Media and Press

Oregon biologists poised to rescue Deschutes River fish as flow drops in October near Bend By The Oregonian October 7, 2014 A 2013 water draw down killed hundreds of fish stranded in a side channel of the Deschutes River south of Bend. An operation to rescue and relocate fish on the upper Deschutes River at […]

Low water exposes Emigrant Lake’s past By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune October 6, 2014 ASHLAND — As Jeff LaLande picks through the old spark plugs, brakes and other debris where Klamath Junction used to be, he thinks about those who worked at this highway service station inundated 54 years ago by Emigrant Lake. Travelers stopping

Watershed moment The U.S. and Canada prepare to renegotiate the 50-year-old Columbia River Treaty. By Marshall Swearingen High Country News October 6, 2014 Salmon have not been able to pass into the upper half of the Columbia River basin since Grand Coulee Dam, above, was constructed in the 1930’s. Restoring salmon to the upper basin

Judge: Water for Klamath salmon legal — this time Tribes split on reaction to federal ruling By Juniper Rose and Jeff Barnard Times-Standard and Associated Press October 1, 2014 A federal judge ruled Wednesday that a federal water agency did not violate the law when it made special reservoir releases last year to help salmon

Feds release emergency water to Trinity, lower Klamath rivers after deadly parasite found in fish The Times-Standard September 16, 2014 After several fish on the Lower Klamath River were confirmed on Monday to have contracted the deadly ich parasite that previously caused the massive fish die-off in 2002, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released emergency

Klamath bull trout in need of the most help Saving the species in Klamath watersheds will require several mitigation actions By LACEY JARRELL Herald & News September 13, 2014 Comment deadline Dec. 3 The public has 90 days to comment on the revised bull trout recovery draft, and then another draft will be issued. The

Court petition halts district water shutoff Irrigator group appeals; continues pumping water by Lacey Jarrell Herald & News September 6, 2014 Owners of a Klamath Project diversion canal, who were ordered to cease water deliveries, have filed a petition against the state and are still drawing irrigation water off the Klamath River. The Klamath Drainage

Rescue in the refuge 100 birds a day found ill or dead By LACEY JARRELL Herald & News September 2, 2014 Tracy Albro, a Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge biological technician, lifts dead ducks out of the water in Sump 1B, where the botulism outbreak first surfaced. (Photo by Lacey Jarrell) TULE LAKE — Waterfowl

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