Working with non-traditional allies can help us take more control of our destiny 

By MATT WALTER 

Guest Writer

Herald and News

December 20, 2011

      Recently we all learned that big changes are coming to the Sprague, Wood and Williamson valleys outside Klamath Falls. In a proposed order in the Klamath Basin adjudication — the process that decides who has access to water — the Klamath Tribes won very significant amounts for fish and rivers. The proposed order probably tells us a lot about the final order, which will come in a year or so and will be the first step toward enforcement. Especially in dry years, satisfying the Tribes’ water rights will mean far less access to water than many off-Project farmers and ranchers are accustomed to having.  

   Farming and ranching activities feed a large portion of the jobs and economic activity in Klamath County. When farmers and ranchers can’t irrigate, there are direct financial impacts to everyone in the county, whether you’re in agriculture, or work in town.

   Upper Klamath Water Users is focused on creating solutions that will allow farmers and ranchers in the off-Project valleys to endure. We do so being respectful   of the legitimate needs of the Klamath Tribes. We’ve known that litigation alone is unlikely to provide any lasting benefits for us. (There is, of course, a role for litigation in protecting interests, but it has to be combined with negotiated settlement work.)

   Tribes a good partner

   So we have worked hard to craft a settlement with the Klamath Tribes — and they have been good and trusted partner. The problem is, some leaders in our community continue to oppose and undermine meaningful settlement efforts in the KBRA — where everyone gives a little so all can gain in the end. They have continually said they preferred adjudication (litigation-only) over the KBRA settlement opportunity.

   The preliminary results of the litigation-only strategy are in, and they don’t hold water.

   Fortunately, there is still time to work out a settlement with the Tribes; the Reclamation Project farmers already did so. UKWUA has been working with the Tribes for several years now on a plan that would:

   • Share water between the needs of fish and tribal people, and of cattle, crops and farmers and ranchers — with quantities for agriculture that are far more favorable than the proposed order;

   • Support common-sense river restoration activity that improve rivers for all to enjoy, adds to our property value, and helps fish do well; and,

   • Find creative ways to assist junior water users — those with the worst priority dates — so they don’t face the blunt force of unmitigated water loss.  

   Local solutions

   These would be locally developed and locally controlled solutions. They would protect far more farming and ranching than it appears adjudication will, but they would respect all existing water law. They would help us get along with our neighbors the Tribes, rather than feed lawyers and fight constantly.

   UKWUA has represented its members and agricultural interests by opening a door to settlement in the KBRA when others had pretty much slammed it shut. We aren’t finished with a plan, but are working to produce one before the final order. It would allow those who want to join, and those who prefer litigation to keep on going. Planning has been slow going because at every opportunity, those who irrationally oppose a solution that stabilizes farming and ranching have thrown up roadblocks.

   Two things keep us going: First, protecting agriculture to serve our members and to provide critical economic contributions to Klamath County. Second, confidence, after seeing the proposed order, that we couldn’t possibly do worse than the adjudication.  

   To our fellow citizens and to our elected leaders, from state Senator Whitsett to Congressman Walden to Senator Wyden we say, “please join us.” We can work with the Klamath Tribes, we can come to reasonable water sharing agreements, and we can take more control of our destiny by working with non-traditional allies. In light of the recent results in the adjudication, we must.