Press Release                                                             Contact: Tessa Stuedli

April 6, 2001              

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation today announced a zero water supply allocation for most of the families who irrigate their farms and ranches with water supplies from the 210,000 acre federal Klamath Project. All of the water supplies that normally would have been used for irrigation were reallocated to meet the Endangered Species Act requirements imposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service.

“This decision is heartbreaking.  It is inconceivable why the Department of Interior would sacrifice the economy of an entire region for illusory environmental benefits; oblivious to the personal hardship it will cause thousands of families” said Klamath Water Users Association President Don Russell.

Interior’s decision will have a significant impact upon Klamath Project farmers and ranchers, as well as the communities that rely upon them. Aside from one of the worst droughts ever, the problem is compounded by an inherent conflict between different federal agencies attempting to use the Klamath Project as the water source for endangered species purposes throughout the entire Klamath Basin – to the point of ignoring State, Federal and private actions that affect these same species. The Klamath Project has become the focal point not because it is responsible for these environmental problems, but because it is a convenient target.

“These agencies have ignored all of the constructive ideas and recommendations that we have submitted to them over the years to improve habitat for these species. Now after ignoring real restoration efforts, they’ve demanded more water than is available in one of the worst drought years on record. The communities throughout this region are going to pay a terrible price for a decade of failed federal policy” said Don Russell.

Background:

Reclamation’s Klamath Project has been operated for nearly a century to provide a reliable water supply to 210,000 acres of farms and ranches, and to two National Wildlife Refuges in Southern Oregon and Northern California. Surrounding communities rely upon the $250 million in annual economic activity generated from these farms and ranches. Since 1997, Reclamation has issued annual project operation plans that address potential impacts on federally‑listed species, including the Lost River Sucker, shortnose sucker, coho salmon and bald eagle — all listed under the Endangered Species Act. Reclamation is required to consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for the coho salmon on the Klamath River, and with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on the two sucker species in Upper Klamath Lake and adjacent areas. These plans unfortunately place the burden on the Klamath Project to provide water supplies for these species and do not address other activities throughout the Basin.

The Current Situation:

Earlier this year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service called for Upper Klamath Lake to be held at its highest level ever, while the National Marine Fisheries Service called for historically high Klamath River flows. Reclamation’s Acting Commissioner recently stated that even if there were no deliveries to agriculture this year, it is physically impossible to meet both demands. The Fish and Wildlife Service also threatened to bypass the legal priorities to achieve full deliveries to the area’s wildlife refuges – which have the lowest priority. Incredibly, there is no scientific evidence that lower lake levels and lower flows on the Klamath River will cause long-term harm to either species.

Yet, the agencies are pressing for higher flows and lake levels in one of the driest years on record. Since 1993, the Klamath Water Users Association has provided these same agencies with hundreds of comments, recommendations, and detailed restoration plans for the threatened species, and the wildlife refuges. The agencies have refused to act upon these recommendations.