With the introduction of his Iraq Redeployment Plan bill gaining support from both Democrats and Republicans as one of his top priorities, U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson’s said one of his main concerns locally is the state of the Klamath fisheries.

Through his bill, HR 5213, Thompson, who spent Friday in Humboldt County, said he hopes to provide “emergency disaster assistance to mitigate the losses caused by declining Klamath River salmon and to develop and implement a research and recovery plan for Klamath River salmon and for other purposes.”

In 2002, the Bush administration inappropriately diverted Klamath River water to upper basin farmers to solidify their political base. These water diversions resulted in a fish kill that claimed 80,000 adult salmon. Experts say the fish kill and parasitic infection, resulting from poor federal management of the river, are responsible for the low salmon returns expected this year, according to a news release from Thompson’s office.

“I’m hopeful that the heavy waters will help flush the river, that would be great,” he said.

Ultimately, Thompson said a water plan needs to be implemented that will help both the farmers and the fishing community.

It is also important that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Service create and implement a salmon recovery plan, he said.

Thompson said he is asking for support on his bill from the editorial boards of all California and Oregon newspapers and chambers of commerce. He said the governors of both states have both asked for disaster relief for the river.

If problems with the Klamath continue, Thompson said not only would it affect the fishing community, but would also affect stores that cater to fishermen, tourism, boating guides and other industries.

“Down the road this could really cripple the area,” he said.

Thompson also discussed the concerns he has with the new Medicare reimbursement plan and the confusion many of his constituents have about it, as well as the country’s dependency on foreign oil and how it is affecting gas prices, foreign policy and the environment.