My take on the Klamath Issue has changed a bit with my new role. A few days before this latest hearing, I met with folks from throughout the Klamath system - including reps. from commercial fisherfolk, tribes, environmentalists, upper and lower basin farmers and state and federal agency people. We had some good personal exchanges about our needs and hopes. Even worked out some "Guerilla" projects where individuals volunteered to stop irrigating for a few days to help bring salmon up the river. Had some good informational exchanges about projects being worked on in an atmosphere without interference by the big environmental groups who didn't show.
The problem I have is that the agency people want to integrate planning and management for the whole Klamath system under the umbrella of one superstructure. They are talking about a stakeholder Congress working with federal funding and a new bureacracy ("CIP" process paterned after the CVPIA.)This handily sidesteps and disenfranchises elected representative County government and its land and water planning jurisdiction. From experience with these big table processes, small communities end up with no voice in decisions and few scraps of funding for habitat restoration and mitigation. In fact, they end up being the sacrifice mitigation for the areas with more clout.
I have some real concerns about Walden and other Congresspersons seeking the universal fix. It will only serve to drag the people in the rest of the system into the vortex of the Klamath Project with its federal nexus, Section 7 Consultation, Oregon adjudication and tribal trust issues.
Was unable to attend the hearing due to other commitments.
Same process occurred in the late 1800's when the local school boards were folded into larger and larger bureaucracies. American public education has gotten worse ever since then.
Thanks, and keep up the good work!