[env-trinity] FW: Plan Limits Water Use in Klamath Area - LA Times today

[Josh Allen]

From: Pelican Network [mailto:rocinante at pelicannetwork.net] 
Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2005 9:48 AM
To: Klamath at pelicannetwork.net
Subject: Re: Plan Limits Water Use in Klamath Area - LA Times today

 

	Posted by Eric Wiseman

Guys and Gals- 
     The latest plan to steal water from the Trinity to help the sick
Klamath River is illegal 
as well as irresponsible. We must pause to consider what types of
biological triggers and 
cues are induced by shipping 35,000 - 50,000 AF of water down the
Trinity in August and 
September. I propose a solution...STOP MITIGATING WITH FALL-RUN CHINOOK
SALMON. The 
spring-run kings were historically the most abundant run, taste better,
and are not in the 
lower Klamath system in substantial numbers during August and September.
Kindest Regards, 
Eric Wiseman 
  

Posted by Steve Pedery 
The 2002 fish kill was not a result of low flows in the Trinity, it was
the result of the terrible conditions that the Bush administration and
the federal government continue to inflict on the Klamath.  We should be
extremely dubious of any band-aid fix that ignores the Klamath's
problems and tries to limp through the year solely with Trinity water as
the solution.  Robbing the TROD water is outrageous, but the Humboldt
water isn't a long-term solution either. 
  

Posted by Jill Geist

All, 

I continue to be astounded by the ability of DOI (BOR) to continue
ignoring Humboldt's contract water and our willingness to have that
water available for late summer/early fall release for the protection of
Trinity and Klamath fisheries! We have, and likely will continue,
submitting correspondence to the DOI that we are willing to make with
water available.  There is absolutely no need to go after TROD water. 

Jill Geist 

	Posted by Margie Whitnah

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/state/la-me-klamath11apr11,1,6252577.s
tory?coll=la-news-state 

Plan Limits Water Use in Klamath Area 
Farmers will get 70% of their normal allotment for irrigation during the

drought but fishermen and environmentalists fear ecological calamity. 

By Eric Bailey 
Times Staff Writer 

April 11, 2005 

SACRAMENTO - Facing what is shaping up to be the third-driest year on
record along the 
Klamath River, the federal government has unveiled a plan of water
releases that hits both 
fish and farmers. 

Irrigators in the fertile Klamath Basin, an agricultural swath
straddling the Oregon-California 
border, will get about 70% of their usual water allotment and are being
asked to cut use by an 
additional 15%. The plan was released Friday. 

"We're hopeful we can get everyone through the year," said Jeff
McCracken of the U.S. Bureau 
of Reclamation, which operates the sprawling network of dams and
irrigation canals in the 
West. "We're asking everyone to tighten up water usage." 

But fishermen and environmentalists say the cutbacks are
disproportionately steep for the 
river, raising the prospect of the sort of ecological calamity that in
2002 resulted in the die-off 
of 70,000 adult salmon in the lower Klamath. Low flow caused poor water
quality, which 
helped lead to an outbreak of disease. 

"Here we go again," said Steve Pedery of the Oregon Natural Resources
Council. "They're going 
through some amazing contortions to provide as much water to irrigators
as they can." 

Pedery said the Klamath National Wildlife Refuges will be particularly
hard hit. The vast 
expanse of wetlands, a major stop for rare bald eagles and migratory
birds on the Pacific 
Flyway, will receive about half what is typically needed, he said.
Meanwhile, the river - home 
to the endangered coho salmon - will see water levels sag through the
summer. 

McCracken, however, said federal water managers were well aware of
potential problems and 
would act quickly if needed to ensure fish survive as they make their
way upriver this fall. 

"We haven't had any problems for a couple of years and we're going to
continue to operate the 
system to meet everyone's needs," he said. 

Rob Crawford, a Klamath farmer in Tule Lake, Calif., took exception to
complaints by 
environmentalists. He said farmers are cooperating to conserve in every
way possible: holding 
off early irrigation, installing more efficient water systems, planting
less-thirsty crops. 

In addition, a federal program is expected to idle about 30,000 acres of
farmland, roughly 
one-tenth of the Klamath Basin agricultural acreage, this year. 

"Everyone understands how tight a water year it is," Crawford said,
adding that some 
environmentalists and fishermen remain intent on "poisoning the
process." 

Rains drenched Southern California through the winter, but the Pacific
Northwest is 
experiencing a steep drought, and the Klamath region hasn't been spared.
Snowpack, which 
provides water to the river during the summer and fall, is running about
one-third of normal. 
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