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I think that they are OK for this year. There is little to no way that a peer-reviewed biological opinion will be ready that soon (if nothing else because of the need for the study-the-problem business to milk this for all it's worth). The ones to watch are the tribes. I met with the watershed council and the Yuroks do have some people with their heads screwed on correctly (their lead biologist is not among them). some of them are smart enough to know that if the farmers go, they are next.

I'd really like to get back up there and see if I could make a few things happen. I've had some time to let things jell and would like to explore some ideas. Perhaps the California State Grange could help with integrate a plan with its Oregon counterpart? Know anybody up there ff? If they want watershed planning, perhaps we should give it to them.

I have been asked to apply for the new covering their butts Legislative Committee. This might be something the committee could work on. Might even get the National Grange involved since they were big in the Klamath fight last year. For those reading this who don't know, the National Grange had meetings of great length with the powers that be in Washington DC. We have a very effective lobby back there. You can find contact info on the Oregon Grange through the National web site. Leo is in tight with the Oregon people.

The ones to watch are the tribes. I met with the watershed council and the Yuroks do have some people with their heads screwed on correctly (their lead biologist is not among them). Some of them are smart enough to know that if the farmers go, they are next.

You are exactly right. While on the watershed council, I tried to get our local irrigators to collaborate with the tribes. Unfortunately, previous litigation by the tribes has created a large amount of anger and distrust in the ag community - they simply do not trust them and feel that they are in bed with the extreme enviros. Personally, I feel that the key is to form a political alliance between the tribes and agriculture. The tribes are better off with the land in ag then in subdivisions, and ag should support the tribes efforts to manage their tribal homelands (they can't do any worse then the feds have). This concept is not acceptable to the generation (baby boomers) currently in power, I do believe that it is possible to impliment by the next generation (us generation X'rs)