"Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act." Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Christian Pastor executed by Nazi Germany 1945

***Klamath Dam Removal, KBRA, current and failed agreements, related articles, letters, videos, press releases, documents, and Who's Who

KBC's KRRC / Klamath River Renewal Corporation (Dam Destruction Group) Page

!!! JOIN OUR KLAMATH BASIN CRISIS FACEBOOK PAGE FOR LATEST KLAMATH BASIN RESOURCE USERS' NEWS AND DISCUSSIONS
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Chief Executive Officer KRRC Mark Bransom's FICTION, Rancher Rex Cozzalio's FACTS regarding Klamath Hydroelectric Dam Destruction "Benefits" 3/13/23. "(Negligible) public support...suckers are dying from HIGH lake levels...anadromous salmon were NEVER known in numbers in the Upper Basin for at LEAST the last 8,000 YEARS...impassible reefs would have to be blasted for fish to reach upper basin...further ill-fated mandates against Upper Basin and Klamath watershed resident agricultural production that supports it all..."

Klamath Irrigation District Document in February 2023 Newsletter: "Analysis of Dr. Thomas Hardy Flow Studies PH 1 and PH 2 being utilized as the "best available science" for flows in the Klamath River to protect the threatened Southern Oregon Northern California Coast coho salmon." It includes Dr. Hardy Contracts, and Payments from Bureau of Indian Affairs, to develop evidence to support Yurok water rights in Klamath Adjudication and elevated flows. It has curtailed water to Klamath Reclamation Project, and been used to promote destroying Klamath Hydroelectric dams via KBRA/Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement. Those rejecting Hardy's "science" were the National Research Council which is the Best Available Science in our country, and many unbiased scientists. 80+ % of Klamath and Siskiyou Counties' constituents oppose destruction of Klamath Dams, the largest Dam Destruction in the world. Posted 3/11/23.   For Dr. Hardy page, go HERE

PAYMENTS to Dr. Thomas Hardy by BIA to create testimony for Klamath Basin Adjudication and to curtail water to Klamath Reclamation Project, posted to KBC 3/10/23.
$25,000, $15,608, $79,997, $50,000, $550,860, $115,000 ......................

"...Bureau of Indian Affairs (hired) Dr. Thomas Hardy to develop evidence to support the Yurok water rights claim in the Klamath Adjudication."   *** This flawed science is still being used to create high Klamath Lake levels and Klamath River flows, stealing our stored irrigation water. Klamath Irrigation District February 2023 Newsletter. 

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$15 million available for Klamath Basin restoration projects, H&N, posted to KBC 3/5/23. "Up to $15 million is being made available for ecosystem restoration activities that address high-priority Klamath Basin challenges in Southern Oregon and Northern California by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service...the Klamath Basin set to receive $162 million throughout five years to “restore the regional ecosystem and repair local economies...In 2022, F&WS provided an initial $16 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund 32 Klamath Basin ecosystem restoration projects and $10 million to expand the Klamath Falls National Fish Hatchery, which will increase rearing capacity and help prevent the extinction of two federally listed species endemic, shortnose and Lost River sucker fish, to the Klamath Basin..." KBC NOTE: So for the past 2 years the BOR/Bureau of Reclamation dewatered/decimated our farms and wildlife refuges (which hosted 433 species of wildlife) to supposedly save two species of suckers. This was after they spent more than $3M to lure Caspian Terns/fish predators to Tule Lake refuge because the terns in the Columbia River were consuming approximately 6 million to 25 million salmonid smolts per year. Somehow now our baby suckers are disappearing??  http://klamathbasincrisis.org/refuges/refugestoc.htm. So the BOR steals irrigators' stored water to 'save the suckers.'
   Klamath Basin received $10 million for a fish hatchery for suckers to " help prevent the extinction of two federally listed species," however, they will rip out the Klamath River fish hatchery for salmon because the Tribes, government agencies and NGOs said that hatchery fish aren't as good as wild fish. So the Tribes, government agencies and NGOs excuse to demolish the Klamath River hydro dams is supposedly to keep the salmon from going extinct, despite the millions of salmon being produced in the hatchery that they will rip out. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Klamath Tribes file notice to sue government (to TAKE Klamath Farmers' STORED water, and Yurok Tribes is challenging too), Capital Press, posted to KBC 3/5/23. "Klamath Tribes filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue the Bureau of Reclamation on Jan. 30, arguing the agency is failing to meet minimum water requirements in Upper Klamath Lake for C’waam and Koptu — two species of critically endangered sucker fish. At the same time, the Yurok Tribe in northern California is also challenging Reclamation’s latest water proposal to protect salmon in the lower Klamath River. The result could be that little to no Project water is available for irrigators this summer, leaving thousands of acres of productive farmland dry."

