Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement - Sen. Jason Atkinson Interview

Senator Jason Atkinson 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...

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News & Politics

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• Klamath Basin
• jason atkinson
• Oregon
• politics

[buddymacs]

WE DONT WANT YOU  RESIGN

[rodeye2]

I see the book "joy of sex" behind him,well I guess he needs all the help he can get so his wife has said.

[joe80dman]

I wonder how much lobby money Atkinson received from Big Agra?

[CalifSunshine2008]

I can't believe they want to put more strain on the economy right now.....with costs that will make food and electricity cost more. Also moving water like that creates more earthquakes.