Klamath water talks to continue

Revisions still not finished, more meetings in January

By Ty Beaver, Herald and News 12/19/09

Stakeholders involved in final negotiations on the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement failed to finish revisions this week at meetings in Sacramento.

Klamath County Commissioner John Elliott said stakeholders are expected to meet again Jan. 6 and 7.

“Right now, I think people are tired physically, and mentally, too,” he said.

Elliott said some stakeholders worked until 2 a.m. Friday on the document, but more legal opinions and detail on procedures are needed before they can finish.

The restoration agreement seeks to resolve conflicts over water in the Klamath River watershed and involves farmers, tribes, fishermen, conservationists and government officials. A related Klamath River dam removal agreement with Portland-based PacifiCorp was released earlier this fall.

Stakeholders continued to meet on the restoration agreement to make it consistent with the dam removal agreement and address changes.

Close to finished

Elliott said the document is as close as it has ever been to completion, and stakeholders are working hard.

“It’s just taking more time than expected,” he said.

Late Friday afternoon calls to Craig Tucker, Klamath campaign coordinator for the Karuk Tribe; Tom Mallams, an irrigator off the Klamath Reclamation Project and president of Klamath Off Project Water Users; and Greg Addington, executive director of Klamath Water Users Association, were not immediately returned.