November 2011
KBC NOTE: Presently the farm leaders and tribal leaders, environmental groups and government agencies support the KBRA/Klamath dam removal deal, but their constituents do not. According to Holly Cannon, KWAPA, it costs Project irrigators 20-25 % of their irrigation water, they don't know what the power cost will be, it supports the ESA, Biological Opinions, hydroelectric dam removal, planting salmon in Upper Klamath Basin, and allies farm leaders with the environmental groups, including PCFFA, who still has lawsuits against us irrigators. Earthjustice represents most of those environmental  groups  with free litigation, and receives funds from multibillionaire George Soros who is a large contributor to Monsanto.

Christmas Shopping, Senator Doug Whitsett 11/29/11

Group invests in future of the Basin, H&N 11/29/11. KBC NOTE: Landtrust partner Oregon Wild advocates considerable downsizing Klamath Basin agriculture.

2,000,000 Ten Yard Dump Trucks of Hazardous Sediment! Save the Dams, posted to KBC 11/27/11. "The sediment chart below is a brief on the 20 million (20,000,000!) cubic yards of sediment debris captured behind the four Klamath River dams that will be released with dam removal."

Klamath Dam removal could be a calamity: Commentary by Ph.D. Menke on Dan Walters article: Warren Buffet and Oregon farmers could get a gift from California taxpayers, Sacramento Bee, 11/27/11

Wolves and the mess in the woods, Daily Interlake, posted to KBC 11/27/11

Storm brings problem of sediment to light; Chesapeake Bay discolored by muck after dam’s flood gates are opened, H&N, posted to KBC 11/27/11. "That could turn dirtied waters into periodic oxygen depleted killing fields for species of marine life they are fighting to save."
$60 million fish passage for Soda Springs Dam, H&N, posted to KBC 11/26/11. "Garrett says the company (PacifiCorp) believes removing the dam would have cost as much as the fish passage and also would have raised electric rates more because of the lost hydropower."

Rerun: What caused salmon deaths? by Barry Clausen, Siskiyou Daily News 2/16/03. KBC NOTE: The KBRA is largely based on the myth that low flows killed some of the huge fish run in 2002 at the Trinity River diversion, despite evidence to the contrary as detailed in Clausen's article. HERE is KBC Fish Die-off Page
Klamath Water Users updates written before the 2002 Klamath River fish die-off warning that more warm water may harm fish, along with National Research Council comments.

Klamath Dam Removal Parts 1 and 2, by  Siskiyou County Supervisor Marcia Armstrong, posted to KBC 11/26/11.
Armstrong Home Page
Recall highlights divisions, Capital Press, followed by comments from Siskiyou Supervisor Marcia Armstrong, and PienPolitics President Liz Bowen.

Controlled burns, not woodstoves, polluting air, H&N letter to editor by Steve Emley, posted to KBC 11/26/11

Agriculture touches all of our lives, Baxter Black, H&N, posted to KBC 11/26/11.

Watermaster fees shock irrigators, Capital Press, posted to KBC 11/25/11. "Menke’s bill for watermaster service rose from $1,245 last year to $8,500 this year."

California Fish and Wildlife Strategic Vision, public review meetings to be held. posted to KBC 11/25/11. "The draft interim strategic vision is the first step toward developing a stronger Department of Fish and Game, and Fish and Game Commission."

Sheriff attends meeting in Medford, posted to KBC 11/25/11 KSYC Joe Show.

Judge James Redden to step down after a decade on the Northwest's biggest salmon lawsuit, Oregonian, posted to KBC  11/25/11

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to our Creator, Savior and Friend for the blessings he gave us.

Klamath dams: City of Yreka weighs in, Siskiyou Daily 11/23/11

Oregon Sheriff Gil Gilbertson continues stand against U.S. Forest Service 11/23/11, NewsWithViews. "...Where does the USFS’s authority come from?...he takes sharp issue with President Obama who has declared he’ll “circumvent the Constitution” through the use of executive orders..."

KWAPA - Klamath Water and Power Agency Public Meeting Dec 6, 2011

Judge Redden To Step Down, OPB 11/23/11

East Side (Klamath Project) irrigation districts oppose Klamath Basin Restoration legislation, H&N, posted to KBC 11/21/11

Meeting on KBRA, Klamath Dam Removal, and Rogue Valley irrigation water and property rights, by Tom Mallams, posted to KBC 11/21/11.