Oregon should try cloud seeding, FOLLOWED BY: Oregon senator wants state to investigate cloud seeding to alleviate drought, Capital Press View, posted to KBC 3/5/23. "Idaho, which has had a successful cloud seeding program for 20 years, has boosted the snowpack in four river basins by 10% to 12%. That in turn boosted the state’s river flows by 1.24 million acre-feet."

 

FERC Order granting Extension of time to file certified copies of all instruments of conveyance, to KRRC, PacifiCorp, Oregon, California, posted to KBC 2/23/23.

 

Change Is Happening In Tule Lake, Basin Ag News H&N, February 2023 by Moss Driscoll, KWUA. "According to drill core samples from the former lakebed, it has probably been at least 2.4 million years since Tule Lake has been as dry as it is today. However, those same drill cores also indicate that water levels in Tule Lake have always varied, as the region’s climate and precipitation patterns have shifted."

Oregon Water Resources Department says drought permits 'unlikely'. H&N, posted to KBC 2/23/23.  KBC NOTE: The Bureau of Reclamation illegally took our stored irrigation water, sent it to the ocean, forbade irrigators from using our water, then OWRD probably wil shut off the Oregon wells.

Temporary adjustments coming to Iron Gate Dam, H&N, posted to KBC 2/23/23.
 

Klamath Irrigation District testimony by KID Manager Gene Souza in opposition to Oregon House Bill 2647 with Amendment 1, FOLLOWED BY HB2647, posted to KBC 2/18/23. "Klamath Irrigation District (District) is in opposition to HB 2647 as amended. Klamath Irrigation District is a special government district operated under Oregon Revised Statute 545. The District is responsible for distributing the naturally nutrient rich waters of the Klamath Basin to agricultural farm land for beneficial use."

 

Winter Wings speaker Mark Bransom outlines benefits of removing Klamath River dams, H&N 2/17/23, followed by response of KID Manager Gene Souza.
Bransom: "The upcoming dam removal project has the potential to benefit not only aquatic species but also improve prosperity of agriculture and recreation in the Klamath Basin..."
KBC NOTE in response: The 4 Klamath Dams Bransom boasts of destroying provide power to 70,000 households. The 20 MILLION CUBIC YARDS of toxic sediment behind the dams will obliterate any fish or habitat or recreation in it's way. The beautiful lakes with hundreds of wildlife species including many that are endangered will be drained and replaced with tons of sediment. The local communities will lose their dam lake's/reservoir's recreation and famous fishing and tourism supporting Siskiyou County's economy. The reservoirs that support a hatchery producing millions of salmon will be gone as well as flood prevention and water for firefighting that has saved the river communities (including tribal lands) from wildfires. Unlike the historically putrid mineral-laden Klamath Lake water, the dam reservoirs provide deep cold water for downriver fish. Our local counties voted overwhelmingly against dam removal as well as our local representatives. Department of Interior fired the ethics officer, a lead scientist who said the science does not support destroying the dams. When Congress didn't pass the demolition plan, the gov't agencies and NGOs bypassed Congress so Oregon and California taxpayers foot the bill. By the way, the hundreds of government agencies and NGOs do not live near our rural communities.

