Recently Water Watch of Oregon and several other anti-agricultural organizations filed a petition with the Oregon Water Resources Department that would cease the issuance of any further surface or groundwater allocation for basin farmers, ranchers or other beneficial uses such as the environmental water bank developed by the Bureau of Reclamation.  The implications of such an action are fairly significant and it would effectively limit the flexibility that we have in this Basin with regard to water. It is one less tool available to producers and the federal government to use.  

The Oregon Water Resources commission will be deciding this issue this Friday at their meeting in Salem . KWUA will be well represented and provide written and oral testimony as to why this is a bad idea.  What we just became aware of is a massive “form letter” writing campaign that Water Watch has undertaken. They are asking hundreds of people to submit letters to the Water Resource Commission supporting their petition.  

The reason we have decided to ask for help from the local community is that one of the messages that Water Watch is sending to the Commission via their petition and letters is that this ban on future water allocations is in the best interest of the Klamath Basin communities, wildlife etc.  We do not believe this to be the case.  

I have attached a brief backgrounder of the issue as well as potential impacts and a copy of the actual letter to be signed onto. (See below)

We would like your consideration to sign onto a letter that if nothing else, lets the Water Resources Commission know that there are differing viewpoints out there and they should not be eager to appease one special interest group at the possible expense of others including local communities.  

Please call if you have any questions.

Greg Addington

Klamath Water Users Association

Executive Director

541.883.6100

BACKGROUND  

Petition to Withdraw Waters of the Klamath River Basin from Further Appropriations, or for Emergency Rulemaking to Classify Klamath Waters to Restrict Further Appropriations  

Water Watch of Oregon, Oregon Natural Resource Council, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association, North Coast Environmental Center, Headwaters and others have filed a the afore mentioned petition with the Oregon Water Resources Department. The petition will be considered on July 29, in Salem .  

• The Oregon Water Resources Department staff has recommended to the commission that they DENY the Water Watch Petition

• The petition implies that the petitioners (from the following locations, Portland , Ashland , Eugene , Sacramento , Orleans , Arcata) are concerned for the well being of the local community and the “public interest”

• There are procedures currently in place to deal with ground and surface water appropriation issues. The Water Allocation Policy (OAR 690-410-070)

• This same petition was denied by the Commission in 2002

• Water Watch’s timing is suspect considering there are 4 (out of 7 total) new Water Resource Commissioners, this is their first meeting since being appointed.

• Ground water pumping is strictly monitored and regulated by the Water Resources Department

• Granting of this petition will further reduce the options available for agricultural producers.

• New allocations/permits for water use are considered on a case by case basis by the department and are granted or denied based on science

• This petition could also affect any new storage proposals in the Basin

• Throughout the west and particularly here in Klamath there is a need to look at and develop new supply initiatives including surface water storage and groundwater development

• In their petition, Water Watch supports the use of the Bureau of Reclamations “environmental water bank”, yet they denounce the pumping of ground water which is used to supply the bank

• The petition would lead you to believe that farmers are the only ones who would develop wells. After 2001, the state of Oregon appropriated $3 million for the development of groundwater pumping in the Basin.

The lack of additional storage coupled with the reduced flexibility could have long lasting impacts on Agriculture in the Basin.  As you all know, the affects of 2001 were felt throughout the community not just by those in production agriculture.  

The goal of many of these groups is at best to have a significant decrease in the amount of land in production in the Klamath Basin , other simply want all production gone and a return to the natural environment.  

This petition is yet another tool they are using to achieve their goals, at the expense of agriculture, wildlife and local communities.

Klamath Water User Association's Letter:

July 26, 2005

Mr. Dan Thorndike, Chairman

Oregon Water Resources Commission

725 Summer Street NE, Suite A

Salem , OR   97301  

RE:     Petition for Withdrawal or Emergency Rulemaking – Klamath Basin  

This letter is signed and supported by numerous businesses, organizations and other entities with in the Klamath Basin .  

Chairman Thorndike, members of the Commission and Director Ward;  

We understand that the Oregon Water Resources Commission will be considering a petition submitted by Water Watch and other parties at your July 28-29 Commission meeting in Salem.  We appreciate the opportunity to provide our input with regard to “the petition to withdrawal from further appropriation all the groundwater and surface waters of the Klamath and Lost River Basins ”.  

We are concerned that this may be an attempt to influence new Commissioners with regard to an issue that has been appropriately dealt with by a previous Commission (July 2002).  After review of the new petition and study of the OWRD staff response, it is the position of the undersigned to support in full, the recommendations made by Director Ward in his Memorandum to the Commission on this issue.  

As pointed out in Director Ward’s memo, “the Department has made, and continues to make, substantial progress in developing tools for effective water management in the Klamath Basin ”.  The Department currently has a successful process in place for dealing with over allocation. The Water Allocation Policy (OAR 690-410-070) was adopted by the Commission to deal with just such issues.  

Given the uncertainty with regard to water deliveries in the Basin, we believe it is prudent to maintain the flexibility that is currently in place by having water appropriations handled on a case by case basis, based on their merit and the science available, by the experts at the Oregon Water Resources Department.   

We appreciate your consideration in this matter,  

Signed (See attached)