Klamath Off Project Water Users Association letter to DOI Secretary Ken Salazar regarding Klamath EIS/EIR comments, posted to KBC 11/21/11

Attorneys Fees Reform Passes the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, Budd-Falen Law Offices 11/21/11. "...literally tens of millions of dollars that have been pouring into the coffers of multimillionaire groups like the Sierra Club, the Defenders of Wildlife, the Center for Biological Diversity and countless others. The purpose of the legislation is to bring accountability and transparency for the payment of attorneys fees to the American public. Since 1995, there has been no accounting of this money; money that by the smallest of estimates is in the hundreds of millions of dollars..." KBC NOTE: These groups are directly involved with the environmental groups, voting "stakeholders", in the KBRA / Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement.

Center for Biological Diversity Kierán Suckling,  how he gets agencies to play by his rules, Ted Williams, posted to KBC 11/22/11

Big government hijacks Clean Water Act, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, posted to KBC 11/21/11

(Klamath dam removal) bill must pass House committees, H&N 11/20/11. "Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., is chairman of a Natural Resources subcommittee, Water and Power, which will play a key role in advancing or killing legislation…'To tear down four perfectly good hydroelectric dams at enormous cost is insane,'  McClintock said in September."

Oregon's unsustainable spending addiction, Oregon Senator Doug Whitsett Newsletter 11/20/11

Human survival is at the top of my priorities, H&N, by Pete Cartwright 11/20/11

Protection sought for Upper Klamath Lake snail, Columbian, posted to KBC 1/16/11

Columbia Basin Bulletin / Fish and Wildlife News 11/18/11

1st Chronicles 16:1-3, sent by Frank Tallerico for 11/20/11

A powerpoint detailing the historical effects of gun control, posted to KBC 11/18/11.

House votes to strengthen second amendment rights, US Congressman Wally Herger 11/18/11

Obama Pushing Shooters Off Public Lands, U S News 11/16/11.

AUDIO - Debbie Bacagalupi updates us on destruction of the Klamath Dams and the effects on farming and ranching in the N. Cal community. Danielle Linder, owner of consulting forestry and biological services in Weed, Calif, describes the process of attempting to harvest trees, even on one's own property: http://ppjg.wordpress.com/2011/11/15/ts-radio-vertical-farming/

Southern Oregon Miner Defeats United States Forest Service in Court, Gold Prospectors, posted to KBC 11/15/11. "United States District Judge Ann Aiken ruled that the United States Forest Service, and particularly Cottage Grove District Ranger Deborah Schmidt, violated the constitutional rights of 83 year old Oregon miner, James Edgar."

Monument legislation discussed at hearing, testimony by U.S. Congressman Wally Herger 11/15/11. "Obama Administration intends to use this authority to lock up more than thirteen million acres of federal land from multiple-use access. In a time of high unemployment, this would lock even more American jobs away."

This week the U.S. Senate will vote on the Barrasso-Heller Amendment, blocking any funding for the Army Corps that's used to expand wetlands jurisdiction, AFP 11/15/11.

AB2376 California Natural Resource strategic vision, 11/15/11, and public comment

July 17, 2003 Congressman Thompson at congressional hearing supporting Congressman Blumenauer's (D) amendment to end farming on the FWS refuge lands (Waterfowl eat 70 million pounds of food here, and more than half comes from the farms.) Opposing this 'willing seller' deal were Republican Congressmen Greg Walden, Wally Herger, Doc Hastings, John Doolittle, and Mr Goodlatte. Relatively few Tulelake farmers supported Thompson's agenda.
11/10/11 Merkley's Press Release: Senator Merkley-D, Representative Mike Thompson-D, introduce Klamath Basin Economic Restoration Act

Is government creating violence, Barry Clausen 11/12/11. "These agencies and their out of control agents along with radical members of the environmental community and the Karuk Tribe are apparently deliberately creating problems that are infuriating America’s farmers, ranchers, the timber industry and those who use our country’s public lands in Northern California’s Siskiyou County...As Sheriff Lopey stated, “Essentially, we are under attack and our public safety, way of life, quality of life, economy and future is at stake.”

