Archive 99 - August 2010
also see main archive page

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Rerun: State board okays a dam on Klamath, The Triplicate, re-posted to KBC 8/24/10. "The department was instrumental in getting the federal power commission to order the company to build the dam to regulate the stream, which has fluctuated in such a manner as to cause frequent fish kills and endanger human life on the Klamath below the existing COPCO dam."

Tulelake Irrigation District well water report 8/30/10. KBC NOTE: This includes the TID wells nearest the town of Merrill and Malin where more than 40 wells have gone dry or disabled since water was withheld from many farms and the aquifer is being pumped to irrigate crops this year.

Klamath Tribe Restoration Act 1986
Native America in the 20th Century 1994. Money given to Klamath Tribes for land purchases throughout the century, and their vote to terminate.

Initiative on (Klamath) dams rejected, H&N, posted to KBC 8/30/10. "Goodson called Smith’s decision a “stalling tactic,” adding he believes Voters Opposed to Dam Removal would win an appeal and get the initiative on the March ballot."

Drought aid must be allotted by Sept. 30, H&N, posted to KBC 8/30/10

The message Oregon should be sending dredge miners: leave, by Oregon Senator Jason Atkinson. * Comments by research scientist, FORMERLY EMPLOYED BY THE EPA, posted to KBC 8/29/10

Plaintiffs in Klamath deal suit say state exceeded authority, Capital Press, posted to KBC 8/28/10

Water Quality and Suction Dredging, Letter by Gerald Hobbs 8/28/10, President of Public Lands for the People.

Smelt regulations violate Constitution, Capital Press, posted to KBC 8/28/10

Dennis Linthicum For Klamath County Commissioner

Cumulative Social and Economic Impacts of Environmental Regulations, by Siskiyou County Commissioner Marcia Armstrong 8/28/10

Dam removal opponents seek votes, Capital Press, posted to KBC 8/27/10

Fights unite ag groups, Capital Press 8/27/10

POW / Protect our Water Rally 8/28/10, Yreka. COME. More than 500 expected. Restore Honor Water Rally Aug 28, 2010

Klamath County Patriots /Klamath Tea Party Meeting Aug 24

Suction Dredge Mining, letter to Oregon Senator Atkinson from Tom Kitchar, posted to KBC 8/23/10. "either have some misunderstandings about the effects of suction dredge mining on the environment and aquatic species, or, someone has fed you a pack of falsehoods...we (a small group representing some of the mining organizations in Oregon with a total membership of around 1,500 individuals) respectfully request an opportunity to meet with you at your earliest convenience."

Wheat yields soar on eastside, Capital Press 8/19/10

DFG seeks to combine water cases in S.F. court, Siskiyou Daily News 8/19/10

Horsefly Irrigation District is tasked with keeping water safe for drinking for Bonanza-area residents, H&N 8/19/10

Dam removal could be closer; some say science is faulty, H&N, posted to KBC 8/17/10. "Mallams called the sediment study “a joke” and said it was heavily based on the flawed science of the 2006 studies, which were conducted by an environmental group...They had to go through three different modeling programs to get the results they wanted...Mallams added not all the results have been released, as scientists work through some of the data, which he said is being manipulated."

* Proposed National Monument Page by Marcia Armstrong, Siskiyou County Supervisor. Armstrong has compiled an abundance of information on Proposed Monuments in Siskiyou County.
Proposed National Monuments, by Marcia Armstrong, posted to KBC 8/17/10: 2 articles. "There are 75,454 acres of private lands in the proposed Siskiyou Crest Monument...According to testimony given at the Monument hearing, many private lands within the monument were targeted for acquisition through “willing sellers."
Proposed Modoc Plateau National Monument, video by LA Times, posted to KBC 8/17/10.
Proposed Cascade Siskiyou National Monument expansion video

Dam removal question will appear on November ballot, Siskiyou Daily News 8/17/10

BLM's Vision for Treasured Landscapes (they want 130 million acres more of your public and private land), including millions of acres in Modoc and Siskiyou Counties. NOT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE, posted 8/12/10

County sends Klamath legislation amendments, Siskiyou Daily 8/12/10 (dam removal deals)

Guarino: Environmental law panel skewed (regarding Klamath dam 'agreements'), Siskiyou Daily, posted to KBC 8/12/10

Water User Rights by Marcia Armstrong, Siskiyou County Supervisor 8/13/10

S510: Illegal to Grow, Share, Trade, Sell Homegrown Food, posted by Toni Thayer on our discussion forum 8/12/10

Delaying the $11 Billion Water Bond: What Does it Mean for the Delta? 8/12/10, by Somach, Simmons and Dunn

Marijuana in Southern Oregon public forests and government overspending, From Oregon's U.S. Congressman Greg Walden August 10, 2010

A public menace. Illegal marijuana plantations on government lands are expanding, putting forest users at risk, say Southern Oregon law officers

KBC NOTE: Environmentalists and tribes based much of their KBRA dam destruction "science" on the "2002 Fish Kill." Barry Clausen exposed the truth about the drug labs and river contamination, but the results of his investigation were silenced: What caused salmon deaths? February 16, 2003 by Barry Clausen

MORE: 25,151 marijuana plants confiscated in Siskiyou County, California, Pioneer Press 10/20/04. For more on local crops, go HERE. (Anyone want to guess why Klamath Forest Alliance wants to shut down our forests to logging and the public?)

