Crab, spuds and suds

Farmers, Fisherman and Tribe Members work together on new solutions to old problems

Alliances are built over BBQ and Beer

By Lance Waldren
Pioneer Press Staff Writer

Fort Jones , California

Page E1

April 25, 2007

STATE OF JEFFERSON - Farmers, fisherman and tribal members are
working together to solve Klamath River issues. The unusual alliance
has come together and found that most of the differences can be
resolved when outside interferences are removed.

Last spring, Merrill farmer Dick Carleton read an article by Newport
fisherman, Bob Kemp. In the article, Kemp said he should fill an ice
chest with crab and beer, then go up to the Klamath Basin and see
what is really going on.

Within hours of reading this, Carleton had located Kemp and
personally invited him to come over for a tour. Carleton assembled a
small group of area farmers to meet with the fisherman and answer any
questions. Carleton told him to just bring the crab and he would
supply the beer.

This unusual meeting has sparked a growing alliance between coastal
fisherman, Klamath Basin farmers and Klamath River tribal members. It
has also garnered the attention of Washington DC .

According to Carleton, he was a little nervous about the initial
meeting because of "the hype" created over the water issues pitting
farmers against fisherman. What he found out was they are both
resource users who are out trying to make a living. The farmers from
the ground and the fisherman from the sea. They also shared many of
the same concerns when it came to the water.

The meeting was so successful they decided to keep getting together
to discuss possible solutions to problems on the Klamath River . The
next time a group of basin farmers traveled to Newport to meet the
fisherman.

Tribal members were also invited to attend the meetings and the three
groups have worked hard to build relationships.

"This all takes time," said Carleton. "We had to resolve a lot of
past issues and start building trust."

It was time to put the past behind us and move forward, he said.

By banding together we can make our voices heard, Carleton told the
Pioneer Press. There are only approximately 300 active salmon
fisherman in Oregon . By supporting each other and understanding the
issues from both sides they can have a much stronger presence.

After their last meeting they had a barbeque. The fisherman provided
salmon and crab, the tribe members brought a traditional dish made
with eel and the farmers brought potato salad. These informal get
togethers have been the most important step said Carleton. This is
where one on one relationships are built and where the trust can
start to be rebuilt.

Last October, a group of salmon fisherman came to Merrill during the
Potato Festival. To show their support, they entered a float in the
parade and set up an informational booth to answer questions about
their industry.

Carleton and other farmers, in turn, went to the Noble Fish Hatchery
and helped with spawning.

"I learned a lot about salmon," said Carleton. "I also know in order
for us to get water, we need to make sure there are salmon in the
Klamath River ."

The goal of the group is to unite all natural resource users
connected to the river. This includes the tribal members, farmers,
fisherman, timber, mining and commercial guides. They are working on
providing a joint press release directed at all of the myths created
and carried out by environmental groups and other outside interests.

"What we are doing is becoming widely recognized in Washington ," said
Carleton. "We have caught the attention of state and federal
legislators and there has been a large contingent of representatives
at the last meetings."

The group is also working on a jointly sponsored tour of the Klamath
Water System. The tour is being planned for this summer and
invitations would be sent to Washington , DC as well as governors and
state legislatures.

The group has already identified and agreed on many problems
concerning the river. They have also agreed jointly on possible
solutions.

The water users, need to have more input into what happens with the
river. All of the decisions should not be made just by different
agencies, said Carleton.

Recently, plaques were provided to parties on both sides from the
Oregon Department of Agriculture, proclaiming the Klamath farmers and
the salmon fisherman as the 2007 Cooperators of the Year.

(Permission to post from the publisher.)