Reposted 11/12/11 - Senator Doug Whitsett speech regarding the KBRA and Klamath dam destruction at Yreka's public listening session put on my Department of Interior on 10/20/11. "The Draft Environmental Impact Statement does not appear to mitigate that 20 million cubic yards of sediment. The Department apparently proposes to simply blow the dams and let nature take its course, washing all that sediment downriver. They appear to consider this option as a “grand experiment” to see what actually happens. That amount of sediment is equivalent to about 2 million ten yard dump truck loads of silt, sediment and organic muck. To put that amount into perspective, lined up head to tail, 2 million dump truck loads of river muck would stretch about 12,500 miles…..about half way around the planet."

VIDEO: 2 minute video regarding Rogue River water and the KBRA, KMED Medford Bill Meyers interviewing Karuk spokesman Craig Tucker and Klamath Water User Association Steve Kandra, posted to KBC 11/27/11.
HERE > for entire AUDIO - Bill Meyer Show debate featuring farmer Steve Kandra and environmental activist and Karuk Tribe spokesman Craig Tucker, both supporting KBRA and Klamath dam destruction. Opponents of the "agreement" in the debate are former Karuk Tribal councilman and Shasta tribal member Gary Lake, and John Martinez. KBC Notes: Tucker said dams provide no irrigation and costs only $200 million to remove. He didn't mention the cost of removing 20 million cubic yards of toxic silt. He said "there's court battles ahead of us," although previously while selling the KBRA to the public he said this would end litigation, which is what caller Tara, KWUA employee, said this would end litigation.  posted 11/12/11

Homeowners concerned about erosion, dry wells after (Condit) dam breach, KATU News, posted to KBC 11/12/11. "Before the 127-foot dam was breached, a dock floated on Northwestern Lake. Now it sits upon dry ground, and the lake has been replaced with a muddy canyon, 80 feet deep in some areas...In addition to losing their lake, homeowners say they have also lost water to their houses...But lease holders and private property owners said the last word they got from PacifiCorp is that the company won't pay a penny."

Columbia Basin Bulletin, posted to KBC 11/11/11. * Researchers Study How White Salmon River Responds To Dam Breaching; Right Now ‘Lots Of Mud.'  “It’s a beautiful natural experiment,” Wilcox said of the opportunity to monitor how the river moves large pulses of sediment that have the potential to snuff out aquatic life...It was estimated that between 1.6 million to 2.2 million cubic yards of sediment would be discharged into the White Salmon River immediately following tunnel’s opening."

11/11/11 VETERANS DAY

Honoring our Veterans, by Congressman Doc Hastings 11/11/11

KBRA supporter Jason Chapman was strongly defeated by KBRA opponent Grant Knoll for the KID/Klamath Irrigation District board of directors

Rep. Tom McClintock released the following statement in response to Klamath legislation expected to be introduced by Sen. Merkley, 10/10/11. "“Amidst spiraling electricity prices and chronic electricity shortages the effort to tear down four perfectly good hydroelectric dams at enormous cost to ratepayers and taxpayers is insane. These dams produce up to 155 megawatts of the cleanest and cheapest electricity on the planet – enough for 155,000 homes..."

Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA-1) today (11/10/11) jointly introduced the Klamath Basin Economic Restoration Act in the Senate and House which authorizes the implementation of the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA) and the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA).

Merkley's Press Release: Senator Merkley-D, Representative Mike Thompson-D, introduce Klamath Basin Economic Restoration Act
HERE is the legislation
KBRA / HERE are people's voices, polls, articles, testimony, speeches, litigation, documents, and Whose Who behind the $ supporting the dam removal and downsizing ag agenda.

Bill would lead to dam removal from Klamath River, Mercury News and Sacramento Bee, 11/10/11, followed by Many Comments:  "What I don't see is the names George Soros and Warren Buffet's names connected to the dam removal. George Soros funds..."

Ore. wolf hits Klamath County, 280 miles from home, Sac Bee 11/10/11. HERE for Wolf Page.

Jerry Brown appointees help approve higher rural fire fee, Sac Bee 11/10/11.

