[env-trinity] $72 M —EMBARGOED: Klamath MOU and funding announcement

[Tom Stokely]





*EMBARGOED UNTIL 3:00 PM ET FEBRUARY 14, 2024:*



*Interior Department Reaches Landmark Agreement with Klamath Basin Tribes,
Project Irrigators to Collaborate on Ecosystem Restoration and Water
Reliability*



*Funding from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda will support
critical restoration work, drought resilience efforts in Klamath Basin*



*WASHINGTON – *The Department of the Interior today announced a historic
agreement with the Klamath Tribes, Yurok Tribe, Karuk Tribe and Klamath
Water Users Association to advance collaborative efforts to restore the
Klamath Basin ecosystem and improve water supply reliability for Klamath
Project agriculture. The Department also announced more than $72 million in
new investments – including funding from President Biden’s Investing in
America agenda – for ecosystem restoration and agricultural infrastructure
modernization.



“The collaboration and cooperation reached today in the Klamath Basin is a
critical step forward as we work to support healthy ecosystems and water
reliability in the region for generations to come,” said *Secretary Deb
Haaland. *“Following months of consultation and discussions, we’re proud to
formalize this partnership with Tribes and irrigators and make a shared
commitment that will benefit the forests, watersheds, agriculture and
abundant populations of migratory bird and fish species that are unique to
this Basin. With new resources from President Biden’s Investing in America
agenda, we’re able to make immediate investments that will benefit the
communities and wildlife that call this place home.”



As part of today’s announcements, the Department also unveiled the Klamath
Basin Drought Resilience Keystone Initiative
<https://link.edgepilot.com/s/bdc5f1f1/bmKKPL970keYPTQ-HLliwg?u=https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/klamath-basin-fact-sheet.pdf>,
a new effort to steward investments from President Biden’s Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, and support a wide range of
restoration activities that will help recover listed species, create new
habitat for fish and birds, and rethink the way water moves across the
Klamath Basin to better align agriculture with ecosystem function. The
initiative is one of nine key conservation areas that the Department is
focusing resources towards through a new restoration and resilience
framework
<https://link.edgepilot.com/s/92e61ac7/hK381m3bR02Qf9Zhl2N2sA?u=https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/interior-department-to-take-action-to-restore-lands-and-waters.pdf>,
and comes at a critical time as the removal of four dams on the Klamath
River is underway.



*New Memorandum of Understanding to Advance Collaborative Conservation*



A newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
<https://link.edgepilot.com/s/0c7753f0/sbJ2qrRiZUSY1nBPwomARg?u=https://www.doi.gov/media/document/mou-klamath-basin>
between the Klamath Tribes, Yurok Tribe, Karuk Tribe and Klamath Water
Users Association commits the parties to working together to identify,
recommend and support projects that advance shared Klamath Basin
restoration goals, including improving water and irrigation stability and
reliability; strengthening ecosystem resilience; protecting fish
populations; and advancing drought resilience.



The MOU also commits the Department of the Interior to working across its
bureaus, other federal Departments and agencies, the states of Oregon and
California, and non-governmental partners to help secure funding and
approval for projects and actions that advance these shared goals,
including new investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and
Inflation Reduction Act.



Additionally, the agreement formally recognizes the significant value of
Indigenous Knowledge and commits the parties to incorporate it into its
restoration efforts throughout the basin.



*Investing in America Investments to Restore Klamath Basin Ecosystems*



The Interior Department today announced more than $72 million in funding
for ecosystem restoration and agricultural infrastructure modernization
throughout the Klamath Basin.



The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will dedicate $64 million for work to
restore the regional ecosystem and repair local economies in the coming
years. This investment will fully fund completion of the Klamath Falls
National Fish Hatchery by 2027, focus on innovative collaborative
conservation in the Sprague River watershed, and continue implementation of
Tribally led projects throughout the Basin. As part of the $64 million
investment, $25 million will be made available for co-developed restoration
projects in the Klamath Basin that will help resolve ongoing water-related
challenges and invest in water stability and restoration efforts throughout
the region. The full project list may be found on the Service’s website
<https://link.edgepilot.com/s/eed26668/l65tYG_tOEO2TycQce3HdQ?u=https://www.fws.gov/program/klamath-basin-project-awards>
.



Additionally, the Service will provide $4 million to support the
14,000-acre Agency-Barnes wetland restoration project at Upper Klamath
National Wildlife Refuge, as well as $1.8 million to support a feasibility
analysis of modifications to water supply infrastructure in Klamath
Drainage District for the benefit of fish, wildlife, and farms.



The Service will also engage Klamath Basin conservation partners in the
coming year to develop a conservation and restoration project database and
interactive map. This tool will track and describe conservation work in the
Klamath Basin for the public and help to coordinate restoration efforts
among partners in the Basin. It will also house and provide access to
important data sets that can help drive long-term restoration success and
support science and research efforts.



With resources provided by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda,
the Bureau of Reclamation is also establishing a robust drought resilience
program for basins experiencing long-term drought and the impacts of
climate change – including throughout the Klamath Basin. In the coming
months, Reclamation will announce significant additional funding throughout
the region to facilitate multi-year planning and alignment of water supply
and demand as well as to address critical infrastructure needs.
Additionally, Reclamation is funding $2.9 million to the Klamath Tribes,
Yurok Tribe, Hoopa Valley Tribe, Karuk Tribe and Modoc Nation for projects
that restore watersheds and revitalize water infrastructure.



*###*







--

Matthew J. Strickler

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks

(202) 208-3047

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