We all read in the paper about the city of Merrill's well problems. I think these proponents of status quo (opponents of the KBRA) should ask the people in Merrill whether they think change is needed.
We have districts and irrigators in the Klamath Reclamation Project with dry fields and many without any form of compensation.
We have communities experiencing the impact of current management, and we are forced to lobby for funds to set aside land and substitute groundwater for surface water.
More of the same
Without a new rational plan, we can look forward to more of the same every few years. The KBRA will transform the management of the Klamath system for the better. It will result in more surface water in years like this for irrigators dependent upon Upper Klamath Lake and the Klamath River, because the system will be managed differently. It will avoid unnecessary demand on our groundwater system, and it will provide jobs, stability and economic benefit to this entire region.
The opponents are right about one thing. There is a concerted effort to divide this community. But instead of looking in the mirror, they blame others.
If one doesn't agree with their view of the world, that person is labeled as not conservative enough or worse, a "liberal."
Give me a break!
The largest group of proponents for this agreement are the people who struggle year in and year out with regulatory constraints on water supply. They are individuals and irrigation districts who went without in 2001 and who are trying to get through 2010. The most vocal opponent of this agreement has no idea what it is like to be without water.
Some continue to condemn others for meetings behind closed doors. Yet, many of those critical of this actually participated in these same meetings from day one; others asked specifically not to be a part of it.
Closed door meetings
The June 17 edition of the Herald and News ‘Legislative Notebook' described recent meetings of the state legislature's emergency board that were held "behind closed doors" and were characterized by one state legislator as being "very useful." These meetings regarding state budget cuts will have more of an impact on the average Klamath County resident than anything contemplated by the KBRA.
Where is the outrage?
The public is being led to believe that the KBRA is about dams. Nothing could be further from the truth. In reality, the KBRA is about everything but dams. If one doesn't believe that, they should read the agreement in its entirety.
The KBRA is about local community benefit. The amount of bad information in circulation is staggering. The KBRA does not infringe on any individual's "right" to water or "take" anything from anyone. The KBRA ends costly litigation between the Klamath Tribes and the Project irrigators and will avoid future legal battles.
We chose negotiation over litigation.
It does not change or alter any other individual's right to due process. Its success is built on market-driven approaches and new unprecedented system wide management, as opposed to just focusing on how much water is diverted through the A Canal.
Management, protections
The KBRA provides for changed management of the lake and river and provides protections under any necessary biological opinions based on this new watershed-wide approach to management. The KBRA does in fact provide meaningful protection from onerous Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulations, including through the development of conservation plans for all irrigators in the region if they choose to participate.
The KBRA does not eliminate any individual or organization's right to advocate for long-term changes or elimination of laws such as the ESA if that is what they choose to do.
We hope others can begin to see the positive economic benefits this agreement can provide to the region. KWUA will not stop pushing for real change. We understand what it means to keep things the same.
Greg Addington is executive director of the Klamath Water Users Association. KWUA represents Klamath Reclamation Project contractors, including individuals and 15 districts that rely on the Klamath Lake/River system for their water supply.