Traceability for Livestock Moving Interstate comments due 11/9/11

VIDEO" Defend Rural America: "On October 22, 2011 something big happened...over 1000 people, 50 groups and 8 sheriffs met in unity to save the Klamath River dams in Siskiyou County, Ca." posted to KBC 11/7/11.Includes video of sheriff's forum.

Commentary by Mark Baird on Siskiyou sheriff's life-and-death rhetoric alarms tribes, environmental groups, followed by article by Redding Searchlight 11/7/11. "The Defend Rural America Rally from the perspective of a reporter who did not attend, featuring comments from other people who were not there. Yellow Journalism at its worst."

Instream flows for fish, by Siskiyou County Supervisor Marcia Armstrong 11/7/11. "Just like the Chadwick process, the Scott River CRMP and the Klamath Settlement, the SDM has all the earmarks of another hustle that will leave us with empty pockets and dry ditches."

Hydropower still rules in N.W., by Terry Flores, The Columbian, posted to KBC 11/7/11. "Today, as executive director of Northwest RiverPartners, I advocate for the federal hydropower system on the Columbia River and Snake River dams on behalf of families and businesses that depend on them for clean, reliable power, flood protection, food, and an ingenious river navigation system that contributes $19 billion in trade, commerce and thousands of jobs." KBC NOTE: George Soros-supported radical environmental groups bent on demolishing Western hydro-dams, Save Our Wild Salmon. Glen Spain, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen, is on Wild Salmon Board of Directors, and is an author of the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, demanding removal of Klamath River Dams.  Wild Salmon is focused on destroying Snake River and Columbia Basin dams. Groups such as "Zero Population Growth" are in their coalition, along with several environmental groups / voting members in the KBRA / Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement.

Removing the White Salmon’s 98-Year Old Condit Dam Marks the Return of Free Flowing Waters for Protected Fish, NOAA 11/7/11. KBC NOTE: NOAA makes biological opinions for Klamath Project irrigators, which creates river flow mandates.

Five Years Ago:
< Greg Addington (l) KWUA, Ron Saxton Oregon Governor candidate, and Senator Doug Whitsett, OR District 28, met with Klamath Farmers and Coastal Commercial trollers.
Farmers and fishermen have Klamath solutions; Feds continue to regulate and decimate both industries, Farmers' and Oregon Trollers' meetings Oct 20 and 21 in Merrill, by Jacqui Krizo, KBC News Editor October 29, 2006:
"Most of the Oregon fishers spoke up regarding dam removal: no, we don't think this is the answer. "The river might dry up." "This is more of a political agenda than a scientific issue.' " 
"(Congressman) Walden asked the Oregon trollers, "Does Glen Spain from PCFFA represent you," and they all responded at once, "No." They said they didn't know of anyone that he represented in Oregon and do not agree with his tactics. "There are people who want to shut down ag, fishing and timber," added Walden."KBC NOTE: In October 2006 REAL fishermen and farmers and representatives were meeting and finding real science, real solutions. Shortly thereafter the tribes and PCFFA/Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen, and some farm leaders, hijacked the alliance and divided the resource users' communities as evidenced in the film below.

Rerun 5 years ago - Tribes and Klamath Water Users: Solving the Klamath Crisis; Keeping Farms and Fish Alive. Film by Craig Tucker and the Karuk Tribe. Klamath Water Users and Tribes negotiate Klamath Dam Removal. Film Review by KBC News. The film premiered at the Holiday Inn in Redding during  Klamath Watershed Conference November 8, 2006

*** Letter written to federal officials (letter by Tom Mallams off-Project group to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar), H&N, posted to KBC 11/5/11. Link includes KBC RESPONSE  H&N includes statements and name-calling by Becky Hyde, employee of SNW / Sustainable NW. Hyde is a voting member on the KBRA negotiation table.  SNW President has ties with World Wildlife Fund and United Nations Foundation (funding by George Soros), and Summit Charitable Foundation, owned by Roger Sant. The company in a five year span granted Sustainable NW $342,875.  The funds come from Sant's company AES, worldwide developer of power in 29 countries, power including coal, gas and renewable energy. 

