Farmer Dick Carleton: Response to Oregonian Article "Feds declare fishery disaster"

Klamath Farmer Dick Carleton Responses to Oregonian Article "Feds declare fishery disaster"

Mr. Sleeth,

My name is Dick Carleton and I was one of the farmers from the Klamath basin to be invited to the meeting with Sen. Gordon Smith and Dr. Hogarth and Dr. Sampson. I did read your article and am somewhat surprised by some of your quotes.

First, I must say I am sorry to have missed you at the meeting and also Glen Spain. (You must have been one of those people standing behind) I would have liked to have a chat with you (and Glen) to give a little perspective from the Klamath Basin farming community. However, I hope you would agree that the meeting was a success.

I have to admit I was a bit surprised, even after I had spent many hours in person and on the phone with the fishermen present, that there was such agreement between farmers and the fishermen. (Did you notice that?) As you know the media and the environmental community has portrayed this whole issue as a "farmer vs fisher" issue. This spring I have found that actually the fishermen are people who are just like us, who would like to continue on with their lives without all of the outside influence and lawsuits just as we would, and we are in agreement on what should be done to fix things. I do hope you noticed those things as we sat around the table and also as we visited outside.

However I do have to take exception to the quote you used from Glen Spain where he said "the feds got us into this mess and they have to help get us out." Actually Glen Spain, Zeke Grader, ONRC, and others who are not knowledgeable about the Klamath Project and filed lawsuit after lawsuit are the ones who got us into this mess. You are probably aware that they claim the fish population in the Klamath has declined in the past 4 or 5 years. But I must point out that the management of the Klamath has been done by court order from Oakland, CA because of lawsuits filed by Mr. Spain and Mr. Grader (and others) So, since they claim populations have fallen in these past years could we conclude that management by court order of their plan has not worked well?

I also noticed the quote from Steve Pedery of ONRC. I must admit that I am new to meeting with such high level people and I did not recognize him. I would have enjoyed a chat. You quoted him saying that the reason behind the Klamath's problem was Federal Water policy. Again I must point out that Federal Water policy since 2001 has been decreed by court order from lawsuits filed by he and others. I also noticed he hoped we weren't back next year looking for disaster relief. I would hope that same thing, having been there. Perhaps if he and Mr. Spain and Mr. Grader would work with us to get good science and find real solutions instead of looking for a lawsuit to file we might make some progress.

I must point out that what I did find glaringly absent from your article was a quote from some of us in the farming community or someone from the fishing community who was also there and testified to these people. Another time I hope you would afford us the courtesy of at least speaking to those of us who were there who are actual users of the natural resources and possibly we could have a quote so your readers would get a fair picture. As you know, Glen Spain and Zeke Grader do not represent the fishing industry in Oregon and Northern California and it is disturbing that you would quote from them instead of someone who is directly involved in the industry.

Should you like to visit with me, since I did talk to the delegation sent from Washington, feel free to e-mail me and I can arrange a chat. Perhaps I can help educate you on the Klamath project since I am a 3rd generation farmer here, have lived here all my life and do understand how the project works.