GUEST OPINIONS

By NITA STILL

Pioneer Press

Fort Jones , CA

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

page E30, column 2

pioneerp@sisqtel.net

This "Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement" is NOT an agreement. It was mostly created by these Wildlanders. It has to be Sustainable, Smart Growth, contain all the water they can get for their wetlands as well as carry out their plans for the Rewilding of this Area by the removal of the Dams, and giving Tribe's more water as well as the salmon. Basically they have the water going in so many directions there will not be enough for everyone. There is more to this so called Agreement that meets the eyes.  The Board of Supervisors had better form their committee now and not drag their feet or be fearful or. If they do not act now, this whole area will be rewilded in a very short time! The Shasta Indians are the only ones who realize what is going on in front of them.  The Board of Supervisors will wake up too late if they do not get their rear in gear!  Put on their armor of bravery not fear. People need to read between the lines of this Restoration of Wildlands. I consider The Department of Interior, as part of the Wildlanders, because they are assisting them in 99% of the things they are doing.

The group that did this restoration thing, basically it is not for restoration, it is a tearing down, manipulating, dividing and then fractioning of water and land all for the ESA and rewilding.

The Wildlanders and their Attorney's, along with the Bureau of Interior and their cohorts call this "Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement" a "Confidential and Privileged Settlement Communications."  It sure was, hardly any Stakeholder knew about it, and the Shasta Indians were not invited to put in their 2 cents because they knew they disagreed. And this group, especially the Karuk say this is the first time we have been able to agree. Their speech makes this situation far worse than it is. To begin with, the whole situation being shoved down our throats and is very, very detrimental to our lives, liberties and properties. Here is what they say is so "Confidential and Privileged:"

Part I (Sections 1-7) states general provisions. Which include the purpose of the Agreement, the Parties obligations to support and implement. Funding, dispute resolution, governance and other general provisions.   (The Parties are obligated to support and implement all provisions of this contract? Is this a threat?)

Part II (Sect. 8) states the Parties' obligations to support the Hydro power Agreement (Appendix D)  (there is no Appendix D.) This provides for the removal of the Hydro power Project under conditions that protect and advance the public interest.  (They are NOT doing this to protect and advance the public interest, they do not believe there is any interest for the public).

Part III (Sect. 9-13) states that Fisheries Habitat Restoration, Reintroduction and Monitoring program will contribute to the sustainability and robust harvestable surplus of anadromous and other fisheries throughout the Klamath 'basin."   (Since the 1880's the fish population has continued to decline according to "Gibbs Journal." Historically, Coho Salmon NEVER swam up the Klamath. They are changing our way of life all around,. The water is going to be so highly regulated that many will be affected adversely as well as offended.).

Part IV (Sect.14-19) states the Water Resources Program consists of schedules, plans and other provisions to substantially change the management of delivered water supply for irrigation and related uses in the Klamath Reclamation Project, Upper Klamath Basin and National Wildlife Refuges. Additionally, it addresses other matters related to the Klamath Reclamation Project National Wildlife Refuges.  (So the Management of delivered water supply will be "Substantially Changed"? That sounds ominous! And they are addressing "other matters"?).

Part V (Sect.20-24) states the regulatory assurances under the Federal Endangered Species Act and other Laws related to the performance of the fisheries and Water Resources Programs.

Part VI (Sect.25-28) states the Power Resources Program will provide power cost security for the Klamath Reclamation Project and Off-Project water Users and will result in efficiency improvements and renewable power.    (They are very good at spewing out the words! It will? How? Where is the answer?).

Part VII (Sect.29-32) states the Counties' Impacts Mitigation and Benefits Program will assure that the removal of the Hydro power Project and the performance of other obligations under this Agreement will occur in a manner that benefits (?) the interests of Klamath County, Oregon; Humboldt and Siskiyou Counties, California and their residents.   (This will only benefit the Wildlanders, and maybe some of the Tribes, but not the Shasta. And money is not everything! Any how it is such a piddling amount for what we have to give up!).

Part VIII (Sect.33-36) states the Tribal Program will assure that the removal of the Hydro power Project and the performance of other obligations under this Agreement will occur in a manner that benefits the interests of the Hoopa Valley Tribe, Karuk Tribe, Yurok Tribe and Klamath Tribes and their members.         (What about all the farmers, irrigators, esp in Scott and Shasta Valleys, the Shasta Indians and all the "stakeholders" who have NOT agreed with their connivings?)

Part IX (Sect.37-39) provides for the execution of the Agreement.

Now what about the One Page Ad the "Klamath Tribes" took out 3/16/08 in the Herald and News in Klamath Falls ? They were saying what they were going to do with the water. Yeah, there sure is something very fishy about this whole deal, and it is beginning to smell bad!

Most Sincerely,

Nita Still

The publisher grants permission for the article to be reprinted or distributed.