Klamath Basin Water Agreement

Tulelake endorses deal

City likes idea of ‘reliable and predictable’ water source

By LEE JUILLERAT
H&N Regional Editor

April 24, 2008

   TULELAKE — The Tulelake City Council voted to support the proposed Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, saying it would provide a reliable and predictable source of water for Tulelake-area farms. 

   The agreement allocates water in the Klamath River watershed among fisheries, tribes, irrigators and conservationists and advocates removal of four hydro-electric dams owned by PacifiCorp, a Portland-based power company.

   Steve Kandra of the Klamath Basin Water Users Association met with council members Monday as part of ongoing efforts to gather support from Klamath Basin cities and towns with agricultural interests. The water users support the agreement. 

   "We're going to the leadership of different municipalities, having conversations with them and looking for, and receiving, support from them," Kandra said

Packets were sent to Merrill and Malin council members, and Kandra plans to meet with the Malin City Council Tuesday and Merrill City Council May 5. 

   “The farming communities know a fair amount about the settlement,” Kandra said, noting Tulelake council members cut him short when he started explaining the proposal because they already knew what it was. 

    Siskiyou County supervisors, including Jim Cook, whose district includes the Tulelake Basin , voted against the proposed settlement, citing opposition to removal of the dams. Klamath County commissioners have not yet taken a position on the agreement. 

   Tulelake City Clerk Joe Cordonier said four council members present at a Monday meeting supported the proposal. 

   Made public Jan. 15 

   The restoration agreement was made public Jan. 15 following more than two years of negotiations involving irrigators, Indian tribes, environmental groups and government agencies. 

   The resolution approved by the Tulelake council notes “the economy and heritage of the city of Tulelake relies on local irrigated agriculture.” It also says the agreement provides a way for to get affordable irrigation and draining pumping for local districts and farms without relying on other PacifiCorp electrical ratepayers for subsidy.

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