Officials say years of negotiations were helpful 

By LEE JUILLERAT 

     Cooperation and collaboration were keys to dealing with 2010’s water shortages.

   Greg Addington, Klamath Water Users Association executive director, agrees strong relationships lessened the adverse impacts.

   “I really believe the positive relationships that have been established were real helpful,” agreed Don Gentry, the Klamath Tribes vice chairman who is involved in water issues.

   “Strategies were developed and implemented to ensure all parties were informed and involved in the decision process,” Moore said, noting the BOR, the lead agency that determines water allocations for fish, farmers and other users, kept other agencies updated on conditions.

   “Frequent meetings were held with the agencies and irrigation districts to discuss plans and determine the best course of action,” he said. “Every effort was made to address the concerns of irrigators and other agencies and to consider their ideas as the season progressed. This cooperation and communication was extremely helpful in limiting the impact of a very difficult water year.”

   Addington believes time spent developing the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, which is intended to implement short- and long-term solutions to improve water supply and quality, benefited groups in the Upper Klamath River Basin and significantly improved dialogue and understanding between the upper and lower river basins.

   Gentry agreed, noting that by developing relationships with adversaries “you find you have more in common than you thought you did.”

   He also believes the dialogue and relationships developed while negotiating the KBRA affirms the process is working.