Industry leaders back legislation to reverse Biden WOTUS rule, Capito Press Release, posted to KBC 2/18/23. "U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led all 48 of her Senate Republican colleagues in introducing a formal challenge to the Biden administration’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule...An identical resolution was introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.-06), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and is cosponsored by more than 150 House members...(Biden's WOTUS would have)enormous impacts on small businesses, manufacturers, farmers, home and infrastructure builders, local communities, water districts, and private property owners"

< Gene Souza, Klamath Irrigation District Executive Director, responds to court order on Facebook: "2/7/23: Souza: "Another loss for salmon...20+ years of doing the same thing... and some downriver folks are excited to hear Chinook may be soon listed by the ESA using this flawed and biased science. Judge Orrick just undermined the Congressional intent of Section 8 of the ESA and simultaneously eliminated over 40 years of the Klamath River Adjudication establishing rights and priorities under the law. Our refuges have been taken off life support of the water that was naturally there for the Pacific Flyway. What a tragic death our ecosystems and communities will suffer." Klamath Reclamation Project: District court finds that the ESA preempts state agency’s order enforcing state water law, Somach, Simmons & Dunn 2/6/23. FOLLOWED BY RESPONSES by Gene Souza, Klamath Irrigation District Executive Director, from Klamath Basin Crisis Facebook Page regarding court order to obliterate Klamath Project irrigators water rights.    "...On February 6, 2023, the District Court for the Northern District of California issued its order on pending motions for summary judgment in Yurok Tribe, et al. v. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, et al...ruling that the Endangered Species Act...preempts an order issued by the Oregon Water Resources Department that prohibits the Reclamation from releasing water stored by the Klamath Project...for non-irrigation purposes..."

Farm Bureau, others go to court over new WOTUS rule, Capital Press, posted to KBC 2/5/23. "The rule makes clear the agencies “are determined to exert (Clean Water Act) jurisdiction over a staggering range of dry land and water features — whether large or small; permanent, intermittent, or ephemeral; flowing or stagnant; natural or manmade; interstate or intrastate; and no matter how remote from or lacking in a physical connection to actual navigable waters,” the lawsuit states."

Congressman LaMalfa Introduces the ‘Protect Our Water Rights’ Act
with responses by founder of Klamath Forest Alliance and Sierra Club Water Resource Chair Felice Pace (guy in picture on right), Klamath Irrigation District Manager and Executive Director Gene Souza, and Siskiyou County Water Users Association Board Member Chrissie Reynolds, posted to KBC 1/29/23. "Mandates 100% contract water deliveries to water districts by Reclamation in normal or above normal precipitation years and guarantees additional water in dry years...Requires the Bureau of Reclamation to assess and report on what debt is still owed by the irrigators of the Klamath Project...Prohibits the Bureau of Reclamation from releasing stored water created by the Klamath Project in Upper Klamath Lake, except for agricultural and refuge purposes associated with State-adjudicated water rights, and to otherwise maximize total storage volume in Upper Klamath Lake."  

 

Left: Tommy Williams, NOAA, Right: RES/Resource Environmental Solutions geologist Dave Coffman
Panel Discussion on Klamath Dam Removal Science and Monitoring, posted to KBC 1/29/23. Here are a few quotes from some of the ecoterrorist government agencies’ lies about the “benefits” of Klamath Dam destruction experiment, and horrific truths, and lack of information of what the outcome will be, by USGS, NOAA, Yurok Tribe, RES. Please listen closely to this video: Mike Belchik, senior fish biologist for Yurok Tribe: “Now Keno dam is managed for water level only…to keep infrastructure working for the agricultural program…that’s no longer going to be the case. Keno is going to have to be managed for steadyish flow as the water level’s gunna be maintained. ..The day to day flows for lake levels or deliveries to agriculture…that has not been set…the Bureau of Reclamation …doesn’t have any of those plans…”

