Stakeholders’ relationship changing 

   Hyde and Mallams, both irrigators off the Klamath Reclamation Project, represent opposing groups of irrigators in water settlement negotiations, and their interactions   were often tense at best in recent years.

   Despite that conversation, both say their relationship still isn’t on the friendliest of terms.

   “Our relationship in some ways is a little more open, but the process took a few steps backward,” said Mallams, who is president of the Klamath Off Project Water Users.

   “We still have some disagreements, but we’re making goodwill efforts for each other,” said Hyde, a board member of the Upper Klamath Water Users Association.

   Noticeable change

   Other stakeholders noticed the change in their relationship.

   Steve Kandra, board   member of the Klamath Water Users Association, and Craig Tucker, Klamath campaign coordinator for the Karuk Tribe of California, said they noticed a change between Hyde and Mallams during the Sacramento meetings in late December.

   “They have noticeably started being more polite to each other,” Tucker said.

   Improvements

   Hyde said the relationship first improved after meetings in Portland when Mallams expressed cautious optimism about the water settlement document. A Portland attorney, Irion Sanger, has been attending meetings with Mallams and has improved the tone of discussions, Hyde said.

   “It’s better than it’s been for years,” she said.

   Mallams, though, said the conversation he and Hyde had was pleasant, but didn’t have much substance.

   The two off-Project irrigators jointly recommended a proposed revision   to the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, but Mallams said Hyde and her group continue to deflect some of his ideas and suggestions.

   Hyde said she still holds hope that her board of directors can meet with Mallams to promote cooperation and a better relationship.

   Mallams said he’s open to the idea. but he wants to see some changes to the restoration agreement first. Any such meeting would likely come after stakeholders meet in Sacramento Wednesday and Thursday.

   “I think we can still get along, even with a difference of opinion,” he said.