FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oregon Water Commission Refuses a Petition
Un-sustainable Water Permits Continue to be Issued
MEDFORD, OR Jul 29, 2005
The Oregon Water Resources Commission today rejected a petition to stop giving out water permits in the Klamath Basin. The petitioners – that include conservation groups, fisheries organizations, and private citizens – argue that there is simply not enough water in the basin to satisfy the new permits. The petitioners asked for a moratorium to be in place on new permanent water permits until a pending study on the effects of groundwater pumping is published by the U.S. Geological Survey.
In the Klamath Basin, more promises for water have been issued than the river and lakes can provide. Even in good years, all the legitimate claims to water are not fulfilled – and yet over the last three years, the Oregon Water Commission has issued over 90 new groundwater permits totaling over 300 cubic feet per second of water. According to a previous U.S. Geological Survey study, the level of the groundwater has been dropping due to pumping but it is uncertain to what extent this is drying up the Klamath River.
Bob Hunter – an attorney for WaterWatch of Oregon – states that “Issuing new, permanent permits under these conditions is not a responsible way to manage the water resources that belong to the public nor can it be sustained in the future.” The petitioners believe that new studies will enable the commission to create a more responsible management plan for the water. Hunter states that the “Remaining groundwater should be saved for times of drought, to replenish the river, and to settle water disputes. It should not be irresponsibly handed out to anyone who walks in the door.”
The petitioners hope they have raised awareness of the pressing concerns of water shortage in the Klamath Basin. Glenn Spain of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations says that “Both people and businesses are suffering from the government’s poor management of water. Those that pay the highest price include Indian tribes, sport and commercial fishermen, boaters, and communities down-river.”
For more information on the petition or the water disputes in the Klamath Basin, contact Bob Hunter at (541) 826-5569 or Glenn Spain at (541) 689-2000. For more information on the environmental problems facing Oregon’s rivers, visit <www.waterwatch.org>.
The petitioners consist of a diverse group of citizens, as well as the following organizations:
WaterWatch Of Oregon, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, Oregon Natural Resources Council, Institute For Fisheries Resources, Headwaters, Klamath Forest Alliance, Friends Of The River, World Wildlife Fund, North Coast Environmental Center, Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center, and Trout Unlimited.
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