 U.S. House of Representatives to Secretaries Haaland, Vilsack, Raimondo and Chair Mallory pledging oversight, 1/25/23. "our Republican majority will be using every available resource at our disposal to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in the departments and offices under your purview." The Congressmen don't need to look far for it: Was it "fraud, waste and abuse when they fired Dr Houser, top scientist in DC, the ETHICS scientist? When he saw the contrived science by gov't scientists who were making science to justify dam removal and he was told that the administration wanted the dams out, wasn't that fraud and abuse? When they trashed our decades long Klamath River Compact, the head of it is now on KRRC, so they bipassed congress and trashed the will of the citizens of Klamath and Siskiyou Counties along with our representatives, wasn't that fraud, and abuse of the citizens and rule of law? They dewatered the most important wildlife refuges in the Pacific Flyway the past two years, and with our stored water they sent it to the ocean, for months, depriving irrigators of their legally stored water...that's abuse. They paid millions of dollars to farmers not to farm. So, when will our wasted and abused community see justice? Lying about fish "returning" to habitat in Upper Basin's warm water assuming they historically climbed 30' natural reefs, the list goes on.

 Copco Lake Fire Chief Francis Gill, property and store owner, responds to Siskiyou County Water Users Association President Richard Marshall in this 10 minute video about the resulting devastation following Klamath dam destruction, posted to KBC 1/29/23. Gill: "After Klamath dam destruction, salmon are “...going to go over low running waterfall that’s 30-40’ tall; it doesn’t seem possible to me...” Copco Lake Fire Chief Francis Gill, property and store owner, responds to Siskiyou County Water Users Association President in this 10 minute video about the resulting devastation."

Letter to Bureau of Reclamation from KWUA /  Klamath Water Users Association regarding the Bureau's plan to deny Klamath Project Irrigators and Tulelake Wildlife Refuges water in 2023, regardless of the projected excess of available water in irrigators' water storage, 1/19/23. "The Klamath Basin is presently at 121 percent of normal, in terms of snow water equivalent...Yet amidst these encouraging hydrologic conditions, Reclamation’s current plan does not include delivering a drop of water for Project purposes." 

President of Siskiyou County Water Users Association / SCWUA Richard Marshall responds to radio host Bill Meyer and dozens of citizens to be harmed by Klamath Dam destruction regarding Oregon and California funding the destruction, agenda vs science, and Klamath River Compact, posted to KBC 1/14/23

Letter from Siskiyou County Water Users Association, and list of KRRC / Klamath River Renewal Corporation (dam destruction) directors, posted to KBC 1/14/23. "KRRC amended its Bylaws in November 22, 2022 and provided for Board members to be appointed by States of Oregon and California. Apparently with the funding and license guarantees made by Oregon and California the Bylaws were revised to provide greater accountability to the States.  Attached is the new revised Board of Directors for KRRC.  Note the appointed officers by California and Oregon.  This further identifies the contemplated Dam Removal as a State Project and further challenges the Compact Clause of the U.S. Constitution."

River Democracy Act more about land than water, Capital Press, posted to KBC 1/13/23. The sponsors are Democrat "Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley...3,215 miles is...a little more than the distance from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine. That’s in addition to the 2,173 miles of Oregon rivers already designated wild and scenic. That’s 19 rivers..."

Water delivery cuts hurt farmers, fail to benefit fish, AgAlert CFBF by Siskiyou County Farm Bureau President Ryan Walker, posted to KBC 1/13/22. "...one-size-fit-all mandates from policymakers in Sacramento are destined to fail. We need solutions driven by local stakeholders who can consider the unique function and resources of each watershed."
 

Klamath River dam removal project faces lawsuit, H&N, posted to KBC 1/7/23. "Siskiyou County Water Users Association board member Anthony Intiso has filed a lawsuit against Wade Crowfoot, the secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, claiming Crowfoot is illegally using taxpayer money to fund the historic project..."

