From 50 Years On The Klamath

by John C. Boyle  

APPENDIX C  

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

CONTRACT WITH THE CALIFORNIA OREGON POWER COMPANY

CONTRACT NO.14-06-200-5075  

 

Article No.                                                                                                                    Page No.

    1       Definitions            C-2

    2         Operation Link River Dam

    3       Maintenance "A" Canal

    4       Assumption liability by Copco

    5       Power Rates

   6        Water Rights

   7          Butte Va11ey     C-3

   8        Contract Confers No Power Rights to United States

   9        Water for Waterfowl

 10         Cancellation

 11        Approval Contract by Public Utilities Commission

 12        1917 Contract Cancelled

 13        Non-Discrimination Provision

 14        Officials Not to Benefit            C-4      

 15        Successors and Assigns

16        Covenant Against Contingent Fees 

17        Term of Contract

THIS CONTRACT, made this 31st day of January, 1956, in pursuance of the Act of Congress of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 388), and acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto, hereinafter referred to as ""the Federal reclamation laws," and acts of Congress relating to the preservation and development of fish and wildlife resources, between THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, hereinafter caned ""the United States," represented by the officer executing this contract, his duly appointed successor, or his duly authorized representative, hereinafter called ""the Contracting Officer," and THE CALIFORNIA OREGON POWER COMPANY , a California corporation, its successors or assigns, hereinafter called "'Copco"";

WITNESSETH:

 WHEREAS, the United States, pursuant to the Federal reclamation laws, is now engaged in the reclamation and irrigation of lands lying in the State of Oregon and in the State of California in the vicinity of Klamath Fa11s, Oregon, known as the Klamath Project; and

WHEREAS, the United States has investigated and is further investigating and preparing plans for the development of water and related resources of the Upper Klamath River Basin, including the area in California known as Butte Valley; and

     WHEREAS, on February 24, 1917, an agreement was made for the term of fifty (50) years between the United States and a predecessor of Copco, which agreement was thereafter assigned to Copco, providing, among other things, for the construction of link River Dam, Klamath County, Oregon, for the purpose of regulating the level of Upper Klamath Lake, and said agreement has been amended and supplemented from time to time; and

    WHEREAS, the parties deem it to their advantage and to the best interest of the users of the water in the Upper Klamath River Basin that a new agreement be entered into for a period of fifty (50) years, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter expressed;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows.

1. Whenever used in this contract, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set opposite thereto:

            (a) Upper K1amath River Basin-The area so designated and delineated on the map annexed hereto and made a part hereof, marked Exhibit " A”

            (b) Klamath Water: The water lying or flowing in or which has been diverted from Upper K1amath Lake, Link River , Lake Ewauna , Lost River , Klamath River , or their tributaries, or water that is pumped from underground sources for use on Project Land as part of a plan for maximum water resource development.

             (c) Project land of the United States lying in the Upper Klamath River Basin, and all land in the Upper Klamath River Basin lying within any public district or within the service area of any association which has contracted or may hereafter contract and any land of individuals or corporations in the Upper Klamath River Basin which have contracted or may hereafter contract with the United States, pursuant to the Federal reclamation laws, for water service or for the construction of irrigation, drainage, or other reclamation works.

     2. Copco shall operate and maintain for a period of fifty (50) years from the effective date hereof, subject to the conditions hereinafter provided, Link River Dam, located in Klamath County, Oregon, hereto- fore constructed by Copco and transferred to the United States pursuant to the agreement of February 24, 1917. Copco may regulate the water level of Upper Klamath Lake between the elevations 4143.3 and 4137, (Reclamation Service Datum), but the water level shall not be raised above elevation 4143.3 and shall not be lowered below elevation 4137, except at such times, and on such conditions, as may be satisfactory to the Contracting Officer: Provided, That the Contracting Officer from time to time may specify a higher minimum elevation than 4137 if in his opinion such must be maintained m order to protect the irrigation and reclamation requirements of Project Land. Whenever the elevation of the lake drops to a point two-tenths of a foot above the applicable minimum elevation, the Contracting Officer may assume control of the Link River Dam and its outlets and continue in control so long as the lake level remains at or below that elevation.

     All elevations stated in this article, or specified by the Contracting Officer pursuant to this article, shall mean elevations in a state of calm.

     3. Copco shall at its own expense maintain the approach channel to the “A" Canal of the Klamath Project to the satisfaction of the Contracting Officer so far as may be necessary to carry a flow of not less than 1200 cfs. into the "A "Canal with the water of Upper Klamath Lake at an elevation of 4137.

     4. Copco assumes any and all liability for damages resulting from operation of the Link River Dam by Copco or resulting from its regulation and control of the water levels of Upper Klamath Lake . Copco hereby undertakes to hold the United Sates harmless from any and all liability for damage arising out of the operation by Copco or Link River Dam and the regulation and control by Copco of Upper Klamath Lake herein provided for. ;

     5. For the period of this contract Copco agrees to furnish electric power for the purposes and for the rates set forth in Exhibit "B”, attached hereto and hereby made a part of this contract.

