath Falls, OR 97603. For additional information on the CIP or the public meetings please contact Ms. Rae Olsen, Reclamation Public Affairs Officer, at 541-880-2543.

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Reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier and the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States, with operations and facilities in the 17 Western States. Its facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits. Visit our website at http://www.usbr.gov.