Klamath dams provide precedent for Snake River dams, Capital Press by 4th generation rancher Rex Cozzalio from Hornbrook, followed by Snake River ag stakeholders (Miller) comment on Klamath dam removal, posted to KBC 1/7/22. "Mr. Miller of Northwest River Partners believes 'anyone who goes beyond the headlines” will recognize that the Klamath decision won’t have implications for the Snake River dams. Sadly, that statement would indicate Mr. Miller has only read the special interest media headlines...' "
< Copco No. 1 Dam on the Klamath River near Hornbrook, Calif., is one of four dams slated for removal  

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hebrews 12:1–2, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith”

$5000 reward offered for information on death of wolf. OR103 found dead Oct. 6 near Upper Klamath Lake
"Earlier this year, FWS said OR103 killed three cattle in the Doak Mountain area near Klamath Falls."
FOLLOWED BY: Rogue Pack injures cow in Wood River Valley 
 H&N, posted to KBC 12/31/22.
See our WOLF PAGE for more on wolves decimating livestock in Klamath County and beyond. "The state Department of Fish and Wildlife has confirmed 50 wolf attacks so far in 2022...95 in 2021"

Letter from 4^th generation rancher Rex Cozzalio from Hornbrook, on the Klamath River, to Channel 12 KDRV regarding Klamath Hydroelectric Dam destruction bias in the media, posted to KBC 12/31/22

Cozzalio reached out to media who grudgingly offer him a small fraction of, if any, time to present the devastation to humans, fish, wildlife, communities if the Klamath Dams are destroyed, the largest known dam destruction in the world. Cozzalio details the lies and facts: “…well over 600 largely ‘peer reviewed’ references, area specific multigenerational experience, historical documentation, and a decade of EMPIRICAL studies REFUTE Special Interest claimed destruction ‘benefits’ and instead predicts the single premise FAILURE and damages from the biggest most factually unsupported ‘experiment’ of all time.”

Lars Larson

Gene Souza

Another Blackmail by ecoterrorist government agency Bureau of Reclamation. National talk show host Lars Larson interviewed Klamath Irrigation District Manager Gene Souza regarding Bureau of Reclamation blackmailing Klamath Farmers while illegally denying them their stored water last August. Posted to KBC 12/31/22 https://soundcloud.com/thelarslarsonshow/gene-souza-is-bidens-interior-department-putting-oregons-farmers-at-risk?in=thelarslarsonshow/sets/interviews-2022e&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

 

Another dam mystery, by Bob Kaster, posted to KBC 12/31/22. "...the removal of the (Klamath) dams and the resulting sediment release (20 million cubic yards) will have an adverse effect on the 'Wild and Scenic River values,' and that FERC’s own Environment Impact Statement expressly acknowledges 763 times that it will do so. He asks the court to declare, among other things, that the proposed expenditure of $250 million of taxpayer funds toward dam destruction violates the provisions of the Bond Act itself and is therefore illegal..."

PRESS RELEASE: Siskiyou County Water Users Association (SCWUA) filed California Taxpayer Complaint regarding $250M to destroy Klamath Dams in Wild and Scenic designated area December 12, 2022

Letter from 4th Generation Hornbrook, CA rancher Rex Cozzalio to FERC / Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regarding Klamath Dam destruction 12/12/22 "Congratulations!   As predicted in my recent unacknowledged and most likely unread submission, you have held tight to policy-directed blinders in imposing unaccountable special interest devastation upon the Klamath Region, nullifying literal lifetimes of experience and knowledgeable sacrifice ENHANCING the ‘naturally occurring’ Klamath environment, INCLUDING fisheries..."

 

 

