Media and Press

Gold Hill Irrigation District Pipeline Project Underway KTVL-TV August 25, 2014 GOLD HILL, Ore. – Construction on improvements to the Gold Hill irrigation District’s Diversion Dam are underway. Crews are working to place a pipeline underground to replace nearly a century old technology. Water Watch, a non-profit organization, teamed up with the irrigation district to […]

Those without senior water rights left high and dry Landowners along small streams like Evans Creek are getting their irrigation water shut off based on Oregon’s water-rights law  By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune August 17, 2014 WIMER — For nearly four decades, Ed and Claudia Wagner have tended to their family orchard of about two

Basin water allocation tightens Reservoirs drawn down to their limits by Lacey Jarrell Herald & News August 6, 2014 The intense, but brief, rain events during recent thunderstorms have done little to improve the Basin’s water outlook. Marc Spilde, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Medford, said Monday night’s showers registered .12 inches

Diseased fish found in Klamath River By LACEY JARRELL Herald & News August 5, 2014 More than three-quarters of juvenile chinook salmon recently surveyed in the Klamath River are diseased, according to a report by the California-Nevada Fish Health Center. The center has examined juvenile salmon from four reaches of the Klamath River since March.

Sen. Ron Wyden tries new legislative route for stalled Oregon timber, Klamath Basin bills by Jeff Mapes The Oregonian July 31, 2014 Sen. Ron Wyden announced a new legislative gambit Thursday aimed at unsticking two key Oregon bills — dealing with timber levels in western Oregon and water issues in the Klamath Basin — that

Proposed water rule targets Klamath County by Lyle Ahrens KOBI-TV July 31, 2014 A rule proposed by the state could place big limitations on the use of water wells serving Klamath Falls during a drought, and the rule would only apply to Klamath County. Klamath Falls City Manager Nathan Cherpeski believes a proposed ruling by

Salmon get more water only if die-off starts Though a biologist says that will be too late for those in the Trinity and Klamath rivers By Jeff Barnard The Associated Press July 31, 2014 GRANTS PASS — A federal agency said Wednesday it will release extra water into Northern California’s Klamath and Trinity rivers once

Drought Takes A Toll On Salmon by Lacey Jarrell Herald & News July 30, 2014 The effects of drought are trickling down to Klamath Basin fisheries. A recent survey of 90 miles of the Salmon River found 55 dead adult salmon and about 300 dead juveniles, according to Sara Borok, an environmental scientist for the

Klamath River salmon to get fresh water after tribes pressure Bureau of Reclamation By The Associated Press August 22, 2014 The Trinity River flowing below the Lewiston Dam outside Lewiston, Calif. (Photo by Jeff Barnard) A federal agency has decided to boost releases of cool clean water into Northern California’s Klamath River to prevent a

Mining foes speak Public has 2 weeks to weigh in on strip mining in watershed by Adam Spencer The Triplicate June 30, 2014 The Oregon Water Resources Department is accepting public comment until July 8 on an application to use surface water for exploratory drilling in the North Fork Smith River watershed with the intent of operating

Not Much Refuge In Klamath Basin For Migratory Birds By Devan Schwartz OPB June 10, 2014 Parched canal in the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge The nation’s original waterfowl refuge may be too dry this year to provide much hospitality for migratory birds arriving in the Klamath Basin. You could blame it on the region’s

A Thirst for Water: Salmon, steelhead struggle for life in Bear Creek Salmon, steelhead struggle for life in parts of drought-stricken Bear Creek By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune June 8, 2014 Juvenile salmon and steelhead attempt to jump up small waterfalls and riffles to escape a warm and oxygen-depleted Bear Creek in Medford. Mail Tribune

Stakeholders tout Klamath basin deal Comprehensive agreement shares burden of water shortage, repairing ecosystem By Andrew Clevenger The Bulletin June 4, 2014 WASHINGTON — The water-sharing deal for the Klamath River Basin under consideration by the U.S. Senate could be a model for other Western states facing water shortages, stakeholders said Tuesday. After decades of