USFS Delays Timber Harvest After Owls Spotted In Area, OPB, posted to KBC 8/9/10

Legislature delays water bond to 2012 ballot, SF Chronicle 8/10/10. (KBC NOTE: This bond included California's $250 million contribution to destroy Klamath hydropower dams, according to Doug LaMalfa)

Civil Disobedience, The Quiet before the Storm (Klamath River Basin) by Mark Baird, Vice Chairman POW, Protect Our Water in Scotts Valley, Siskiyou County 8/9/10. "Do we really want the RCD or the CDFG or special interest groups who form the KBRA/KHSA to rob us of our Liberty or our Property."

**We were asked by a Klamath Project resident to rerun the following four posts:

Letter supporting KBRA to Committee on Natural Resources by Klamath Water Users Assoc, PCFFA, Trout Unlimited, California Trout, Yurok Tribe, American Rivers, UKWU, Klamath Tribe, posted to KBC 7/24/10
Steve Kandra, Klamath Basin irrigator, writes to Chairman of House Subcommittee on Power and Water regarding Congressman McClintok inviting Tom Mallams, off-Project irrigator and KBRA opponent, to the hearing, posted to KBC 7/24/10
Our most recent version of the TID/Tulelake Irrigation District lawsuit regarding the KBRA, posted to KBC 8/9/10.
KBC NOTE: Klamath Water Users, environmental groups and government agencies have tried to sell the KBRA as creating a stable block of water for irrigators and a solution to preventing lawsuits. However, Craig Tucker, environmental activist, Karuk tribal spokesman, and a founder of the KBRA and Klamath Riverkeeper, explains the reality for irrigators: Probing the Klamath puzzle; public tells state and feds to look deep into dam removal, The Times-Standard, posted to KBC 7/24/10. "Addressing concerns about waivers of tribal water and fishing rights in the KBRA, Craig Tucker, Klamath campaign coordinator for the Karuk Tribe, said that the studies should aim to clear up misconceptions that tribes can't take legal action if those rights are impacted. He also defended the KBRA, saying that there are no guarantees of water for farms in the agreement, only a cap on how much can be diverted. 'What's capped in this agreement is agricultural water use,” Tucker said. “What's capped today is water for fish.'"

Is biomass plant worth risk to water supply? H&N letter by Del Hollis, posted to KBC 8/9/10

***Facts about the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA) and Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA, by the Klamath Tribes, Dec '09 issue. "...Because of the significantly reduced and capped irrigation water diversions in the KBRA, there will be more water left in the lakes and rivers for fish, wildlife and plants. And the Klamath Tribes will not give up a single Treaty Right!...Don Gentry, Klamath Tribes.
"RUMOR: The KBRA weakens the Endangered Species Act.TRUTH: The KBRA specifically retains our ability to protect fish using the Endangered Species Act (ESA)..."
" *Counties Program – provides some funding for offsetting property tax impacts of water use retirement on agricultural lands, and for some economic development planning."
"Over $235 million for a massive effort by the Klamath Tribes and many others to fix our lakes and rivers above Iron Gate Dam."
" *Klamath Irrigation Project deliveries will be reduced and capped in the drier years, in exchange for a pledge from the Tribes not to further reduce Project diversions. In the driest years, a drought plan will be in place to maintain river flows and lake levels to support fish.
*$47 million to substantially increase flows in the Sprague, Wood and Williamson by retiring enough water uses to increase inflow to Upper Klamath Lake by 30,000 acre feet per year."
" *The TFPA is a new federal law under which Tribes can influence the management of adjacent federal lands. A key component of the TFPA is Tribal ownership of property that is adjacent to Forest Service lands. Over 50 miles of the Mazama boundary touch the Fremont-Winema National Forest."

Sunday 8/8/10 inspiration from Frank Tallerico, Yreka: "Working for God on earth doesn't pay much. . But His retirement plan is out of this world.."

Opponent testifies at committee hearing (in DC on KBRA), H&N, posted to KBC 8/8/10. "Mallams also said proponents sought to prevent him from testifying before the subcommittee, sending letters to its members."

No further state action expected (KBRA) H&N posted to KBC 8/8/10
No action expected this year on KBRA, H&N posted to KBC 8/8/10

Restore Honor Water Rally Aug 28, 2010

In Siskiyou, we have no more to give, Terry Brown, Siskiyou Daily News , posted to KBC 8/8/10

Possible (Klamath) dam ballot question discussed, Siskiyou Daily 8/8/1

Oregon issues new permit for suction-dredge gold miners, Oregonian, posted to KBC 8/8/10

California Farm Bureau Federation Friday Review, legislative and governmental update 8/6/10. In this issue: CDFA’s Market Enforcement Branch, net energy metering, labor, heat illness, and air pollution penalties.

Thursday 8/5/10 – Klamath Falls TOWN HALL MEETING featuring new candidates

Proposed groundwater ordinance establishing an advisory council to the Board of Supervisors, Marcia Armstrong, Siskiyou County Supervisor

Irrigators Ask Supreme Court to Limit Reclamation's Authority And Restore Rights to Farmers, Family Farm Alliance August 2010

Unemployment rate by county from Feb 2007-May 2010

Despite claims, dams provide water storage, flood control, H&N guest writers Leo Bergeron and Brandon Criss. Bergeron is a Montague, Calif., rancher, and a past California State Grange Master. Criss is a Butte Valley rancher and a board member of the Klamath Conservative Voters’ PAC. "

Open Letter to the Board of Supervisors regarding the Ground Water Ordinance, Mark Baird 8/3/10

Alternative to tax and spend government, by Senator Doug Whitsett 8/2/10

Wayne and Jean Hage vs US, Final Award to Hage Estates, 8/2/10. HERE for more on tragic Hage property rights story.

Drought debate goes on, H&N 8/3/10