Dam celebration, Pending removal of Klamath River structures feted, H&N 12/10/22. "Haaland, the first Native American Interior Department secretary, praised ongoing efforts to remove the dams,...saying, “Clean water, healthy forests and fertile land made the Klamath River Basin and its surrounding watershed a home to tribal communities, productive agriculture, and a place where abundant populations of migratory birds, suckers, salmon and other fish could thrive. We must take urgent and necessary action to protect this special place.” "about $5.8 million is being made available to Klamath Rivers tribes...Haaland said the funding supplements nearly $26 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated this year for Klamath Basin restoration projects."
KBC NOTE: THE ECOTERRORISTS ARE WINNING. Historically water going down the river from Klamath Lake was so bad horses couldn't drink from it according to historic journals. The Bureau of Reclamation dewatered our beautiful refuges in 2021-2022 (which included 433 species of wildlife including suckers) in the guise of saving suckers. Destroying dams will release more than 20 million cubic yards of sediment, destroy deep dam reservoirs which cool the warm Klamath water for salmon and and are used for firefighting, and diminish agriculture.
Our local and regional representatives, including our CA and OR US Congressmen, and the vast majority of our population oppose hydroelectric dam removal. Those most effected by dam destruction, farmers, ranchers, and the people living along the dam reservoirs, were not invited to their meeting. Klamath Irrigation District Manager and KWUA member Gene Souza, along with SCWUA members, were forbidden to attend and turned away at the gate near the exclusive "celebration". Most reporters did not even stop to ask the mostly elderly locals, holding signs standing in the freezing weather for four hours, why they opposed dam removal. Our government and media have abandoned us dumb expendable farmers and ranchers and veterans.

< a fresh Miller Lake lamprey wound is found on a brown trout caught by Jordan Ortega. Photo by Jordan Ortega
Lamprey found in (Klamath County's) Miller Lake — the first findings since the 1950s, H&N, posted to KBC 12/2/22. "In the Lake, the report says, “it’s likely fish are not killed by lamprey feeding on them....Miller Lake lamprey were nearly eliminated from the lake in the 1950s...fish biologists thought the lamprey harmed other game fish...Research team partners have been capturing Miller Lake lamprey downstream of the lake. Captured lamprey are moved to streams above the lake. The goal has been to have the captured lamprey return to Miller Lake."

Modoc Nation: New chief focused on moving forward, H&N, posted to KBC 12/2/22. "...formerly known as the Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma...the goal is to improve and develop the tribe’s California lands, which include about 1,200 acres at and near the Tulelake Airport...the tribe’s primary goal for its far northern California lands is focused on rehabilitating about 1,600 acres of sagebrush range lands the tribe has purchased near north of Lava Beds for a commercial bison herd. The tribe, according to its stewardship proposal, is also hoping to buy another 700-plus-acres north of the existing tribal-owned property..."

<Photo of Klamath Lake water storage
Water rules add to challenges for farmers, CFBF Ag Alert, posted to KBC 12/2/22. "...more farmers are feeling the added pinch of groundwater regulations as local agencies implement plans that include pumping limits and new fees to balance long-term groundwater resources as required by the state..." KBC NOTE: We Klamath Project irrigators paid in full for the Klamath Reclamation Project for water storage in Klamath Lake to be used to irrigate crops and massive bird refuges, reused 9 times, then sent down the Klamath River and into the ocean. Bureau of Reclamation has cut off irrigators from their stored water, decimating farms and National Wildlife Refuges, sending the water directly down the Klamath River into the ocean, way more than mandated for "endangered" suckers. In our deeds we have water rights to our stored water forever, along with rights to the groundwater under our land. Now that the Bureau  illegally took our stored water, California can illegally regulate groundwater as thousands of acres of land lie fallow. Our Klamath Lake storage is full, and at times this summer Klamath River was at flood stage because the Bureau denied us our stored water. So far within Tulelake Irrigation District, our groundwater is not at a critical stage yet to be regulated.

A plan to fill Upper Klamath Lake 11/22/22, Klamath Water Users Association 11/22/22. "...for the fish and the farmers alike, the last three years have more thanconclusively demonstrated that the alternative of not filling the lake is far worse than short-term (and likely beneficial) reductions in river flows. The fact is, there is no possible worse outcome
for the Klamath Basin than repeating what has transpired over the last three years."

