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October 26, 2005
Klamath Falls Herald and News
By DYLAN DARLING
Although he is new to the Klamath Basin, Josh Egenolf
is no stranger to agriculture, environmental issues and water.
The new projects manager for the Klamath Basin Ecosystem Foundation grew up on
an Indiana cattle ranch, studied water policy in college and lives to kayak.
But Egenolf's lessons about land use and the
environment weren't limited to the classroom or to one state.
“I have had some interesting jobs that taught me a lot about the world and
how people see it,” Egenolf said.
Those jobs include: a rafting guide on the Ocoee River in Tennessee, a member
of a hot shot fire fighting crew in California, an AmeriCorps volunteer
working on watersheds in North Carolina and a coal miner on his father's
surface mine in Indiana.
Throughout, Egenolf kept water, and the impacts different activities have on
it, in mind. But water is not just Egenolf's work.
“I love water. Most of my recreation involves water,” he said.
His favorite pastimes include fishing, hiking, usually to see a lake, and
kayaking. Lots and lots of kayaking.
Egenolf's first experience with Klamath water was last fall when he paddled his kayak on the Klamath River. He loved the trip, and when it came time to look for a long-term job, he checked openings in the Basin.
He found the foundation's opening.
“It looked like I had written the job description for myself,” Egenolf
said.
The foundation's seven-member board, which includes a member of the Klamath
Tribes, irrigators, the timber industry and other Basin stakeholders, had 26
legitimate candidates to choose from, said Mike Connelly, foundation executive
director.
The job opening had garnered resumes from states as
far off as Vermont and Texas, and from other countries, including India and
England.
Egenolf seemed like the best fit.
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His agricultural background, including 10 years in
4-H, and his environmental interests, including work with the American
Whitewater Association, a water rights advocacy group, earned him thumbs up
from members of the board who often take differing stances on issues.
Connelly said the board's variety is an attempt to get people to work on
common goals of restoration.
“There are a lot of people out there that are tired
of the fight,” he said.
The organization started in 1996, and for about four years, was pretty casual.
Then the turmoil of 2001 hit: The federal government didn't supply irrigation water to the Klamath Reclamation Project at the start of growing season for the sake of protected fish.
Although lines were drawn that summer, groups have
been coming together since, Connelly said.
The addition of Egenolf's position could be the start of expansion for the
foundation, he said. More workers could be hired as more projects are added.
The foundation has eight ongoing restoration projects on private land and a
stack of potential other projects.
“There are no shortage of projects out there and no shortage of landowners
interested,” Egenolf said.
www.kbef.org
