Science Conference looks at diverse perspectives in the Klamath Basin

The event, which will continue over the course of the next three days at the Red Lion Inn in Medford, Ore., has as its purpose “to describe a conceptual understanding of large-scale ecosystem processes and interactions – drivers, stressors, and indicators – and identify priority needs as they relate to the management of valued natural resources or environmental conditions,” said Leslie Dierauf, northwest area regional executive with the United States Geological Survey. “A related goal is to increase basin-wide collaboration and build trust and relationships across science and management entities by bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders from both the upper and lower basins.”

Dierauf, who delivered an opening address on the purposes and objectives of the conference, stated that the information and strategies obtained may also inform the Secretarial decision laid out in the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA) and Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA) regarding the possible removal of the J.C. Boyle, Iron Gate, and Copco 1 and 2 dams along the Klamath River.

The first stakeholder panel, composed of representatives from area tribes, began with Michael Orcutt of the Hoopa Valley Tribe, who stated that the tribe is concerned that the water flow allocations set forth in the KBRA are not sufficient for the targeted fish populations in the river, and the tribe wants a scientific review of those allocations.

Orcutt said that other requests include assessments of population trends for salmonid fishes, ocean life dynamics and the effects of ocean harvesting. He added that the tribe is expressing a need for coordination between involved agencies and the involvement of the public in the process, a sentiment echoed by Siskiyou County District 1 Supervisor Jim Cook, Ken McDermond from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service,  Becky Hyde of the Upper Klamath Water Users Association (UKWUA), and a number of others.

Other tribal requests, expressed by representatives from the Karuk, Klamath, Yurok and Quartz Valley tribes, included integrated groundwater and surface water studies, studies of salmon habitat preference, assessment of the high nutrient loading of Upper Klamath Lake into the river and the restoration of Klamath watersheds with traditional methods.

County perspectives followed the tribal presentation, with Cook, Jill Duffy from Humboldt County and John Elliot from Klamath County offering their ideas. Elliot began, stating that many decision-makers on the local level are not specialists or scientists, but instead are “generalists,” relying heavily on the recommendations of researchers without having local technical support to analyze the studies on which the recommendations are based.

Elliot requested both scientific integrity and simplicity of reporting scientific findings that can be “understood by the average person.”

Cook expounded on the scientific integrity principle, stating that Siskiyou County wants “accurate and objective data and analysis of all sub-basins’ natural conditions and processes and also of the human conditions and processes.”

He added that the county wishes to see clearly identified goals and objectives during the scientific process.

The conference also featured a panel with representatives from federal and state management agencies, including the California Department of Fish and Game, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA Fisheries, the Bureau of Reclamation and the United States Forest Service.

The diverse array of needs from those perspectives included the creation of studies for non-harvested aquatic species that are often left out of Klamath restoration talks, studies of the effects of climate change on the Klamath basin, studies on the impacts of fish disease in the river, assessment of the impacts of sediment loading resulting from forest fires and increasing the efficacy of tracking systems for the life cycles of Coho salmon.

Pablo Arroyave of the Bureau of Reclamation stated that he believes that the most important goal is focusing on developing the right questions to be answered before the secretarial determination regarding the dams.

The final panel on Tuesday offered Non-Governmental Organization perspectives, including those from the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (PCFFA), the Upper Klamath Water Users Association, the Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited and PacifiCorp, the owner of the dams slated for possible removal.

Dave Bitts of the PCFFA said the organization feels that there should be a stable funding base established for monitoring the salmon runs in the Klamath. Monitoring needs were presented by a number of other presenters as a way to better understand the current behavior and movement of salmon and other fish species in the Klamath.

Mark Stern, representing the Nature Conservancy, stated that his organization feels that one of the questions that needs to be answered is how taking Upper Klamath Basin land out of production as proscribed in the KBRA might have socio-economic effects on the rural communities that are agriculture-based.

Hyde stated during her presentation that the UKWUA officially voted to sign the KHSA and the KBRA, both of which are expected to be signed by the major stakeholders within the next two weeks.

A common theme throughout the meeting was the call for a “holistic” or basin-wide approach to the studies in the basin that may drive management practices in the future, an idea that was presented at the meeting by Yurok representative Mike Belchik and which was referenced by a number of speakers.

Dean Brockbank, representing PacifiCorp, agreed with Belchik and touched on another theme common to many of the speakers – that the science should be conducted in an independent manner not subject to political influence.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted
material  herein is distributed without profit or payment to those who have
expressed  a  prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit
research and  educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml