There is a rush to get an agreement and legislation in the next few weeks to provide millions of dollars to destroy the dams, give land and money to the tribes, permanently downsize ag, and possibly get affordable power rates to irrigators. Contact your representatives with your opinions!  

KBC News Adjudication web page

100,000 acres of Off- Project Ag land have already been taken out of production.

ARTICLES and LETTERS BELOW

Oregon water regulators exceeded authority, judge rules, Capital Press 3/17/2020. "In 2018, OWRD established a rule that wells within one mile of a waterway in the Upper Klamath Basin will substantially interfere with surface waters and thus can be regulated off at the tribes’ request...The judge has now agreed with the plaintiffs’ argument that Oregon’s water law doesn’t allow for such a restriction without OWRD going through the formal process... the agency would have to show that wells are substantially interfering with surface waters and determine how much water irrigators can sustainably withdraw from the aquifer each year...Without that opportunity, the agency unconstitutionally deprived them of property rights without due process, the judge said."

A 'wait and see' world for water users regarding Upper Klamath Basin wells regulated by OWRD, H&N 12/19/19

OWRD to host groundwater management open house Dec 17, H&N 11/22/19

Call on water appears unnecessary, by Bill Boyd, Chiloquin rancher, H&N 7/11/19. "For the second year in a row, the Tribes in the Modoc Irrigation District have called for our irrigation and stock water to be shut off even through we had 140 percent normal moisture level this last winter..."

Regulation headed for Upper Klamath Lake tributaries, Wood River, H&N 5/13/19. "Oregon Water Resources Department is in the process of validating a call on Upper Klamath Lake tributaries, including the Wood River, filed by senior water right holders, the Klamath Tribes, on April 18." (KBC NOTE: 2019 is an extremely high water year)

Rules slash regulatory reach over Upper Klamath wells, Capital Press 4/12/19. “Pumping shutdowns by the Oregon Water Resources Department have been a source of controversy in the Upper Klamath Basin in recent years, with the agency facing multiple lawsuits arguing that regulated wells aren’t actually interfering with surface water rights... 'Overall, the rules are still bad for us, bad for the entire state of Oregon,' said Tom Mallams, an area farmer who sat on a “rules advisory committee” about the interim regulations. 'It’s unlikely OWRD will actually abide by a provision stating that the interim rules won’t set a precedent,' he said. 'Water Resources say they won’t or say they will, and they don’t stick to it. The final rules may again increase the number of wells subject to regulation while retaining provisions about the adverse impacts from groundwater pumping, hindering irrigators from challenging shutdowns in court,' said Mallams.'The OWRD likely reduced the distance in the interim rules to avoid court challenges in the meantime,' he said. 'That’s a very appealing carrot to the irrigators, but we know that’s just to put a stop to the litigation against them.' ”

Sprague River rising to 8.4 feet, on flood watch, H&N 4/10/19.

Conference call on water April 12 in Klamath; OWRD to host OWRC conference call 3/28/19. "The OWRD will ask the commission to consider adoption of proposed rules that manage groundwater and surface water in the Upper Klamath Basin."

The state is making up its own water rules, H&N by Jerry Jones, Chiloquin 2/21/19. "Historical documents show Oregon Department of Water Resources (ODWR) has engaged in water theft from the historical ranches of the Upper Klamath Basin..."

* Commentary on OWRD / Oregon Water Resources Department well water mandates by Joan Sees, Beatty Oregon 2/11/19 "...OWRD is again picking the “science” that will give it the outcome that it wants.The proposed interim rules are not really protecting senior water rights but giving them all the water in the basin and putting the Upper Klamath Basin irrigators out of business..."