Forest closes 5,000 miles of roads, trails to vehicles, H&N, posted to KBC 11/6/11. “We don’t have a single trail out of this,” Schenck said. "OHV enthusiasts attempted to work with forest officials this summer to develop some OHV specific trails, but nothing came from the efforts." “ We did drop the ball...” Hupp said.

Mary Williams Hyde to photograph Western States Ranch Rodeo Association National Finals in Winnemucca, Nev., H&N, posted to KBC 11/6/11

Bible Verses for Nov. 6, 2011 are taken from Hebrews 4:14-16, sent from Frank Tallerico:
Our Compassionate High Priest
14. Seeing that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession,
15. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Rancher files for (Klamath County) Commissioner seat, H&N 11/5/11. "Tom Mallams, a rancher who has actively opposed the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, on Friday filed to run for the Klamath County Board of Commissioners Position 1."

PRESS RELEASE: Tom Mallams filed for Klamath County Commissioner Position 1, 11/4/11

District 4 (Siskiyou County) Supervisor Grace Bennett: My personal view of the KBRA, Siskiyou Daily News, posted to KBC 11/4/11. "If the decision is made that the dams are to be removed and the Congress of the United States passes legislation to enact the KBRA, over a billion dollars will be spent on still more restoration projects over the next 10 years...A total of $385 million would support implementation of the water deal – things like paying for farmers to idle land and not farm, provide lower power rates to pump water, $65 million for tribal economic development and environmental management; each tribe will also get $14 million for fisheries management... there are no provisions to improve the quality of the water after it has gone through the Klamath Project and the Wildlife refuges and is returned directly to the Klamath River. No provisions to restore the lakebeds after the dams are removed. No provisions for repairing the road below the dams used to haul off the debris of the dams. No provisions to remove the sediment that will be allowed to wash down the river suffocating spawning grounds. No provisions for flood control; the dams give us nine hours to prepare for a flood event. No provision to make the water line for the city of Yreka safe. No provision for the protection of the Shasta Tribal burial sites and their ceremonial site, which are under the lakes..."

< DFG hears public concern at supervisors meeting, Siskiyou Daily, posted to KBC 11/4/11. "District 5 Supervisor Marcia Armstrong told the DFG representatives, “There is nothing you can do to pour more gas on the concerns of the public than what you’ve just done. You’ve destroyed all of the trust with landowners. You’re not coordinating with us. You’re not asking our permission – we don’t give our permission. You’re just gonna run right over people and take their water rights.”

Tulelake Irrigation District well water level report 11/4/11

Concerns of dam removal, letter by Dean Harris to Siskiyou Daily News, posted to KBC 11/4/11.
 

Higher prices lure some to leave natural beef co-op, H&N 11/4/11. "Producers must feed their cattle all-natural feed and can’t administer hormones or antibiotics to the animals."

Columbia Basin fish and wildlife bulletin 11/4/11.

YREKA - 8 Northern California Sheriffs Form Coalition Against Tyranny, DailyPaul 11/1/11. Full length YouTube videos of Sheriffs' speeches.

YREKA, California - Rural Rebellion Brewing, San Francisco Examiner 11/1/11. KBC Photo. "Their latest battle is to stop destruction of four hydroelectric dams along the Klamath River – an action driven by environmentalists and the Obama administration. Most locals say the dam-busting will undermine their property rights and ruin the local farming and ranch economy, which is all that's left since environmental regulators destroyed the logging and mining industries...Unemployment rates are in the 20-percent-and-higher range. Nearly 79 percent of the county's voters in a recent advisory initiative opposed the dam removal, but that isn't stopping the authorities from blasting the dams anyway."

Fox News fails Siskiyou Farmers, posted 11/1/11, Tea Party Hobbits.

Do you think state Senator Doug Whitsett has done a good job during his first two terms? Many of our readers have inquired about the Herald and News poll on Oregon Senator Doug Whitsett. It was on their website then disappeared. Here are the poll results and interaction with H&N editor, 11/1/11. HERE for Senator Doug Whitsett Page.

California - Worst bills of 2011 - where are they now? Senator Gaines 11/1/11.

Klamath Water and Power Agency KWAPA public meeting 11/1/11

PRESS RELEASE: Gail Whitsett (R) Klamath Falls filed as a candidate today to represent District 56 in the Oregon House of Representatives, 10/31/11