Former water users head says proposal better than status quo

Ty Beaver

Klamath Falls Herald and News

January 22, 2008

Name: Dan Keppen

Represents: Executive director of Klamath Water Users Association from 2001 - 2005. 

Currently executive director of Family Farm Alliance. 

   Significance:  Keppen worked for the Klamath water users in the aftermath of the 2001 water crisis and continues to keep up with water issues in the Klamath Basin and around the West. 

   Background: Keppen has worked on water and its nature in the West for more than a decade. 

   In addition to the Klamath water users, he’s worked for a flood control district in Tehama County , Calif. , where he developed a groundwater plan for local irrigation. He also worked for the Northern California Water Association and spent a year working with the Bureau of Reclamation. 

   Those  experiences provided Keppen with a strong background in water issues through which to view the proposed Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement.  While there are portions that make him uneasy, he said he sees it as the best resolution for irrigators on the Klamath Project. 

   “It’s a huge improvement over the status quo,” he said. 

   Issues such as flow levels for endangered fish species have altered how the project should operate, he said. Instead of just storing water for agricultural use in the summer, water also is being used to provide flows in the Klamath River . 

   Keppen said more of the stored water is being set aside for environmental purposes through biological assessments and opinions, straining the Project’s mission. 

   “It’s kind of like letting more and more water out of your bathtub while trying to maintain the same level,” he said. 

   He believes the agreement would help counter those problems, quieting water disputes between irrigation and environmental interests. Project irrigators would have a dependable water supply after negotiating an agreement between themselves and the Klamath Tribes. 

   Keppen doesn’t care for the plan for off-Project irrigators to voluntarily retire land equal to 30,000 acre-feet of water. 

   He said he hopes those concerns will be worked out as those affected read over and consider the document. He encouraged everyone to read the full agreement and seek answers to questions before making a judgments.

Side Bar

Web comments

   The Herald and News’ coverage of the Klamath Basin ’s water settlement talks continues. Go online to www.heraldandnews. com to read, watch and comment on current articles and multimedia devoted to pieces on the restoration agreement. 

   Some recent comments on the water settlement blog: 

   —“Why is nothing ever mentioned about the 30,000 acre-feet of water annually diverted out of the Klamath Basin (Four Mile Creek and Jenny Creek ) into the Rogue River Basin ?  It seems the Medford Irrigation District and related parties should sacrifice also and be included in this agreement.“ 

   — “ On the flood plains, along the 260-mile Klamath River , how many homes and families are protected by the very dams this proposal seeks to destroy? Before removal of these dams is scheduled, it’s important for the public to know how many people would be forced to leave the Klamath River flood plains and how much taxpayers and ratepayers would have to pay these families for their losses. And I don’t think this information is knowable. 

   Also, can anyone know what financial impact the inevitable flooding of this 260-mile river will have on roads, power lines, railroads, bridges, schools, parks, government buildings, farms and private sector non-residential buildings? I don’t think anyone can say. These are just two questions out of a whole lot of unanswerable questions tied to this proposal.  I say ,when indoubt get out. Scrap it.“ 

   For video on recent protest rally footage in response to the proposal, head to www.heraldandnews.com and click the first listed video.

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