Klamath Water Users Association

2455 Patterson Street, Suite 3

Klamath Falls , Oregon 97603

(541)-883-6100   FAX (541)-883-8893

kwua@cvcwireless.net

www.kwua.org

December 1, 2006

The Honorable Thad Cochran                                 The Honorable Robert Byrd

Chairman                                                                    Ranking Member

Senate Appropriations Committee                         Senate Appropriations Committee

113 Dirksen Senate Office Building                         311 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington , DC   20515                                             Washington , DC   20515     

RE:  Salmon Commercial Fishery Failure Emergency Funding

Dear Chairman Cochran and Ranking Member Byrd;

We are writing to request your support for $60.4 million in disaster assistance for the Pacific coast salmon fishery.  This amount is needed to offset losses suffered by the fishing communities, Tribes, and businesses along the Oregon and California coastlines that have been impacted by the recent determination of a fishery failure by the Secretary of Commerce and the anadromous fish harvest restrictions placed by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC). 

As stakeholders in the Klamath Basin , our farmers and ranchers have been severely affected by drought and its associated impacts on water management.  We understand the strain of natural resource conflicts and we feel that a comprehensive solution to the basin’s problems is the only way forward.  In that spirit, we support assistance to those communities hurt by the fish harvest restrictions.

State and federal agencies, tribes, fishermen, ranchers, farmers, and others throughout the Klamath River Watershed have been working hard to restore salmon and bring greater economic security to our communities.  We have a lot of work ahead of us, and are determined to see this happen.  Though disaster programs are not permanent solutions, they will allow us to continue to move forward and find a balance between all stakeholders in the Klamath Basin .

Thank you for your time and consideration of our request.

Sincerely,

Greg Addington

Executive Director

cc:       The Honorable Richard Shelby

Chairman

Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science

            The Honorable Barbara Mikulski

            Ranking Member

Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science

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