     6. Nothing in this agreement shall curtail or in anywise be construed, as: curtailing the rights of the United States to Klamath Water or to the lands along or under the margin of Upper Klamath Lake . No Klamath Water shall be used by Copco when it may be needed or required by the United States or any irrigation or drainage district, person, or association obtaining water from the United States for use for domestic, municipal, and irrigation purposes on Project Land:  Provided, that nothing in this agreement shall curtail or interfere with the water rights of Copco having a priority earlier than May than May 19, 1905, and provided further that no water originating in the Upper Klamath Basin shall be transported beyond the Upper Klamath River Basin except under the provisions of article 7 of this contract and except for that water which originates within the drainage area of Fourmile Lake.

   7. If there shall be authorized for construction pursuant to the Federal reclamation laws projects or units of projects including lands lying within Butte Valley, all drainage water shall be returned to the Klamath River at a point above the town of Keno, Oregon; unless the Secretary of the Interior shall determine that this would render the irrigation and reclamation of lands within Butte Valley economically less feasible than under an alternate plan of development, in which event, upon construction of such projects or units of projects, the drainage water from project Land lying within Butte Valley shall be returned to the Klamath River at such point upstream from Copco Lake as shall be determined by the Secretary of the Interior: Provided, That if Copco makes economic benefits available to such projects or units of projects by means of power rates lower than those specified in Exhibit IIB", or otherwise, that will make it equally feasible to the satisfaction of the Secretary of the Interior, to return the drainage water to a point in the Klamath River above Keno.  Copco shall have the first right to develop, for power purposes, drainage water removed by the United States from Project Land lying within .t; Butte Valley, subject to establishment by Copco of its rights under the applicable state law.

8. Nothing in this agreement shall be deemed to confer on the United States or upon any of its successors any right to the use of Klamath Water for the purpose of generating electric power.

9. Except for the water rights of Copco having a priority earlier than May 19,1905, no Klamath       Water shall be used by Copco when it maybe needed or required by the United States for waterfowl conservation in the Upper Klamath River Basin in the quantities in which it is being used for that purpose as of the effective date of this contract.

10. The failure of Copco to comply in the true intent and meaning with any of the provisions of this agreement in regard to the operation and use of Link River Dam during the fifty (5O) year period shall render this contract in regard to said dam subject to cancellation by the Secretary of the Interior upon sixty (60) days' written notice to Copco stating the cause for such proposed cancellation and in case of failure or refusal of Copco to comply with the provisions of this -contract within the period allowed by the Secretary of the Interior he may cancel this contract. After such cancellation, or at the expiration of the fifty (50) year period of this contract, Copco shall have no further rights in regard to the use of Link River Dam and its appurtnances, the operation and control of which shall immediately pass to the United States, but such cancellation shall in nowise curtail or affect the rights which Copco now has in the waters of Link River and Klamath River.

11, This contract shall become effective on the date of its approval by the Public Utility  whichever shall occur later, and shall not be effective in any way until approved by both regulatory authorities. Within thirty (30) days after the execution of this contract Copco shall file applications with both regulatory authorities for orders authorizing Copco to carry out the terms thereof and shall prosecute the applications and any proceedings on them diligently. If such orders are not issued and effective within nine (9) months after execution of this contract, the United States may, within sixty (60) days, terminate this contract on thirty (30) days' notice to Copco.

12. This contract shall supersede and cancel the contract, including all amendments thereto, entered into under date of February 24, 1917, by Copco and its predecessor company, California-Oregon Power Company, and the United States, upon the effective date hereof.

13. In connection with the performance of work under this contract, the contractor agrees not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, religion, color, or national origin. The aforesaid provision shall include, but not be limited to, - the following: employment, upgrading, demotion, or transfer; recruitment or recruitment advertising; layoff or termination; rates of pay or other forms of compensation; and selection for training, including apprenticeship. The contractor agrees to post hereafter in conspicuous places, available for employees and applicants for employment, notices to be pro- vided by the contracting officer setting forth the provisions of the non-discrimination clause. The contractor further agrees to insert the foregoing provision in all subcontracts hereunder, except subcontracts for standard commercial supplies or raw materials.

14. No Member of or Delegate to Congress, or Resident Commissioner, shall be admitted to any  share or part of this contract or to any benefit that may arise therefrom, but this provision shall not be construed to extend to this contract if made with a corporation for its general benefit. 

15. This contract binds and inures to the benefit of the parties hereto, their successors and assigns, including without limitation any water users' organization or similar group which may succeed either by assignment or by operation of law to the rights of the United States hereunder.

16. Copco warrants that it has not employed any person to solicit or secure this contract upon any agreement for a commission, percentage, brokerage, or contingent fee. Breach of this warranty shall give the United States the right to annul the contract or, in its discretion, to deduct from the contract price or consideration the amount of such commission, percentage, brokerage, or contingent fee. This warranty shall not apply to commissions payable by contractors upon contracts or sales secured or made through bona fide established commercial or selling agencies maintained by Copco for the purpose of securing business.

17. This contract shall be in effect for a period of fifty (50) years from the effective date determined pursuant to article II.  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto set their hands and the seal of Copco is hereto affixed.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

By        /s/C.H. Spencer

Title   Regional Director, Region 2

            Bureau of Reclamation

            Department of the Interior

Address

            P.O. Box 2511

            Sacramento 11, California

 

THE CALIFORNIA OREGON POWER COMPANY

By        /s/ A.S. Cummins

Title       President

Address

            216 West Main Street

            Medford , Oregon

 

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