Draft groundwater rules: Great news or just another Trojan Horse? Guest opinion by Tom Mallams, Beatty irrigator and former Klamath County Commissioner, H&N 2/14/19. COMMENTS DUE 3/4/19, hearings Feb 21 & 26. "Oregon Water Resources Department, (OWRD), admitted that this wording means the entire Klamath Basin, not just the Upper Klamath Basin. This wording will put all wells in the entire Klamath Basin at risk (of being shut off) as well as other areas in Oregon."
Public hearings set on Upper Basin well regulation 2/4/19

Local rules governing control of well use in the Upper Klamath Basin: OWRD / Oregon Water Resource Dept. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, filed 1/29/19
OWRD Hearings: 2/21/19 in Salem, 2/26/29 Klamath Falls
COMMENTS DUE 3/4/19, 4 business days after the Klamath Falls hearing.
OWRD webpage:https://www.oregon.gov/OWRD/programs/policylawandrules/OARS/Pages/
ProposedRulemaking.aspx

< Scaled-back Klamath groundwater regulation debated, H&N 1/29/19. "Tom Mallams, who represented the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association on the committee, said the agency’s statement about the connection between ground and surface waters was unproven and “erroneous.”

KLAMATH - Groundwater rule undergoes two-year testing, letter to editor by Larry Sees, Beatty, for H&N 1/27/19

Klamath Tribes drop ESA lawsuit against BOR. Merkley to hold PRIVATE Sucker Recovery Summit November 16 in Klamath Falls, H&N 11/9/18.

Farmers, ranchers are 'endangered species,' H&N letter to the editor by Bill Boyd, Chiloquin 10/25/18

CORRECTION: In the article below, Capital Press edited out 1/2 of Mallam's sentence. The sentence should read: "Modeling experts have also examined OWRD's modeling and their analysis actually includes the word 'fraudulent.' " Capital Press left out of the sentence: "...and their analysis actually includes the word 'fraudulent.' "

KLAMATH BASIN: Oregon state agencies out of control, by Tom Mallams for Capital Press 10/13/18. "Their computer model claims wells interfere with surface water, if the well is within one mile of any waterway. This year’s shutoffs include 2 wells for the city of Klamath Falls, all of Bly and all of Chiloquin. Also shut off are many wells used for irrigating crops, watering livestock and some homes that use spring water. Additionally, wells used for major businesses including Jeld-Wen, Running Y Ranch Resort and Harbor Links golf course were issued shutoff notices. Each year, the number of wells being shut off grows...Problem is, OWRD, when pressured, actually admitted that the one mile number could be expanded...you are automatically deemed guilty unless you prove your innocence. Not exactly what the Constitution says. The way OWRD modeling is framed, it is literally impossible to prove your innocence. OWRD even admitted that this is indeed the case...Thousands of Oregon businesses and citizens will be denied their ability to survive in this openly hostile state governmental environment..."

Upper Klamath Basin cattle revenues dip 50 percent, H&N 8/2/18. "Several Upper Basin irrigators shared concerns with Klamath County Commissioners on Wednesday about the approximate 50 percent loss in cattle revenue in the region, a dive that irrigators link to a call on water by the Klamath Tribes, validated by Oregon Water Resources Department...Some of the concerns shared by irrigators include no stockwater delivery for Modoc Point irrigators...“Historically Modoc Point has never been cut off (from) water...”

Bly imposes water restrictions, H&N 6/14/18

State water actions taken without first determining what the actual facts are, by Senator Dennis Linthicum, Commentary for H&N 5/15/18. "Scientific examination would clarify that some wells do impact surface waters while others do not. OWRD seems to suggest that in all cases, at all times, and in all circumstances, groundwater wells impact surface flows...OWRD ought to know with certainty that an individual well is harming a senior water right-holder, before shutting-down specific water resources..."

The State has turned off all of our water including our wells! by Brandan Topham, Sprague River, Newsletter 5/7/18. "Most of the irrigation wells have been drilled since 1950...we have river data for 32 years before the wells were drilled. In those 32 years the average flow is 860cfs. Since 1951 the average flow is 1052cfs. That means since the wells have been drilled there is almost another 200 cfs in the rivers. That does not sound like the wells are drying up the rivers...Every few years they keep changing the rules to shut off more stuff. This year they figured out how to shut off ~140 wells in addition to what they have been shutting off in the past for the Klamath Tribes. Last year they shut off every thing even with river flows well above average..."

