Klamath Water Users Association 2455 Patterson Street, Suite 3 Klamath Falls, Oregon 97603 Phone (541) 883-6100 FAX   (541) 883-8893   kwua@cvcwireless.net  Weekly Update August 19, 2004 California Ag Leadership Program DC Educational Fellows Klamath Tour Participants Italo Acha Counselor, Embassy of Peru Economic and Trade Affairs Nivin Elgohary Chief, USDA Rural Utilities Service,Operations Branch, Southern Regional Division Claire Gesalman Acting Chief, Communications Branch EPA Field & External Affairs Division, Office of Pesticide Programs Vicki Hicks Vice-President Van Scoyoc Associates Myra Hyde Program Specialist, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Branch of Habitat Restoration Barbara Johnson Analyst in Agricultural Policy Resources, Science and Industry Division Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress James Maeder, Jr. Senior Policy Analyst Import Administration Cathie McCullough Director, Food Distribution USDA C.J. McKeral Pacific N.W. Regional Liason U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Jason Weller Program Examiner, OMB California Ag Leadership Program DC Educational Fellows Klamath Tour Participants Warren Payne International Trade Analyst U.S. International Trade Commission Stan Ponce, Ph.D Senior Advisor, Partnerships and Business Policy U.S. Department of Interior Suzanne Rigby Chief, Fruit and Vegetable Procurement Branch USDA Adam Sharp Associate Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Prevention, Pesticides & Toxic Substances Jacqui Shoholm Director of Division of Policy, Legislation and dissemination for the Employment & Training Administration, Department of Labor Robin Tilsworth Director, Program Planning, Development & Evaluation Division, Export Credits, Foreign Agricultural Service USDA Robert Tse Outreach Officer USDA Michael D. Zehr Legislative Assistant for Ag. U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell Thanks to the following local sponsors of the recent DC Fellows Tour of the Klamath Basin: Prather Ranch, JW Kerns Irrigation, Harvest Ford, Mile Post 44, Floyd A Boyd, High Mountain Hay Growers, Klamath Basin Equipment, and all of the host families. Continued on page 3   Klamath Water Users Association 2455 Patterson Street, Suite 3 Klamath Falls, Oregon 97603 Phone (541) 883-6100 FAX   (541) 883-8893   kwua@cvcwireless.net  Weekly Update August 19, 2004 California Fish and Game Commission Approves Protection for Klamath Coho By ALI BAY California Staff Writer Capital Press (Permission to Reprint Granted by Capital Press) Despite new evidence that shows increasing numbers of coho salmon in a variety of California watersheds, the state has approved new protections for the species. On Aug. 6, the California Fish and Game Commission decided to list coho salmon as threatened and endangered under the state’s Endangered Species Act. Salmon between San Francisco and Punta Gorda, in Humboldt County, will be listed as endangered, and the species between Punta Gorda and the Oregon border will be listed as threatened. "We did everything we possibly could to prevent it, and they decided to list anyway," said Noelle Cremers, director of industry affairs for the California Cattlemen’s Association. CCA, the California Farm Bureau Federation and the California Forestry Association presented new evidence to the state that indicated increased numbers of coho adults and juveniles are present in some Northern California watersheds in recent years. That information, compiled by a Walnut Creek-based biologist, Charles Hanson, indicates that ocean conditions may be improved for coho rearing, and that inland habitat quality in some areas is also improving. However, the research, compiled in 2002 and 2003, didn’t stand the test of proving a long-term trend in the species’ recovery. California Fish and Game Commission Approves Protection for Coho (Cont’d) "The department very thoroughly and very carefully reviewed that information," said Gary Stacey, fisheries program manager for the Department of Fish and Game’s North Coast region. "We recognize that there are some small populations of coho that seem to have stabilized and seem to be doing fairly well. But while we have these pockets of populations that seem to be doing well, there is a preponderance of populations that aren’t." In June, the California Fish and Game Commission tabled the proposal to add the fish to the list of endangered and threatened species, and instead recommended the state continue with its recovery plan, as outlined in February. Agricultural leaders speculated political pressure might have forced members of the commission to finalize the listing this month — which they said was unexpected. However, a spokeswoman for the department said she was unaware of any pressure from lawmakers that would have led to the commission’s recent decision. Now ranch and farm groups are trying to get a grip on what the listing could mean for cattle producers and farmers in the North State. SISKIYOU VALLEY IMPACT "Generally the people who will be impacted by this are those who irrigate alfalfa or pasture in the range of the coho — namely in the Siskiyou Valley," said Cremers. "They most likely will have to get incidental take permits, which will be incredibly expensive because they will require restoration in return for that incidental take." Continued on page 4   Klamath Water Users Association 2455 Patterson Street, Suite 3 Klamath Falls, Oregon 97603 Phone (541) 883-6100 FAX   (541) 883-8893   kwua@cvcwireless.net  Weekly Update August 19, 2004 California Fish and Game Commission Approves Protection for Coho (Cont’d) Cremers said the effects of the listing in the most northern part of the state would also likely resonate across California. Cattle producers and farmers may have to reduce their hay production as a result of the listing, she said. Growers in the affected counties of Siskiyou and Shasta