Commentary: Solem has served Basin irrigators well

   Dave Solem is modest and unassuming, and he would probably be the first to reject such flattery.

    So, we have taken it upon ourselves to highlight for you Dave’s many achievements and give you just a glimpse of the incredible professional and civic leadership he quietly provided in the Klamath Basin for nearly three decades.

An earned reputation

    As an accomplished general manager of KID (affectionately referred to as “Solomon” by former KID board member Mike McKoen), Dave Solem earned a solid reputation as a leader, organizer and team player as he oversaw all aspects of operation and maintenance of a complex irrigation and drainage system in one of the most controversial watersheds in the country.

    KID is an irrigation and drainage system spanning 400 miles in length — nearly half of the Klamath Project — that delivers stored water to six irrigation districts and over 200 other individual contractors, totaling 75,000 acres.

    Solem prepared multi-million dollar annual budgets, directed the activities of staff, ditch riders and maintenance employees to annually maintain canals, laterals and piping, and planned and funded system upgrades and modernization of facilities. Solem oversaw millions of dollars of major water projects during his tenure, including the $14 million A Canal fish screen and headworks construction and the Miller Hill pumping plant replacement.

Political know-how

    Dave also knew how to play the political game, and interacted with numerous agencies throughout his career. Since 1983, he served on the board of the Klamath Water Users Association, including two terms as president. Dave distinguished himself in his time at KWUA by receiving the KWUA Leadership Award three times.

    He made regular trips to Capitol Hill and interacted with high-level agency and White House officials, including an appearance as an expert witness before Congress.

    For more than 25 years, he served as a director for, and is a past president of, the Oregon Water Resources Congress, where he has served as KID’s representative for South Central Oregon on state and federal water issues and legislation.

    As a result of his tireless hard work and unwavering commitment, he has succeeded in compiling an impressive record of career and civic achievements, a record that has earned him the admiration and respect of all of us who have had the privilege of associating with him.

    The sad news for the Basin is that Dave and his wife, Julie, will soon be leaving for Washington state, where he will become the new manager of South Columbia Basin Irrigation District. While this is a tremendous loss for the Klamath irrigation community, it is an exciting opportunity for Dave to share his battle-earned experiences to the benefit our neighbors in eastern Washington. When he heads for the Palouse, he leaves behind a legacy as a man of extraordinary character and honesty who has served all the irrigators in the Klamath Irrigation Project well.

Results of work remain

    There is no doubt that Dave Solem has been the mortar that has built the irrigation community into what we enjoy this day. More importantly, he has been a good and faithful friend to those who know him. We hope you will join us in conveying best wishes for Dave’s continued success. Dave may be leaving the area, but the results of his great work will remain, and he will always be our friend.

    The authors: Greg Addington is executive director of the Klamath Water Users Association; Bill Ganong is counsel for the Klamath Irrigation District; Dan Keppen is executive director for the Family Farm Alliance. All three are close friends and associates of Dave Solem.

Side Bar

A dinner in Dave Solem’s honor

    A farewell dinner for Solem will be Saturday, Aug. 21, at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call the Klamath Irrigation District office at 541-883-6100.