Letter from Ann SeCoy, Beatty, Oregon to Klamath County Commissioners, Oregon State and Federal Representatives & Senators regarding 140 Upper Klamath ag wells shut off, and responses from Senator Linthicum and Rep. Reschke 4/30/18.
   "At the "Open House" with ORWD tonight at the Sprague River Community Center, all I heard repeatedly was:
1) how their hydrology science is fact, but
2) it isn't perfect, so therefore it is their best estimate
3) how the Klamath Tribes have no need to demonstrate the water they are claiming is being put to good use (unlike the similar demands made of the ranchers, who have 5 years to demonstrate productivity with their well water use or their loose their rights)
4) the law is the law, and it doesn't matter that it isn't equally applied, it MUST be enforced.
   We are all in a horrific position of what on earth we are going to do with the proper management of our fields, pastures, and livestock.  Do we sell our herd of cows in a bad market?  Do we put them out to graze on what is our hay crop that is just coming up?  Do we have to get rid of our children's 4H sheep breeding program?
   All these questions that we would not have to deal with if our well was simply ONE FOOT farther than one mile from the tributary that feeds into the Sprague River..."

Tensions rise as OWRD regulates wells in Sprague River; 35% revenue loss expected in Upper Basin, H&N 5/2/18. "...More than 80 notices to shutoff groundwater wells within up to a mile of surface water in the Upper Basin. Up to 114 of the 140 known wells in the area could be regulated...'They were regulated last year even though we had 140 percent of snowpack.' "

3 Open houses for OWRD plans to shut off off project irrigation water:
Sprague River: April 30th (somewhere)
May 1 Chiloquin 10-1
May 1 Klamath County Fairgrounds 3-6
OWRD to regulate groundwater wells in upper Basin, H&N 4/22/18. "We will be regulating surface water and groundwater at the same time," he said, noting water users can expect to receive notices to shut off water use for both surface and groundwater..." (said Matt Anderson, OWRD).

Water Resources Dept. has only itself to blame for its high legal costs, by Randall Kizer, guest writer for H&N 4/8/18. "...OWRD has control over whether it follows the law or not in regulating water users in the Klamath Basin. And irrigators in the Upper Klamath Basin are tired of the agency not carrying out its regulatory responsibilities..."

Klamath Tribe complaints regarding ranchers being allowed drinking water and water for livestock. 4/2/18. Watering crops and pasture on Upper Klamath private land is presently forbidden by Klamath Tribes.
Upper Basin ranchers get reprieve to water cattle, H&N 3/15/18. "Ranchers in the Upper Basin of Klamath County — and the town of Chiloquin — received an emergency exemption from the call on water Friday allowing them to use water for their stock cattle and for human consumption...The Klamath Tribes has the first rights to the water, which it uses to protect endangered short-nosed sucker and Lost River sucker."

Interior secretary nixes water agreement: Tribes, Upper Basin irrigators react, H&N 1/2/18

* Klamath Task Force webpage: meetings between Upper Basin irrigators and Klamath Tribes, which are part of the KBRA / Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement

* Klamath Tribe document of intensions -  putting land into tax-exempt trust, ...intends to "buy back private lands....and secure funding for purchasing retired water rights, conservation easements...assert tribes senior water rights...expand gaming...exchange for federal lands..."

* FYI: Klamath Tribe's Constitution: "...B. It shall be the policy of the Klamath Tribes to seek the return, to the Klamath Tribes, of all lands, natural and cultural resources, including minerals and water rights that become available and which were historically a part of the Klamath Tribes heritage C. All waters which originate in or flow through the Klamath Tribes jurisdiction, or which are stored within the Klamath Tribes jurisdiction, whether found on the surface or underground, are a valuable Tribal resource of the Klamath Tribes, and are to be protected for the present and future use of the Klamath Tribes..."

SONG-KILL THE LAND

ARTICLES

Notice Regarding Upper Klamath Basin Comprehensive Agreement, DOI Ryan Zinke 12/22/17

Water discord: Upper Basin ranchers seek solution with Tribes, and A long family history on the homestead H&N 6/4/17

Upper Basin water: Talk or litigate? Which? Let's talk, by Randall Kizer for H&N 5/21/17. "The Wood River’s bank are full of water and, yet, the valley’s irrigators are shut off due to a call of (Klamath) tribal instream water rights...We agreed to just about everything the Tribes demanded...upper basin landowners have agreed to retire thousands of acres of irrigated land and built thousands of feet of fencing along streams, rivers and creeks...The Tribes are angry. They were promised funds for economic development, land in the Mazama Forest and dam removal in the KBRA..."