provide alfalfa to the state’s dairy and horse operations. A spokeswoman for the Farm Bureau said growers and ranchers need to make sure they’re using the best management practices for any typical agricultural activities around streams. But that’s something most of them have been doing for years anyway, said Pam Giacomini, director of natural resources for the Farm Bureau. ‘FRUSTRATING FOR LANDOWNERS’ The listing is "really disheartening for people who have been working cooperatively for many, many years," she said. She said it’s frustrating for landowners who have been doing restoration projects on their land to promote coho habitat. Now those landowners could be viewed as criminals if they accidentally harm some of the fish, even though they’re helping the species in the long term. "This is a pretty big incentive for landowners not to create (coho) habitat," Giacomini said. "And that’s not what we want." DATA SHOWED DECLINE The commission’s decision concludes a lengthy process that began in August 2002, when the department found that populations of coho salmon warranted new protections. The best available Approves Protection for Coho (Cont’d) information at that time indicated that coho from San Francisco to the Oregon border had experienced a significant decline in the past 40 to 50 years. According to the department, various populations, including coho hatchery stocks, are only 6 to 15 percent as abundant as they were in the 1940s. "Fifty-seven percent of the streams that used to support coho, now don’t," said Stacey. He said the decline has been attributed to dams and water diversions for municipal and agricultural uses, as well as landslides, drought and poor ocean conditions. The department estimates listing and recovery efforts for the coho, which is also protected by federal law, will cost the state about $200 million per year. Public Juniper Workshops Planned A series of public workshop meetings will be held in Northeast California communities in August and September to begin development of a coordinated plan to improve conditions on sagebrush-steppe ecosystems throughout the region. The Bureau of Land Management, Modoc National Forest, Modoc County and the North Cal-Neva Resource Conservation and Development District are leading the effort to develop the plan. The workshops will be designed to encourage discussion about encroachment of juniper into sage-steppe ecosystems – landscapes comprised of brush and grass, interspersed with woodlands and occasional aspen stands. A 7:00 p.m. August 24 workshop will be held at the Tulelake Partnership Building. Continued on page 5   Klamath Water Users Association 2455 Patterson Street, Suite 3 Klamath Falls, Oregon 97603 Phone (541) 883-6100 FAX   (541) 883-8893   kwua@cvcwireless.net  Weekly Update August 19, 2004 California Regional Board Proposes to Remove Lost River From 303(d) List The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board) is soliciting public comment on the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) analysis for and the proposed removal or delisting of the Upper Lost River from California’s 303(d) list. The Upper Lost River watershed includes Clear Lake Reservoir, the streams draining to Clear Lake Reservoir and the Upper Lost River between the Clear Lake Reservoir dam and the Oregon border. The document is 125 pages with two maps indicating the watershed area and sampling sites. Comments for the record should be made in writing and sent to the address below. The public comment period for this document will close on October 1, 2004. Regional Board staff will prepare written responses to all written comments received by Regional Board by the close of the comment period. Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires states to identify water bodies that do not meet water quality standards and then to establish a TMDL for each water body at a level necessary for attainment of water quality standards. The Upper Lost River is on the State of California’s Section 303(d) list because of nutrient and temperature impairments on beneficial uses, primarily those related to the warm water fishery. Regional Board staff has completed an analysis of water quality conditions in this watershed. Based on the results of this analysis, the Regional Board proposes delisting the watershed for nutrients and temperature. The California State Water Resources Control Board as part of the 2004 Clean Water Act Section 303(d) list update will consider the proposed   Regional Board Proposes to Remove Lost River From 303(d) List (Continued) delisting. Information on the status of the 2004 list update can be obtained by going to the State Board website: http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/tmdl/303d_listing.html. Copies of the Regional Board staff’s proposed TMDL analysis are available for public review. The TMDL analysis document will be available going to http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/~rwqcb1, and clicking on the following links: Programs, TMDLs, TMDL Project List. Copies of the TMDL analysis document also can be obtained by calling the Regional Board at 707-576-2220 or by contacting Bill Hobson at North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board at 707 576-0647 (telephone) or hobsb@rb1.swrcb.ca.gov (e-mail). Questions for the Regional Board staff pertaining to the TMDL analysis document should be directed to Bill Hobson at 707 576-0647 or David Leland at 707-576-2069. Comments on the TMDL analysis document should be sent to: Bill Hobson California Regional Water Quality Control Board North Coast Region 5550 Skylane Boulevard, Suite A Santa Rosa, CA 95403 The Regional Board will consider comments on the TMDL analysis received by 1 October 2004. Source: August 16, 2004 North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board "Notice of Public Comment"

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