Klamath Bucket Brigade Reacts harshly to the Fishermen s Association's Lawsuit

The Sierra Times ^ | Apr. 26, 2002 | J.J. Johnson

[madfly]

The Klamath Bucket Brigade
Reacts harshly to the
Fishermen’s Association's Lawsuit
(Lawsuit against Bureau of Reclamation could threaten user water supply)

Report By J.J. Johnson
Published 04. 26. 02 at 15:37 Sierra Time

KLAMATH FALLS --   On April 24, 2002, the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, EarthJustice, The Oregon Natural Resource Council, WaterWatch, The Klamath Forest Alliance, and several other environmental groups filed a lawsuit in Federal Court in Oakland asking for a temporary restraining order against the Bureau of Reclamation to shut off the irrigation water to the Klamath Project farmers for the month of May, or until the draft Biological Opinion from the National Marine Fisheries Service on the Klamath River Coho Salmon is released in June.

Glen Spain, President of the PCFFA was quoted in their press release as saying that the BOR is releasing less water down the Klamath River from Upper Klamath Lake then last year, even though this is a near normal water year.  "Glen Spain is lying", says Bill Ransom, Chairman of the Klamath Relief Fund.  This lawsuit and the justification for it is only harassment to the BOR and the Klamath Project farmers.

According to BOR and U.S. Geogical Service USGS water flow gages on the Link River, Iron Gate Dam, and further down river; the water being released now for the lower river is much higher then 2001.

According to BOR flow gages on Link River, last year - 2001 from January through the end of April, the flows equaled only 196,351 acre-ft. 2002 releases through the Link River Dam from January 1^st to April 23^rd equaled 286,389 acre-ft; a difference of 90,038 acre-ft.

USGS gage flows through Iron Gate Dam averaged 2,799 acre-ft/day from January through April 2001.  This year, the average daily flow for the same time period is 3,913 acre-ft/day or approximately 133,680 acre-ft more water has flowed through Iron Gate so far this year.

Again according to the Bureau of Reclamation website, from March 29, 2002 to April 23, 2002; the “A” canal has received 17,546 acre-ft from Upper Klamath Lake; since January 1, the North Canal has taken 14,101 acre-ft from the Klamath River, the Ady Canal (which also feeds parts of the lower refuges) has taken 33,091 acre-ft.  That totals 64,738 acre-ft that has been diverted to Klamath Project and the refuge lands so far this year.  The Lost River Diversion Canal has put back into the Klamath River 41,108 acre-ft since January 1, 2002 and the Straits Drain has returned 32,526 acre-ft to the river.  That totals 73,634 acre-ft of water returned to the Klamath River from the Klamath Project (includes Gerber and Clear Lake Reservoirs releases).  98,934 acre-ft more water has flowed down the Klamath River from the Link River Dam and the Klamath Project this year then in 2001.  (See table below)

Klamath River Flows				FLOW
Above Keno	Acre Feet	Acre Feet	Acre Feet	CHANGE
January 1 - April 23	2000	2001	2002	2001-2002
Upper Klamath Lake Level	4143.07	4143.09	4143.13
Total Link River Flows	449,100	179,065	286,389	107,323
Lost River Diversion	60,568	26,791	41,108	14,317
Straits Drain In-Flows	32,321	13,577	32,526	18,949
Out to North Canal	-10,193	0	-14,101	-14,101
Out to Ady Canal	-28,567	0	-33,091	-33,091
Total In Klamath River	503,228	219,433	312,831	93,398

Adding in all the water flowing into the Klamath below the Oregon-California border from all the creeks, streams, and rivers; there is more water flowing down the Klamath River this year then last.  Therefore, the Bureau of Reclamation is not “artificially creating a down river drought that does not have to exist” per Spain.

According to the Klamath Bucket bridgade, another 'lie' from Spain is that the Bureau of Reclamation is not following the Hardy II Flow Report.  The National Academy of Science stated in their interim report that there was NO science supporting higher spring river flows in the Lower Klamath River to protect Coho Salmon.  That includes the Hardy II Flow Report.  The NAS is looking at all the science concerning the shortnose and Lost River Suckers and the Klamath Coho Salmon.  "They are not using “pick and choose” science to shore up a predetermined scientific review outcome", said Ransom.

 

© 2002 SierraTimes.com (unless otherwise noted)

[madfly]

Can this be happening again?

[madfly]

ping for Klamath Farmers!

[madfly]

Ping

[Free the USA]

Check the Bump List folders for articles related to and descriptions of the above topic(s) or for other topics of interest.

[madfly]

ping

[gaspar]

The American judicial system in inherantly corrupt when a pressure group can shop around for a friendly court and a friendly judge to hear a case. It is inherantly corrupt when only the most stupid and gullible can serve on a jury. It is inherantly corrupt when no penalty ensues from filing a frivolous or envidious lawsuit. It is inherantly corrupt when one political party can demand a "litmus test" in the judicial approval process.

It may well be that our judicial/legal/law school system has always been as bad as it is now. But I don't think so.

[madfly]

ping

[madfly]

ping

[MissAmericanPie]

The Klamath Farmers should counter sue not only these agencies, but their financial donors, who I would boycott if I knew who they were, for illegal harassment/theft. Can't Ricco charges or some kind of organized crime charges be brought against these groups?

The mafia has more class than these thugs.

