New dam proposals restart 1970s-era fights By Colin Sullivan (ClimateWire) EarthNews May 07, 2008 ClimateWire: SAN FRANCISCO — Wallace Stegner, the chronicler of the American West, had a simple response when asked to explain the economics of California. “Water,” he said famously. “It’s about the water.” Stegner’s truism is relevant now more than ever. […]
Don’t rush toward flawed Klamath deal By Steve Pedery and Bob Hunter Times-Standard May 02, 2008 Recent Times-Standard My Word columns (Greg King, March 20; Felice Pace, March 26; Walter Duffy, April 7) make clear that the long history of water battles in the west is far from resolved. Some raise concerns over river
Sorting through our salmon mystery By Tim Harmon Oregonian May 02, 2008 As the owner of one of the oldest charter companies on the West Coast, I’ve been asked many times lately about where all the salmon have gone this year. Good question. My charter service has the most experienced captains on the coast,
Water Trade-Off Bolsters Rivers By James Sinks Bend Bulletin April 22, 2008 SALEM — The straws are drilled deep underground, sucking more water to satisfy the thirst of development across Central Oregon. Yet at the same time, there’s more water flowing down the Deschutes River during the dry summer months when once it ran low.
Oregon consortium to evaluate Umatilla Basin aquifer recovery Columbia Basin Fish & Wildlife News Bulletin April 18, 2008 The Oregon Water Resources Department this week signed a $750,000 contract with an Oregon-based consortium led by IRZ Consulting, GSI Water Solutions, and HDR Engineering to evaluate the feasibility of a “Umatilla Basin Aquifer Recovery Project.”
Oregon consortium to evaluate Umatilla Basin aquifer recovery Read More »
Feds failed salmon on delta water pumping, judge says Oregonian article on the federal court ruling on increasing pumping of water from the Sacramento River Delta. By Michael Milstein Oregonian April 17, 2008 A federal court ruling Wednesday involving California’s water supply may lead to extra help for the collapsing salmon population that supports
Feds failed salmon on delta water pumping, judge says Read More »
Endangered Newsweek article on the state of Oregon’s salmon-fishing industry. By Winston Ross Newsweek April 16, 2008 College didn’t take, and logging threatened to kill him, so Jared Reeves followed in his father’s wake and climbed aboard a salmon troller in 2005, lured by the prospect of a six-figure income in a single summer out
The Trouble With Salmon New York Times editorial about the decision of the federal government to shut down commercial salmon fishing along the California coast to north-central Oregon. New York Times April 15, 2008 The federal government’s decision to shut down commercial salmon fishing from the California coast to north-central Oregon is a blow
Lawmakers aren’t so easy to pigeonhole Opinion article on urban and rural accomplishments in the Oregon legislature. By Richard Devlin Oregonian April 11, 2008 When speaking of Oregon’s “urban-rural divide,” our discussions do mainly that — they divide us. Unfortunately, The Oregonian’s editorial board has perpetuated that division with its characterization of urban dwellers
Coastal voices: As it stands, river pact won’t protect fish Opinion article on the draft Klamath settlement proposal. By Steve Pedery and Bob Hunter Daily Triplicate April 03, 2008 Triplicate reporter Michelle Ma’s recent series on the Klamath Basin (“The Future of the Klamath”) makes clear that the long history of water battles in the
Coastal voices: As it stands, river pact won’t protect fish Read More »
Exciting Progress in Removing Fish Killer OWEB reports on the Savage Rapids Dam Removal Project. By OWEB Oregon.gov March 18, 2008 Six years ago the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) invested over $3 million in the Savage Rapids Dam Removal Project. At the time, the Savage Rapids Dam Project was the single largest OWEB
A legal victory for the Deschutes Bend Bulletin February 17, 2008 This week, a federal judge blessed the Swalley Irrigation District’s plan to pipe a section of leaky canal. The ruling caps more than two years of legal wrangling and comes, no doubt, as a relief to most Swalley members. But in a larger
A region’s vitality, melting away Article on the impact of the melting of Mt. Hood’s glaciers. By Michael Milstein Oregonian February 11, 2008 HOOD RIVER — The melting of Mount Hood’s signature glaciers raises a crucial question for the region: How much do we depend on them and the cool meltwater they pour into
Another View: Fish are key to deal on Klamath Opinion column by Hoopa Valley Tribe’s Chairman Lyle Marshall regarding the draft Klamath settlement proposal. Sacramento Bee February 10, 2008 As chairman of the Hoopa Valley Reservation, which has the Klamath and Trinity rivers running through it, I want to clarify my tribe’s position regarding
