But until there’s federal legislation and millions of dollars in funding, there’s only so much that can be done.

   “I wouldn’t say it’s in a holding pattern,” said Paul Simmons, attorney for Klamath Water Users Association and its member irrigation districts, “but the whole effort can’t land until there’s federal legislation.”

   The agreement aims to resolve water conflicts in the Klamath River Basin between irrigators, tribes, fisheries and conservationists. It also advocates removal of four Klamath River dams to provide fish passage.

   Stakeholders signed the restoration and dam removal agreements in February, ending years of closed-door negotiations and talks.

   Now, those stakeholders are focused on implementing the documents, said Ed Sheets, a consultant originally hired to facilitate negotiations. He is now working with stakeholders on implementation.

   The KBRA out-lines what needs to be done in the next few years, and much of it is administrative and preparatory.

   Among those provisions is formation of the Klamath Basin Coordinating Council, the body charged with overseeing implementation of drought and fishery plans for the region.

   Scientific studies required to determine whether four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River should come out are under way, Simon said. The actual decision isn’t due until mid-2012.

   State and federal officials are also drafting an environmental impact report and scheduling public meetings on the KBRA.

   “This signals the beginning of the scientific and legal reviews mandated by the national Environmental Policy Act and the California Environmental Quality Act,” a press release said.

   Draft legislation

   Greg Addington, executive director of Klamath Water Users Association, said there is draft legislation being circulated among the stakeholders, but it’s not likely it would be introduced in Congress this year.

   “There are people in Washington who are interested in (the legislation) and in what it says,” Simmons said.

   Sheets said there is plenty for the stakeholders to do in the meantime.

   “I think it’s my hope that some things can proceed under existing authority and funding,” he said.  

Side Bars

 About the restoration agreement   

   It would cost roughly $1.5 billion to implement all aspects of the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement and its related dam removal agreement.