[madfly]

Well what is the name of the group Bush assigned to help the people in Klamath? I don't remember the article that was posted not too long ago.

[MissAmericanPie]

I don't remember either, I wish I were a lawyer, I would throw a bizzard of paperwork at these agencies, tie them up, bankrupt them in legal fees. They would have to hire a staff of thousands to complete the paperwork I would snow them with.

[madfly]

Found this from a Jan. 6, 2002 thread.

Bush promises help to Klamath farmers; boosts Smith and Walden; calls for job creation

In a speech devoted largely to his battles against terrorism and taxes, Bush addressed three issues of concern to Oregon, promising
water for Klamath farmers and jobs for the unemployed, and praising the No. 2-ranked University of Oregon football team.

Flanked by Smith and Walden, Bush told a hand-picked audience at Parkrose High School in Portland, "I"m impressed by these two good men."

After speaking of Oregon's economic troubles, Bush said Smith and Walden are "deeply concerned about the fact that parts of your state are not being treated very well."

He did not elaborate. Nearly in the same breath, Bush spoke about farmers in Klamath Basin who last summer went without irrigation water because of federal protection of endangered fish species.

"I share their (Smith's and Walden's) concern about people living off the land.

I told these two good men we'll do everything we can to make sure water is available for people who farm," Bush said.

He provided NO details.

[madfly]

From March 29, 2002.

http://www.house.gov/walden/press/2002/mar/pr032902.htm

(snip)

Statement by President George W. Bush Regarding Release of Irrigation Water in the Klamath Basin

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the release of irrigation water from the head gates of the A Canal in the Klamath Basin, President George W. Bush released the following statement: 

“I am pleased with the progress being made by the Klamath River Basin Federal Working Group in addressing the problems facing the people of this region.  Under the leadership of Secretary Norton, the working group is providing water to farmers who depend on it for a living, while taking careful steps to protect and enhance the health of fish populations in the Klamath River Basin.  The working group is undertaking new environmental restoration projects in the area, and has initiated a dialogue with native tribes about long-term solutions to the natural resource and native rights issues in the basin. 

[madfly]

And now, from the Nature Conservancy.

CEQ, The Nature Conservancy and Reclamation Announce Plans to Partner on Water Availability

Klamath Falls, OR — April 2, 2002 — James Connaughton, Chairman of the White House Council for Environmental Quality and a member of the President’s Klamath Basin Federal Working Group, today announced a joint partnership between The Nature Conservancy and the Bureau of Reclamation to advance long-term wetland restoration efforts on Conservancy property on the shores of Upper Klamath Lake and to make available additional water from the Williamson River to benefit fish and wildlife across the Klamath Basin.

"The President has called for all parties to work together to reach a workable resolution to the competing demands for Klamath Basin water,” Connaughton said. “The Nature Conservancy is showing leadership to all environmental and conservation groups through its offer to make water available for fish and farmers in the Basin.”

The Conservancy has proposed that the Bureau of Reclamation increase its support of the restoration of wetlands at the Conservancy’s Williamson River Delta Preserve to improve water quality, restore marshland habitats for endangered fish and increase water storage capacity in Upper Klamath Lake. The Williamson River project is one of two major wetland restoration efforts considered critical to the future health of Upper Klamath Lake. In addition to the wetlands adjoining the lake, the project includes the lower six miles of the Williamson River, the lake's largest tributary. Other partners in the Williamson River Delta restoration include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service, PacifiCorp, Cell Tech, the Klamath Tribes, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

The Nature Conservancy also is proposing not to divert 13,000 acre feet of water annually for the next two years to increase water flows into Upper Klamath Lake for fish and wildlife populations. Conservancy ecologists have determined that current wetland restoration activities and continued farming operations on the Conservancy’s property will not need the water, which has historically been taken from the Williamson River for agricultural use on the property.

"This is an innovative proposal that could have short and long-term benefits for both people and the environment," said Russell Hoeflich, vice president and Oregon director for The Nature Conservancy. "In the short term, The Nature Conservancy is proposing to provide needed water to benefit fish and wildlife in the Klamath Basin. In the long term, large-scale wetland restoration could improve water quality, increase habitat for endangered species and may increase water storage in Upper Klamath Lake. We are grateful to the Bureau of Reclamation for working closely with us to try to make these benefits a reality."

Reclamation Commissioner John Keys said, “We are delighted that The Nature Conservancy has stepped forward with this proposal and are looking forward to exploring ways to work together for resolution of the complex issues facing the Klamath Basin.”

More at link

[Cuttnhorse]

bttt

[Aquamarine]

Well what is the name of the group Bush assigned to help the people in Klamath?

The God Squad?

[madfly]

the Klamath River Basin Federal Working Group

[hammerdown]

House Resources Comm. on CSPAN2 bttt.

[Grampa Dave]

It is time for the lawyers who represent the side of the farmers, ranchers, loggers and ? whoever are targets of Rural Cleansing actions by the enviral nazis to do two things:

1. Demand that any judge who is or has been a card carrying enviralist, recuse himself, herself or itself from these cases as biased!

2. Start suing in civil court the backers of these enviral suits, the liars and the enviral boards/agents who file these suits for personal damage. When this happens make sure that #1 here is applied to any judge in any civil case.

[hattend]

Of course it's happening again. BTTT