Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement - Sen. Doug Whitsett Interview

Senator Doug Whitsett discussing the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement.

SALEM- In a signing ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda on Thursday morning, Gov. Ted Kulongoski, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, and other interested parties came together to sign a restoration agreement for the Klamath Basin region bordering Oregon and California.

The agreement will lead to the removal of four dams on the Klamath River and closes 30,000 acre-feet of agricultural water rights designated off the federal project lands. Additionally, it provides the funds to purchase about 90,000 acre-feet for the Klamath Tribes.

Speakers at the ceremony included major players in the negotiations of the agreement including leaders of the National Marine Fishery Services, tribal leaders for the region, owner of the four PacifiCorp dams on the Klamath Rivers, as well as Gov. Schwarzenegger, Gov. Kulongoski, and Secretary Salazar.

Although this ceremony gave a glowing appearance of unity amongst its participants, the issues present in the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement are controversial at best. Many citizens in the area are upset with the agreement process and with its outcome.

The two biggest issues presented by those opposed to the agreement are the retirement of 30,000 acre-feet which will be losing their water rights, making the land no longer irrigable for large crops, and the closing of four dams in the region, which is predicted to raise the price of electricity for the area.

A spokesman from the dams parent company, PacifiCorp, stated that the dams, which create about enough power for 70,000 homes, will make a difference in prices but likely will not be detrimental to the Northwests power grid. Also, the spokesman made clear that he could not predict the exact effects which taking out the dams will have, since they are not scheduled to go down for ten more years.

Those in favor of the agreement see it as a positive step, calling it the largest river and salmon restoration effort in U.S. history.

Gov. Kulongoski stated in a Thursday press release, There is no need for this conflict to rage on. The plentiful Klamath Basin can offer a secure future for the Tribes, sustainable agriculture, and a diverse and resilient ecosystem. All we need is the wisdom to see our common future. These agreements are the blueprint for that future.

http://theoregonpolitico.com/blog/2010/02/19/historic-signing-fills-capitol-r...

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• klamath basin
• environment
• oregon
• KBRA
• Doug Whitsett
• politics

[darrellmellissa]

Why dont we all slit our throats, Then the indians can go back to the stone age.. thats where they want to go.

[joe80dman]

Both "sides" benefit from this debacle. The environmentalists are just tools for the big, corporate agro industry. They'll now purchase produce from Mexico, and S. America at lower costs, allowing for larger profit. Many environmentalists would like to convert the U.S. into a nation of dependency upon 3rd World nations, and they've been very successful. Wall Street benefits as well.

[wigglesmommy]

KlamathFarmer said it pretty darned well! If only all of Oregon was awakened to the facts that Whitsett, Garrard & Gilman have been trying so hard to publicize! Please, share the link to this video with every Oregonian you know!

[KlamathFarmer]

More than 90% of all the citizens who voted from both parties voted for Senator Whitsett. He and 2 legislators hosted a public input hearing to listen to their constituents regarding the Klamath 'agreement', and of 325 people, 81 spoke, many wrote testimony, and no one supported the agreements. In the secret negotiations, Interion, many gov't agencies and enviro groups and 2 farm groups contrived this plan, allowed no vote. Thanks to Whitsett and reps Garrard and Gilman for representing the ppl.