John Keys to be keynote speaker for water users

October 2, 2005

By DYLAN DARLING

H&N Staff Writer

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner John Keys will be the keynote speaker at the Klamath Water Users Association's annual meeting.

The Klamath Reclamation Project, which provides irrigation water for the 1,400 members of the water users association, is celebrating its centennial this year.

"We didn't want the centennial to go by without us having some kind of an event," said Greg Addington, water user executive director. "It seemed logical to have the head of that agency come out and join us for a celebration."

"It's a good opportunity for us to look back at the last hundred years and focus on next hundred."

Also set to speak are Addington, who said he will give a "state of the association type of address," Steve Kandra, water user president, and Scott Seus, head of the water user power committee.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski was the keynote speaker at last year's water users meeting, the organization's 50th.

Addington said the meeting is open to members and non-members of the association.

"We are all in this together," he said.

Normally, held earlier in the year, the annual meeting is in October this year to fit in with Keys' schedule. Addington said he hopes farmers can find time off from harvest.

The Klamath Water Users Association is a non-profit corporation based in Klamath Falls that represents the rural irrigation districts, local special districts, and private concerns who operate on both sides of the California-Oregon border.

This year's meeting is set for Oct. 11 at Reames Golf and Country Club. The cost for the meeting is $5 if reserved by Oct. 3 and $10 if reserved after. A no-host bar will start at 5:30 p.m. and an hors d'oeuvres buffet will start at 6 p.m.

For more information call the Water Users at 883-6100.

On the Net: www.kwua.org