(Klamath) Tribes call for agreement termination, H&N 5/18/17. "At a minimum, Gentry said any framework for a settlement proposal must adequately address treaty resource reintroduction, restoration and protection resulting in sustainable and harvestable treaty resources that will support the meaningful exercise of treaty rights. 'This must include return of homelands and co-management of land and resources that affect treaty resources...' "

Tribal chairman defends water call, H&N 4/30/17. "Ranchers in the upper basin have criticized the call, claiming they will have a short window to irrigate and water their cattle this spring, and they have no water available the rest of the summer. Some believe this call could put them out of business....“We're just asking for justice,” Gentry said. “We're just trying to hang onto what has been reserved by treaty despite what has happened to us..."

OWRD responds to Tribes' call on (Klamath) water, H&N, 4/28/17. "I’m very disappointed that this call has been initiated by the Klamath Tribes and validated by the Oregon Water Resources Department at a time when our rivers are literally running over their banks,” (State Rep. E. Werner) Reschke said in a statement. “This decision negatively impacts farmers and ranchers up and down the basin and defies conventional logic. Oregonians lose when we allow one group to exercise exorbitant control over the rights of others..."

* Upper Klamath irrigators response to Klamath Tribes Negative Notice sent to DOI to end UKBCA 4/28/17.

** Klamath Tribes Negative Notice sent to Department of Interior to end Upper Klamath Basin Comprehensive Agreement, UKBCA

Tribes Issue Water Claim, Ranchers Fear the Worst, H&N 4/23/17. "In April 2014, ranchers and the Tribes signed the Upper Basin Comprehensive Agreement. The ranchers agreed to retire 18,000 acres of land or 30,000 acre feet of water and do riparian repair work on the rivers in exchange for an allotment of water each year…At the end of February, the Tribes indicated to the ranchers they wanted to terminate the agreement..."

Water call should send message Basin needs a real answer, Area needs congressional help for a long-term plan, H&N View, 4/23/17. "...The local community should accept the fact that an overall settlement isn’t going to happen without a land settlement with the Tribes. Yes, land for water. Accept it and move on..." KBC ANALYSIS: H&N got it right...it's not about fish, it's "land for water". Tribes sold reservation. Tribes will call on irrigation water (like happening in this flood year) until they can get their land given back to them again, and the Klamath hydroelectric dams destroyed. Some call it 'blackmail.'

(Klamath) Tribal water call: 'Devastating.' Ranchers in the upper basin react to water call, H&N, 4/19/17.

No major losses reported due to Sprague flooding, H&N 2/14/17

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AUDIO: Must Listen: 5 1/2 minute summary of Upper Basin's Klamath Settlement Agreement; audio by Oregon Senator Doug Whitsett, Local News with Paul Hanson on KFLS News/Talk Radio 1450, 4/1/13. "The nearly 100-page agreement has seven objectives..."
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***Dozens of Sprague River wells shut down by Klamath Tribal call on irrigation water, Senator Doug Whitsett 7/28/16.

Water shutoffs start in upper Basin, Klamath Tribes made the call, Wood River could be next, H&N, 5/27/16

"40 wells Oregon Water Resources Dept. plans to shut off this year. (So far)" This was sent to KBC 7/14/15. These are Upper Klamath Basin Wells.

Water shutoffs along Sprague coming. Some 40 upper Basin wells may be regulated, too, H&N 6/25/15

The Upper Klamath Basin Comprehensive Agreement, by Oregon Senator Doug Whitsett, posted to KBC 5/16/14: "Many farm and ranch owners... were advised that most who refused to sign would no longer be allowed to use either their surface or groundwater rights in most years. Many of those water rights date to 1864 priority. They were further advised that those who refused to participate would likely be subject to severe ...."