A new test for Oregon’s salmon plan Editorial on the re-listing of Oregon’s coastal coho. Oregonian February 09, 2008 Oregon’s unique state-federal partnership for salmon recovery was left floating belly-up this week after a federal decision to return the state’s coastal coho to the endangered species list. Collapse of the joint program comes as
Water shortage back before lawmakers Article on the proposed Umatilla basin aquifer storage plan. By Dean Brickey and Mitch Lies East Oregonian January 30, 2008 SALEM – Oregon lawmakers in special session beginning Monday will consider budgeting $750,000 for a feasibility study to determine if groundwater recharge can work in the Umatilla Basin. The
Walden cuts pressure for fast action on water pact Herald and News editorial on the draft Klamath settlement proposal. By Pat Bushey Herald and News January 30, 2008 The proposed settlement of Klamath River water issues deserves better than a quick decision. It’s too big, too complex and too expensive for that treatment. People
Walden cuts pressure for fast action on water pact Read More »
Maybe we can turn the clock back Daily Astorian editorial regarding the draft Klamath settlement proposal. Daily Astorian January 22, 2008 Negotiations in the Klamath Basin could lead to PacifiCorp dam removal It’s a rare thing when we have the chance to turn the clock’s hands back and undo a big environmental mistake. That’s what
Klamath Basin settlement is far from a done deal An editorial in the Redding Record Searchlight on the draft Klamath settlement proposal. Redding Record Searchlight January 22, 2008 The various feuding parties in the Klamath Basin have put a lot of hope into secret talks aimed at resolving the battles over water supply and
Klamath Basin settlement is far from a done deal Read More »
A deal on Klamath’s dams Article in the San Francisco Chronicle on the draft Klamath settlement proposal. San Francisco Chronicle January 21, 2008 For complexity, the years-long water war along the Klamath River rivals the Middle East. A list of contending parties, long-held grievances and state borders have strained hopes of settlement. Until now.
A Klamath settlement that isn’t Op-ed from the Oregonian on the draft Klamath settlement proposal. Oregonian January 17, 2008 Don’t break out the champagne just yet to celebrate the sweeping settlement announced Tuesday for restoring Klamath River salmon runs. It’s not really a settlement. It’s more like a real estate agent declaring he’s got
Klamath water deal reached LA Times article re: Tribes, farmers and others draw up a plan to remove dams and revive dwindling salmon populations. By Eric Bailey LA Times January 16, 2008 SACRAMENTO — After more than three years of negotiations, a collection of long-quarreling Klamath Basin farmers, fishermen and tribes announced a breakthrough agreement
Dam removal key to Klamath pact success Article on the draft Klamath settlement proposal. By Mateusz Perkowski Capital Press January 16, 2008 A long-awaited agreement among farmers, fishermen, Indian tribes, conservationists and the federal government to manage water in the Klamath Basin and remove four hydroelectric dams received mixed reviews from the people it
Deal afoot to alter Klamath for users Article in the Oregonian on the draft Klamath settlement proposal. By Peter Sleeth Oregonian January 16, 2008 A unique gathering of government agencies, Native Americans, farmers and fishermen Tuesday proposed removing four dams on the Klamath River, with a cornucopia of benefits running to river users ranging
Deal Would Remove Klamath River Dams Associated Press article on the draft Klamath settlement proposal. By Jeff Barnard Associated Press January 16, 2008 GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) – More than 300 miles of struggling salmon runs would be restored along the Klamath River as part of a landmark $1 billion proposal that represents the
Groups offer plan for removing dams on Oregon’s Klamath River to help salmon population Oregonian (AP) article regarding draft Klamath settlement proposal. By Jeff Barnard Oregonian January 15, 2008 GRANTS PASS — A deal calling for removal of four hydroelectric dams on Klamath River to restore struggling salmon runs has been forged among farmers,
Groups offer plan for removing dams on Oregon’s Klamath River to help salmon population Read More »
Groups Want to Remove Dams for Salmon Associated Press article on the removal of four dams on the Klamath River. By Jeff Barnard Associated Press January 15, 2008 A deal calling for removal of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River to restore struggling salmon runs has been forged among farmers, Indian tribes, fishermen,
Klamath groups offer plan for removing dams to help salmon Associated Press article on the draft Klamath settlement proposal. Associated Press January 15, 2008 GRANTS PASS — A deal calling for removal of four hydroelectric dams on Klamath River to restore struggling salmon runs has been forged among farmers, Native American tribes, fishermen, conservation