Letter from Rex Cozzalio, 4th generation rancher on the Klamath River at Hornbrook, to FERC/Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner Glick regarding the massive destruction and costs to the communities, ecosystems, salmon, and people if Klamath dams are destroyed. Days later FERC approved destroying Klamath River dams, despite science and vast opposition. "ALL future water MUST come from ‘unnaturally’ stored Upper Klamath Lake water OWNED BY and TAKEN FROM Upper Basin residents during the most CRITICAL times for crop production, causing massive ADDITIONAL HARM to the Upper Basin." posted to KBC 11/20/22

*Letter by Klamath Irrigation District Manager Gene Souza regarding FERC's decision to allow destruction of Klamath River hydroelectric dams 11/17/22

*11/17/22 - Today FERC/Federal Energy Regulatory Commission voted to destroy Klamath River hydroelectric dams. < Here are hundreds of letters, petitions, documents, of farmers and ranchers, their communities and representatives expressing their horror at the concept of destroying our dams which will effect our irrigation water supple, habitat and lives of hundreds of species, many endangered, in and near the dam reservoirs, fire fighting water, and the economy of the entire Siskiyou County.

State of emergency: More than 100 wells now dry in Klamath County, H&N, posted to KBC 11/12/22. KBC NOTE: Wells have gone dry in the Modoc and Siskiyou Counties in the Klamath Project too. The Bureau of Reclamation withheld from farms our stored irrigation water in Klamath Lake far above the Endangered Species Act mandates for 2 species of suckers. That water supplies irrigation water to thousands of acres of Klamath Project farms, that then goes to our National Wildlife Refuges which the Bureau also dewatered, decimating habitat for 433 species of wildlife. More than 1000 miles of drain ditches and canals exist in the Klamath Reclamation Project supplying habitat and water for the most important stop on the Pacific Flyway for migrating birds. Dewatered. When our surface water is diverted to the ocean, our wells go dry, and farmers are penalized for depleting the aquifer. According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, our refuges provided habitat for more than 10,000 years. Until now.

Reclamation extends interim operations plan for Klamath Project, Capital Press, posted to KBC 11/12/22. "Both the Klamath Water Users Association and Klamath Tribes urged Reclamation to discard the plan after it was set to expire Sept. 30...Simmons, with the KWUA, previously said the changes authorized under the interim operations plan were “far above any level ever claimed to be necessary” for suckers, while cutting off access to another 45,000 acre-feet of water for irrigation."

 

 

Oregon expands targets under Clean Fuels Program, Capital Press, posted to KBC 11/12/22. "The governor-appointed Environmental Quality Commission voted unanimously in September to expand the Clean Fuels Program...When the program was first implemented in 2016, it called for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuels 10% below 2015 levels by 2025. The new targets are 20% below 2015 levels by 2030, and 37% by 2035. To accomplish this, fuel distributors may choose to import more lower-carbon biofuels such as ethanol or renewable diesel — made from vegetable oil — to replace gasoline or diesel."

Washington truckers watch as California moves to ban diesel trucks, Capital Press, posted to KBC 11/12/22. "The California board on Aug. 25 unanimously voted to ban new gas- and diesel-powered vehicles that weigh less than 8,500 pounds beginning with 2035 models. Less than a week later, the board’s staff released a report justifying banning all trucks and vans over 8,500 pounds..."

Klamath ranch seeks $1.5 million from Oregon water regulators, Capital Press, posted to KBC 11/12/22. "The state Water Resources Department affirmed the 1864 priority date and the ranch’s right to divert 9.4 cubic feet of water per second between March and November, enough to irrigate the property at a depth of three feet per acre a year...The ranch has since been “regulated off” every year, generally shutting down irrigation “earlier and earlier” each season...the ranch’s carrying capacity was previously 200 head of cattle, it’s now only able to sustain 50 head due to the lack of irrigation..."

Oregon ranchers grapple with increasing number of wolf attacks, Capital Press by George Plaven, posted to KBC 11/12/22. "The state Department of Fish and Wildlife has confirmed 50 wolf attacks so far in 2022...95 in 2021"

Water shutoff leaves Klamath farmers scrambling to save crops, Capital Press, posted to KBC 11/12/22. "...farmers say Reclamation kept changing the end-of-season water elevation needed for suckers in Upper Klamath Lake....Normally, the “absolute minimum” elevation is set at 4,138 feet above sea level. Reclamation added a buffer of 4,138.15 feet above sea level, which it later increased to 4,138.62 feet...Paul Simmons, executive director of the Klamath Water Users Association, said the changes were “far above any level ever claimed to be necessary for endangered sucker species,” while cutting off access to another 45,000 acre-feet of water for irrigation..."