Threats (by Klamath tribal members) delay tribal meeting, H&N 5/16/14. "...some Klamath Tribes members have been campaigning to organize a hostile takeover of the meeting. Threats included chaining and padlocking doors to force the Tribal Council and meeting attendees to remove Gentry from the council and to overturn the results of a recent referendum vote. The referendum vote under attack was certified by the Klamath Tribes election board as in-favor of a water settlement, known as the Proposed Upper Klamath Basin Comprehensive Agreement, between the Tribes and upper Basin irrigators." KBC NOTE: Upper Basin irrigators were not allowed a vote; they were only blackmailed as explained in Senator Doug Whitsett's newsletter.

Klamath Tribes of Oregon PRESS RELEASE: Threats against Klamath Tribal Council by Klamath Tribal membership,  5/16/14 (regarding Upper Klamath Basin Comprehensive Agreement.)

Klamath water-sharing agreement gets funding, Sacramento Bee, posted to KBC 5/3/14.

A step forward - State and local dignitaries come together Friday at Collier Memorial State Park to sign the much-debated Upper Klamath Basin Comprehensive Agreement, H&N 4/19/14.  KBC NOTE: This "agreement" is part of the controversial KBRA, which destroys 4 Klamath River hydro dams providing power to 70,000 households, gives $45 million to the Klamath Tribes plus land, permanently downsizes agriculture, controls groundwater, plants endangered species in the Klamath Basin........

Protesters interrupt ceremony, Not all in agreement with new water pact, and Two groups weigh in against accord, H&N 4/19/14. KBC NOTE: Siskiyou County supervisors, home of 3 hydro dams planned for destruction, oppose the KBRA/dam removal agreements, Siskiyou citizens voted against the agreements, and Klamath County voted in 3 county commissioners, the state senator and state representative who all oppose the agreements.

Historic pact to be signed Friday, H&N 4/17/14.   

Freedom of speech is key when talking irrigation, by Bruce Topham, Sprague River letter to H&N, posted to KBC 4/15/14. "This is what is currently being demanded of those of us who are ranchers in the north half of Klamath County. A foreign sovereign government (aka the Klamath Tribes) is requiring that for any water settlement to be met for irrigation or drinking water for our livestock we must surrender our right as Americans to express any opinions contrary to those advocated by the Klamath Tribes..."

Protesting the vote; Klamath Tribal members demand a new vote, H&N, posted to KBC 4/15/14.

(Klamath) WATER PACT - Complexity frustrates some Tribe members, vote due by Wednesday, H&N 4/8/14. 

TOTAL LOSS: $210,000. County pegs 2013 tax loss from dry land, refunds impact special districts, H&N, posted to KBC 3/16/14

* Proposed Upper Klamath Basin Comprehensive Agreement
* Upper Klamath Basin Agreement and Exhibits

Freedom of speech is key when talking irrigation, by Bruce Topham, Sprague River letter to H&N, posted to KBC 4/9/14. "This is what is currently being demanded of those of us who are ranchers in the north half of Klamath County. A foreign sovereign government (aka the Klamath Tribes) is requiring that for any water settlement to be met for irrigation or drinking water for our livestock we must surrender our right as Americans to express any opinions contrary to those advocated by the Klamath Tribes..."

AUDIO - Dr. Mike Newton and Senator Doug Whitsett, begin minute 30, I-Spy Radio 4/8/14, on Science of Upper Klamath Basin ranchers being denied surface and ground water with no proof of interference to stream water, yet studies support that groundwater use enhances stream flow. What is the government's excuse? KBC NOTE: If the Upper Basin irrigator does not agree with the Kitzhaber Task Force plan, they will be denied surface and groundwater to irrigate.

(Klamath) WATER PACT - Complexity frustrates some Tribe members, vote due by Wednesday, H&N 4/8/14. 

(UN) Agenda 21 Takeover in the Klamath Basin, by Barbara H. Peterson 3/26/14 Farm Wars.

Ranchers grudgingly accept Klamath water-sharing pact, Capital Press, posted to KBC 3/18/14.