Klamath groups offer plan for removing dams to help salmon Read More »
Legislature’s Feb. session to seek more water for rural Oregon Associated Press article on the Oregon Legislature’s proposal to establish aquifer storage areas in eastern Oregon. By Brad Cain Associated Press January 12, 2008 It was touted by backers as the “Oasis Project,” a plan to draw an additional 500,000 acre-feet of water from
Legislature’s Feb. session to seek more water for rural Oregon Read More »
Bringing closure to the Klamath conflict An Oregonian op-ed regarding Klamath Basin solutions by Jim McCarthy of Oregon Wild and Bob Hunter of WaterWatch. Oregonian December 21, 2007 The relicensing process for PacifiCorp’s Klamath River hydropower project presents a unique opportunity to remove its lower four dams and bring Klamath salmon back home to
Negotiating the Klamath Oregonian article about the ongoing Klamath settlement talks. By Peter Sleeth Oregonian December 09, 2007 KLAMATH FALLS — Water cleaves the West. If you doubt its razor edge, think of the Klamath River Basin where the water divides the people — fishermen from farmers, Native Americans from the dam owners, conservationists from
Fish benefit of a Klamath pact questioned Sacrmento Bee story about the ongoing Klamath settlement talks. By David Whitney Sacramento Bee December 09, 2007 As groups plan to vote on water deal, new studies say salmon may get shorted. WASHINGTON – Environmentalists, Indian tribes, fishermen and farmers have been meeting in private for months trying
Let science guide dam removal, professors say Article on professors Jeffrey Mount and Peter Moyle’s letter to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service about Klamath dams. By Peter Sleeth Oregonian December 09, 2007 Two leading scientists from the University of California are urging more studies of dam removal on the Klamath River before taking
Klamath Basin report sparks differing interpretations Article on the National Research Council’s report on the Klamath River. By Mateusz Perkowski Capital Press December 07, 2007 A new report from the National Research Council that calls for a more expansive scientific view of the Klamath River basin has been welcomed by irrigator and environmentalist groups
Klamath Basin report sparks differing interpretations Read More »
FERC ignores salmon mandates, recommends keeping Klamath dams Associated Press article on FERC recommending to keep PacifiCorp’s four hydroelectric dams. By Jeff Barnard Associated Press November 16, 2007 GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) – Federal licensing authorities Friday recommended keeping PacifiCorp’s four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River, siding with the utility and ignoring calls
FERC ignores salmon mandates, recommends keeping Klamath dams Read More »
Judge recommends higher electric rates for Klamath irrigators Associated Press article on the possibility of Klamath basin irrigators paying more than 0.6 cents per kilowatt hour for electricity. By Jeff Barnard Associated Press November 14, 2007 GRANTS PASS, Ore. — An administrative law judge has recommended that Klamath farmers’ request for continued cut-rate electricity to pump
Judge recommends higher electric rates for Klamath irrigators Read More »
Governor Stresses need to store more water Article on Gov. Kulongoski exploring water storage options in the Umatilla Basin. By Harry Esteve Oregonian November 09, 2007 WARM SPRINGS — At a meeting with Oregon tribal leaders Thursday, Gov. Ted Kulongoski said he wants to look at building massive water storage areas in eastern Oregon
Troubled Waters, Part III: The settlement talks — path to a solution or political fix? By H. Bruce Miller Source Weekly October 11, 2007 Drive around the back roads near Klamath Falls and you’ll still come across a few hand-lettered signs left over from the spring of 2002, when federal officials shut off irrigation
Troubled Waters, Part III: The settlement talks — path to a solution or political fix? Read More »
Troubled Waters, Part II: Klamath farmers see themselves in the crosshairs By H. Bruce Miller Source Weekly October 03, 2007 KLAMATH FALLS – A strange-looking monument stands in front of City Hall on the main street of this Southern Oregon farming center. It’s a giant silver-painted bucket, standing at least 10 feet high. The
Troubled Waters, Part II: Klamath farmers see themselves in the crosshairs Read More »
Stuck in denial as the river runs dry By Steve Duin Oregonian October 25, 2007 Ten years ago, Ron Neilson, a U.S. Forest Service bioclimatologist, gave a short talk on climate change to his daughter’s class at Corvallis High School. “When I was done,” Neilson said, “I looked out across this sea of high