Basin water bill goes before Senate Legislation introduced to make agreements reality By LACEY JARRELL Herald & News May 22, 2014 The much-anticipated Klamath Basin water bill aimed at resolving decades-old water disputes in the Basin was introduced in the U.S. Senate Wednesday. The proposed law was introduced Wednesday by Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and

Senators introduce Klamath Basin agreement bill Legislation formalizes stakeholder agreement on water usage By Andrew Clevenger The Bulletin May 22, 2014 WASHINGTON — Lawmakers from Oregon and California introduced legislation in the Senate on Wednesday that formalizes the Upper Klamath Basin Comprehensive Agreement struck last month. Under the deal, users above Upper Klamath Lake agree

Elk Creek lands will open as park Elk Creek lands will become park with swimming holes, seven miles of trails By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune May 14, 2014 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers natural resource specialist Justin Stegall walks across a newly constructed bridge into the Elk Creek project area Tuesday. About seven miles of

To prevent another Formosa disaster, block new nickel mines By Tim Palmer Medford Mail Tribune Guest Opinion May 13, 2014 Making the news, Rep. Peter DeFazio on April 17 toured the remains of the Formosa copper mine in the South Umpqua watershed near Riddle, south of Roseburg. The mine was operated by a Canadian company

Lack of bird refuges plan spurs lawsuit By LACEY JARRELL Klamath Falls Herald & News April 25, 2014 Three conservation groups filed a lawsuit Thursday against the federal wildlife agency tasked with developing new management tools for Klamath Basin wildlife refuges. According to a news release, the three groups — the Audubon Society of Portland,

Two groups weigh in against accord By LEE JUILLERAT Klamath Falls Herald & News April 19, 2014 Two groups expressed opposition to the Upper Klamath Basin Comprehensive Agreement signed Friday during ceremonies at Collier Memorial State Park. In a press release, Hoopa Indian Tribe leaders said they oppose the agreement because it is linked to

Say ‘No’ on water district measure: Editorial endorsement By The Oregonian Editorial Board April 12, 2014 The quote assigned to Mark Twain, though there is no proof he ever said it, now more than ever seems true: Whiskey’s for drinking, water’s for fighting. The water war in Portland this year is over who runs the

EPA introduces stream and wetlands rule Proposal seeks to clarify definitions under Clean Water Act By Andrew Clevenger The Bulletin March 26, 2014 WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency unveiled Tuesday its proposed new rule that seeks to clarify the definition of public waters protected under the federal Clean Water Act. The new rule would

Protecting the McKenzie State was right to reject bid for water rights Eugene Register Guard Editorial March 18, 2014 The McKenzie River is one of Oregon’s most beloved waterways. Few, if any, of the state’s many rivers are as popular with tourists, fishermen, boaters, hikers and the nonstop flow of drive-by gawkers who cruise past

As Portland’s largest water users bankroll utility district campaign, opponents question who benefits By Brad Schmidt The Oregonian March 28, 2014 The biggest user of water in Portland is also the largest financial backer of a May ballot measure to strip utility rate-setting responsibility from the Portland City Council. Siltronic Corp., which makes silicon wafers

State rejects water rights bid The Willamette Water Co. had sought to be able to take 22 million gallons a day from the McKenzie River By Christian Wihtol The Register-Guard MARCH 15, 2014 Capping a McKenzie River water rights dispute that has dragged on for more than five years, the State Water Resources Department formally

Bend begins water project A section of new Bridge Creek pipeline will soon be installed By Hillary Borrud The Bulletin March 14, 2014 Protester Allie Morgan holds a sign during the Bend water project pipeline groundbreaking. (Andy Tullis/The Bulletin) Bend officials said Thursday they hope future generations will appreciate the controversial Bridge Creek water project,

Controversial McKenzie Water Permit Denied BY CAMILLA MORTENSEN EUGENE WEEKLY MARCH 13, 2014 Though speculating on water is illegal, WaterWatch of Oregon says Willamette Water Company was looking to do just that back in 2008 when it applied for a permit to withdraw 22 million gallons per day from the McKenzie River. On March 7,