Details of (Klamath) water pact discussed; water, well restrictions with, without a settlement outlined, H&N, posted to KBC 3/12/14

Historic water pact; Tribes, irrigators settle divisive issues. $40 million will be given to the Klamath Tribes to create jobs, H&N 3/6/14. Includes schedule of meetings. "The Klamath Tribes will be allotted $40 million to establish an economic development plan and revitalize regional industry, including taking ownership of the 92,000-acre Mazama Forest as a condition of the KBRA. The Tribe also will receive $1 million annually from the Department of the Interior for a five-year period...Once a landowner has agreed to permanently retire rights, the government will have discretion whether to purchase the right or not....Tribal members will vote whether or not to accept the agreement...no general vote will be held to approve the pact (for non-tribal members)."

Ranchers, tribes reach deal on Klamath Water, Redding Record Searchlight 3/5/14. "Ranchers face an even tougher year this year, because with drought continuing and another irrigation shut-off likely, many no longer have any cattle to sell, added rancher Andrea Rabe"

Brandan Topham February Newsletter - OWRD to shut off surface and ground water to Upper Klamath ranches and farms, posted to KBC 2/23/14. "The State recently told us that they are going to shut off all of the surface water above Klamath Lake again this year....(OWRD) has decided that it will also shut off most of the wells above Klamath Lake."

Letter Virginia Topham from Sprague River wrote to Oregon Water Resources Director Phil Ward who will shut off Upper Klamath irrigation wells, February 2014. "Why are we being targeted for destruction? Your own people testified that they have no way to prove that we are interfering with surface water. In the prosecution of the Nazi war criminals at the Nuremberg trials after WWII their only defense was that 'they are just following orders.' "

Klamath Water Settlement deadline missed, H&N 2/14/14. "If approved by the Klamath Tribal Council and a host of irrigators, the AIP will become one component of the proposed legislation that will cover the upper Basin; the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA) including Klamath Reclamation Project irrigators and the Klamath Hydro Settlement Agreement with PacifiCorp, which may involve removing four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River."

Friday deadline: Tribes, irrigators, others close on water pact. (Klamath) agreement may affect usage for years, H&N 2/12/14

< Oregon Senator Doug Whitsett and Rep. Gail Whitsett  Science of shutoffs, well water monitoring law aims to clarify ownership, H&N 2/7/14. “We fully support the OWRD authority to regulate wells that are materially interfering with senior water rights. However, we believe the state should be required to prove that the use of irrigation wells is materially and measurably harming a water right holder with a superior priority date,” Gail Whitsett said."

Lawmakers hear (Klamath) water pact update, Rep. McLane reviews Cover Oregon, LaMalfa votes against omnibus bill, H&N 1/24/14. "If approved by the Klamath Tribal Council and a host of irrigators, the AIP will become one component of proposed legislation that will cover the upper Basin, the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA) including on-project irrigators, and the Klamath Hydro Settlement Agreement with PacifiCorp, which may involve removing four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River..."(Rep. Whitsett) said OWRD has listed more than 200 groundwater irrigation wells that may be shut off if the Tribes, which have time immemorial rights, make a call on the water."

Deadline passes. No agreement yet on (Klamath) water pact, H&N, posted to KBC 1/21/14

Upper Basin water pact deadline this Friday. Groups near final agreement; next step is bill for Congress, H&N 1/14/14. "Some landowner participation is expected through reduction of agricultural water use by 30,000 acre feet. The reduction will be in the form of permanent buyouts, or “retirement,” of some upper Basin irrigators’ water rights along the Williamson, Wood and Sprague rivers...the tribes said they will reduce the minimum level of water they require in rivers above the lake to protect fisheries in return for participation by landowners in riparian area restoration. "

2013 a costly year for Upper Basin ranchers, H&N 1/2/14. "Like other Upper Basin ranchers, Duarte’s water was shut off this year ... when the Klamath Tribes and Klamath Project irrigators made calls for water in early June. That meant all the Upper Basin ranches went without irrigation water this summer.  'We’ve got a $90,000 hole in our account this year...' "

Water issues will likely dominate session work, Senator Doug Whitsett, posted to KBC 12/31/13. "The Oregon Water Resources Department has made clear its intentions in 2014 to shut down as many as 130 irrigation wells due to alleged interference with surface water rights...."

