Opponent optimistic 

December 12, 2009

   “There were some movements in the right direction,” said Tom Mallams, an irrigator off the Klamath Reclamation Project and president of the Klamath Off-Project Water Users.

   Stakeholders did not approve a final draft of the water agreement, but those involved are hopeful final touches will be made next week during a two-day meeting in Sacramento. Specific details, such as legal references, are keeping the document from being complete, officials said.       

   Though optimistic, Mallams said he is waiting to see whether issues discussed make it into the agreement.

   Farmers, tribes, fishermen, conservationists and government officials have worked for years on the restoration agreement, which seeks to resolve conflicts over water in the Klamath River watershed. Stakeholders, along with Portland-based utility PacifiCorp, finalized a related Klamath River dam removal agreement weeks ago. That agreement would remove four hydroelectric dams.  

   Meetings have focused on making the restoration document consistent with the dam removal agreement and addressing changes brought up by stakeholders. There was optimism that discussions would end after stakeholders met in Portland this week, but more time is needed to make the document consistent, stakeholders said.

   Stakeholders such as Craig Tucker, Klamath campaign coordinator for the Karuk Tribe, have said these final rounds of negotiations would not bring any substantial changes compared with a draft released about two years ago. That hasn’t prevented some from submitting   changes, including the Klamath County Board of Commissioners and a group of off-Project water users.

   Those off-Project water users are among the loudest critics of the restoration agreement, saying it does not provide assurances for water, power and protection from environmental regulations.

   Mallams said this week’s meetings in Portland started out frustrating, but became productive toward the end. He believes some off-Project concerns could be resolved in the final draft if the discussed changes are included.

   “There seems to be a little change in attitude among all the parties,” he said.

   Mallams said he plans to attend the meetings in Sacramento Wednesday and Thursday, as does Klamath County Commissioner John Elliott.

   Tucker said there’s a possibility not everything will be finished next week and that it wouldn’t be indicative of problems. Still, he’s eager to finish the discussions.

   “I’ve got my fingers crossed,” he said. “I think we may be close to releasing the final document after this.”

Side Bar

About the water agreement     

   Stakeholders met for years in closed meetings and developed the document to address water issues in the Basin and are largely for it. Among its conditions are helping the Klamath Tribes acquire the Mazama Tree Farm, a stable water supply for irrigators, affordable power rates and removal of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River to restore fish passage.  

   Many irrigators off the Klamath Reclamation Project are opposed to the restoration agreement, while other residents oppose or support it based on their personal politics.

   Federal and state government officials and other stakeholders, along with PacifiCorp representatives, issued a final dam removal agreement earlier this fall.