State Denies McKenzie River Water Rights Application By JES BURNS KLCC March 11, 2014 The Veneta-based Willamette Water Company applied for rights to 34 cfs – or about 22 million gallons per day – from the McKenzie River. In 2012, after a challenge from conservation group Water Watch of Oregon, an administrative law judge ruled

Klamath Tribes And Ranchers Seek Water Solutions In New Agreement By Devan Schwartz OPB March 5, 2014 An agreement announced Wednesday between ranchers and Native American tribes seeks to resolve contentious water rights issues in the Klamath Basin, a drought-ridden region spanning southern Oregon and northern California. Amidst a deep drought last summer, the Klamath

Giving nature a jolt PacifiCorp plants on Link River to be decommissioned By LACEY JARRELL Herald & News March 2, 2014 Endangered Lost River and shortnose sucker may experience a boost in populations after two hydroelectric facilities on the Link River are decommissioned this month. The facilities, the West Side and East Side powerhouses, are

Groups seek to remove old dams on Evans Creek Two old dams still block prime spawning habitat on the Rogue River tributary; groups hope to get them removed next year March 2, 2014 By Mark Freeman Medford Mail Tribune Two of Oregon’s worst wild fish barriers could be removed from Evans Creek as early as

Bend water project foes won’t appeal ruling Pipeline replacement can proceed until summer hearing KTVZ February 14, 2014 Opponents of Bend’s planned $23 million water pipeline replacement project said Saturday they won’t appeal a federal judge’s ruling allowing the work to start, and instead will prepare for a later court hearing, focusing on their objections

Second fish due for removal from endangered list The Modoc sucker, found only in a small geographic area, has rebounded in population By Jeff Barnard The Associated Press February 13, 2014 The Modoc sucker, found only in desert creeks of Southern Oregon and Northern California (AP Photo/USFWS) A small fish found in desert creeks of

In My View: The city is the cause of its own mistakes By Charlie Ringo The Bend Bulletin January 25, 2014 The Bulletin’s editorial of Dec. 24 regarding the city’s Bridge Creek piping project, “$1.9 million does not disappear,” repeats the city of Bend’s assertion that “delays brought on in large part by LandWatch cost

Parties To Negotiate Future Of Bend’s Water by David Nogueras OPB January 23, 2014 During a hearing on Thursday at U.S. District Court in Eugene, parties involved in a fight over the future of Bend’s water supply announced that they have agreed to enter settlement talks. The city planned to break ground on the project

Pipe opponents fire back in Bend surface water suit Groups say city has failed to address environmental impacts By Scott Hammers The Bend Bulletin January 15, 2014 Environmental groups opposed to Bend’s proposed surface water improvement project argue the city is attempting “to create a crisis where there is none” in a response filed in

Cottage Grove considers appeal The city’s quantity of water from the Row River is the focus of an ongoing court case By Serena Markstrom The Register-Guard January 14, 2014 COTTAGE GROVE — The City Council on Monday moved closer to a possible appeal of a December ruling by the Oregon Court of Appeals that could

Water fallout in Upper Basin Tax office sends refunds to shut-off irrigated ranches By SAMANTHA TIPLER Klamath Falls Herald & News January 7, 2014 The dry water year and the implementation of adjudication is affecting Klamath County again, this time on the tax rolls. Last week, the Klamath County assessor’s office and the tax collector’s

Ruling affects Cottage Grove water The city must develop a plan to protect salmon on the Row River and possibly restrict future draws By Christian Wihtol The Register-Guard December 22, 2013 COTTAGE GROVE — The city must create a plan to reduce water wastage by the Cottage Grove municipal water system and its customers, and

U.S. sets stance for Columbia River bargaining By Gosia Wozniacka Associated Press December 13, 2013 PORTLAND — The United States has staked out its position for potential negotiations with Canada over a treaty governing hydropower and flood control on the Columbia River and seeks to keep more of the energy produced at dams. The final

Wyden, Merkley intro Crooked River water bill House OK’d similar legislation; Walden hopeful By KTVZ.COM news sources November 21, 2013 Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., joined with Crooked River stakeholders Thursday to introduce the Crooked River Collaborative Water Security Act of 2013, which would provide a framework for improving the management of water