Letter from U.S. Department of the Army to Ms. Felicia Satterwhite, Administrative Assistant · Los Angeles Superior Court regarding Stephen Koshy's letter of imminent collapse concerns over proposed Snake River dam removal, posted to KBC 10/25/22.
Here for dam engineer Stephen Koshy page and bio and his letters regarding Klamath Dam catastrophic collapse if dams are removed.

Losing a huge opportunity for the Klamath Watershed by Siskiyou, Klamath and Modoc County Commissioners, Capital Press, posted to KBC October 25, 2022. "...We have seen decades of random acts of restoration in our watershed already. Tens of thousands of acres of agricultural land have been taken out of production. Projects have been built and then abandoned. Dikes that once protected productive farmland have been blown up to flood that farmland and create habitat for endangered species. That project — like others that have been tried over the past 20 years — has, by all accounts, failed miserably..."

Feds give Oregon groups $100 million for sustainable farming, ranching, timber, Oregon Capital Chronicle, posted to KBC 10/25/22.
Sustainable Northwest: "The nonprofit conservation group received $10 million to invest in regenerative ranching economies and another $25 million grant to build a sustainable wood products economy in the region."
Who is SustainableNW?
Richard Roos-Collins represented American Rivers, California Trout, and Sustainable Northwest in the negotiation of the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement and he negotiated and drafted the KBRA / Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement; both agreements mandate destroying Klamath River hydroelectric dams.
Sustainable NW and Trout Unlimited, were among the groups who appointed Roos-Collins as general council on KRRC/Klamath dam destruction group.
* Trout Unlimited Water Project Director is Chrysten Lambert, who was Klamath River Compact Commissioner and was former Klamath Basin Rangeland Trust / KBRT director. Her father Jim Root founded KBRT. KBRT merged with Trout Unlimited, and Root is also now a board of director on KRRC dam removal group.
* Trout Unlimited was a stakeholder in the KBRA/dam removal closed-door "agreements.'
* Only FERC will decide dam removal, not Klamath River Compact Commission, Guest Opinion by RICHARD ROOS-COLLINS General Counsel, KRRC, Herald and News Online 5/10/19. ""The JC Boyle Dam in Klamath County, Ore., is one of four slated to be removed from the Klamath River under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Klamath County Commission and the Klamath River Renewal Corp."
*A response to the general counsel of KRRC: Why Klamath Compact decision-making matters, by SCWUA attorney JAMES BUCHAL, guest opinion for H&N 5/13/19. "FERC’s own regulations (18 C.F.R. § 9.2) require FERC to determine the “qualifications of the transferee [here, KRRC] to hold such license.” KRRC is not qualified, because it was created in violation of federal law." posted to KBC 10/25/22

Ruling invalidates Klamath irrigators' injunction, H&N, posted to KBC 10/25/22. “Any number of tribal and non-tribal parties can sue the government to take water away from irrigators, but irrigators can’t sue to protect their own interests in water.”

Water dispute should be decided in court
"As with all government activities, the Klamath Project should be operated in accordance with law, not illegal shut-off orders, illegal water diversions, nor thuggish federal extortion tactics."
< by Klamath Irrigation District Executive Director Gene Souza, Herald and News 8/27/22
KBC Explanation: Bureau of Reclamation encouraged farmers to fallow their land this season because there would not be enough of our stored water for crops. Thousands of acres were fallowed. There is abundant water. On August 19: The Blackmail: the Bureau illegally told our water districts that if they did not shut off water to their customers, they would not allow any irrigator to be paid for fallowing their land.

YouTube video after Bureau of Reclamation suddenly, illegally shut down Klamath Project irrigation water just weeks before harvest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP4O6g_CZms

 

From our archives: Karuk Tribal members' petition against Klamath Dam removal, 11/25/08
 

For August September 2022 chronological news, see Archive 240

For Main Archive Page go HERE.

God Bless America !