County-sponsored talks fall through

Klamath Falls Herald and News

April 10, 2008

Page A8

   The Klamath Water Users Association pulled out of planned facilitated talks with off-Project irrigators and the Klamath Tribes Tuesday, eliminating any chance for the meeting to take place. 

   The talks aimed to reconcile issues the groups had with the proposed Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, a document that allocates water in the Klamath River Basin . 

   The Klamath Tribes also had not yet agreed to participate, leaving only one group, the off-Project irrigators. 

   Greg Addington, executive director of Klamath Water Users Association, said in a letter to commissioners that his organization won’t participate now for several reasons.

He specifically cited the April 4 reopening of water adjudication process between irrigators and the Klamath Tribes. 

   He also said those critical of the agreement might see the meeting as a reason to reopen settlement negotiations. 

   “We really didn’t know what the lay of the land was going to be,” Addington said. 

   Andréa Rabe, a board member of the off-Project group Resource Conservancy, said in a press release that she was disappointed that Klamath Water Users Association pulled out of the discussion. 

   “Every citizen should commend the Klamath County commissioners for providing the proverbial water trough. But unfortunately, only one horse out of three is thirsty for a drink of permanent peace,” she said. 

   Jeff Mitchell, Klamath Tribes council member, said tribal leaders are meeting with individual landowners in an effort to reconcile differences and concerns with the agreement. 

   Tribal leaders have met with about 40 off-Project landowners to date and more meetings are scheduled this week and next. 

   “The response we’ve been getting back is good. The word is getting around and we knew it would,” Mitchell said.

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