Water pact awaits tribal approval; Tribes’ support hinges on tree farm acquisition, H&N 12/24/14

KWUA, officials review pact, H&N, 12/14/13. "Conditions of the AIP include reducing agricultural water use by 30,000 acre feet through permanent buy out, or “retirement,” of some upper Basin irrigators’ water rights. Jerry Jones, who owns 20 acres in the upper Basin, said irrigators who are not in desperate financial straits are unlikely to sell their water rights or vote in favor of the AIP. 'Not everybody has a gun to their head. It’s not going to work,' he said." KBC NOTE: according to the last Task Force meeting, the permanent downsizing of water rights is "voluntary." However, if they do not agree to the terms of the KBRA/dam removal/tribal land acquisition mandate, then they probably will continue to have their off-project water shut off like they did this year.

Task force work winds down; Power costs left unresolved Basin water dispute close to settlement. Deal between Tribes, irrigators key to legislation H&N, 12/4/13. "initial estimates for the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) delivering inexpensive power to off-project users may not be as cost effective as planned....“We do not have and will not have this worked out for a year or two before we know exactly what the final solution will be,” he said...the tribe also hopes to acquire a 92,000 acre Mazama tree farm for economic development, which would be funded by the proposed congressional legislation. Early last summer, the tribe called for its water right, forcing the shutoff of hundreds of water users in the upper Basin. About 100,000 acre feet of water was shut off. The economic impact of that was estimated to be up to $500 million annually..."

VIDEO of Governor's final Task Force meeting to implement the KBRA/KHSA re: Klamath River hydro dam removal, 12/3/13. 127 minutes.

FINAL Report and Recommendations from the Klamath Basin Task Force to Senators Wyden and Merkley, Congressman Walden, and Governor Kitzhaber 12/3/13. Task Force received this report 12/2/13 and had one week to give input. The public did not receive final 'draft' before 12/3/13 to comment on.

Final Task Force meeting today; Proposed water pact to be made public; solutions for refuges remains unclear, followed by Tribes, irrigators sign water pact; Details of ‘Agreement in Principle’ topic of public meetings 12/3/13

Klamath Tribes, irrigators ink tentative water-sharing pact, 12/2/13

Klamath water task force to hold final meeting 11/28/13

Klamath County Water Crisis by Heather Smith Thomas, Western Montana Water Rights, posted to KBC 11/23/13. "One of the most devastating government “takings” in the history of the U.S. is in progress in Klamath County, Oregon.  This movement to get farmers and ranchers off their privately owned lands has been brewing for many years but came to a head after a sequence of events this spring and summer shut off long-time water rights and deprived landowners of their ability to irrigate or water their livestock."

Rough water year ending, Irrigation stops for 2013, but concerns continue; 350 water users shut off, H&N, posted to KBC 10/22/13

(Klamath) Task Force back online, resumes operation with government; next meeting date not yet determined, H&N 10/18/13. (Klamath and Siskiyou Counties are not at the table, and are not in agreement, with the KBRA dam removal agreements).

An alternative Klamath Task Force, interview by Jefferson Public Radio with Tom Mallams, Klamath County Commissioner, posted 10/10/13.

(Klamath) Racism and Land Theft, Oregon-Style, by Erika Bentsen, posted to KBC 8/28/13. "What does this mean to the future of Klamath County? Are tribal members going to be the only ones allowed to own land? Now that irrigation is taken out of production, property values are plummeting. But only tribal members will be compensated; all others will be bankrupted. Who gets the land next? Will the tribes buy it for pennies on the dollar? Then what? Will the water in the rivers no longer be called, like it was before the tribes sold the reservation?"

No water, no cattle. Shipping out: Cattle moved from Modoc Point. Without water, ranchers cannot feed cattle in the upper Basin, H&N posted to KBC 8/28/13.

Science of (Klamath) fish mortality should be challenged, by Jerry Jones, Chiloquin H&N, posted to KBC 8/28/13. "Most of the summer is gone with no resumption of water deliveries to Upper Basin irrigators...The state and federal governments conspired with the tribes to create this problem and destroy the opposition to the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement..."

Latest Klamath water crisis continues century of conflict, Capital Press, posted to KBC 8/23/13. "Nathan Jackson, a Cow Creek Indian who manages his family's ranch near Bonanza in Klamath County... said...the Klamath Tribes have "asked for an unreasonable amount of water to support their hunting and fishing rights." He said the quantity of the tribes' water call is "decimating the entire industry in the Klamath Basin.' "

Chamber stance wrong on KBRA support, Virginia Topham for H&N posted to KBC 8/19/13.

< Klamath Water Crisis, by Dani Nichols, posted to KBC 7/22/13. "...Here are the basics: the Klamath Tribes and the environmental activists have teamed up to starve farmers and ranchers out of the Klamath Basin, because of the lives of the supposedly endangered sucker fish in Upper Klamath Lake, and the Coho Salmon of the Klamath River. Because the tribes have been in the Klamath Basin since “time immemorial”, a judge recently ruled that their water rights supersede those of the Klamath County Agriculturalists. What are the tribes doing with these newfound rights? Turning off water to agriculture, the main industry of Klamath County (plus a threat to refuse multi-use water to Crater Lake National Park, the only National Park in Oregon and a revenue generator of more than $30 million for Klamath county and the surrounding area last year) and letting thousands of gallons of economic and cultural force drain to the ocean instead..."

Upper Basin water shut-off newsletter by Brandan Topham, posted to KBC 7/12/13. "The day after the rally we were in district court in front of Judge Wogan, asking for a stay so that we can resume irrigating while this is fought in court. It was a bit demoralizing when a person goes into the courtroom and there are 3 lawyers trying to help agriculture and there are 16 lawyers from the tribes and government fighting very hard to keep the water turned off. .."

RACISM AND LAND THEFT, OREGON-STYLE by Erika Bentsen 8/28/13

Science of fish mortality should be challenged, H&N 8/23/13 letter by Jerry Jones, Chiloquin

Water rights secured for livestock and human use in Klamath County; Oregon Water Resource Commission adopts temporary rules granting water rights preference to livestock watering and human consumption in Klamath Basin. Oregon Cattlemen's Association 7/1/13. However, they are still prohibited from keeping their crops and pastures watered.

Ranchers rally for water, Protesters say their livelihood could be ruined by shutoffs  by SAMANTHA TIPLER, H&N 7/1/13

Klamath Basin Water Rally 7/1/13

Crater Lake shutoff possible, H&N 6/30/13. "Any impacts to Crater Lake could be far-reaching economically. In 2011, visitors contributed $34.6 million to nearby communities, said Jeff Olson, National Park Service spokesman, and 549 area jobs were supported...Calls for water were made June 10 by the most senior water rights holders: Klamath Project farmers and the Klamath Tribes."

Klamath County Ag Impact rally Monday July 1 at 10:00 a.m. Who are we, and economic impact of current water shut-off to dozens of farmers and ranchers in the Upper Klamath Basin, 6/25/13.   

Who are we, and economic impact of current water shut-off to Hundreds of farmers and ranchers in the Upper Klamath Basin, 6/25/13.

"Today, a portion of the water on our ranch and all of the water for a neighboring ranch that we rent was shut off, thanks to the government and the Klamath tribes."newsletter from Brandan Toppin, Flying T Salers Ranch, Sprague River 6/21/13

Klamath Tribes: Support the KBRA in exchange for water talks, Capital Press 6/20/13. "The leader of the Klamath Tribes told a U.S. Senate committee June 20 that ranchers facing water shutoffs in the Upper Klamath Basin would have to agree to provisions of a three-year-old basin restoration agreement to negotiate more water from the tribes." KBC Note: Klamath Tribe is presently denying  irrigation water to off-Project Klamath irrigators supposedly for the sacred sucker fish. However, if the irrigators agree to supporting the KBRA (which destroys 4 hydro dams on the Klamath River, gifts land to the tribes that they previously sold to build a sovereign land base, destroys a fish hatchery producing millions of salmon, and downsizes agriculture), then the tribe will allow off Project irrigators to discuss terms to get their water back.

(Oregon U.S. Senator) Wyden calls for new basin-wide solution to Klamath water issues, Wyden Press Release 6/20/13.
Archived video of the 6/20/13 hearing, testimony and a full list of witnesses are available here.

Devastating results from (Klamath) water regulations, June 27, 2013 letter by Edward Bartell, H&N

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