ONRC
Proposes Equitable Alternative to proposed Klamath
Land-for-Water Deal
http://www.onrc.org/press/076.landtransfer.html
For Immediate Release: October 9, 2003
For More Information Contact:
Jim McCarthy, ONRC - (541) 941-9450
Andy Kerr, ONRC - (503) 701-6298
Jay Ward, ONRC - (503) 283-6343 x 210
ONRC Proposes Equitable Alternative
to proposed Klamath Land-for-Water Deal
Conservationists oppose White House-driven
billion-dollar National Forest transfer
Today Oregon Natural Resources Council released a
detailed proposal to equitably and openly address
the wrongs suffered by The Klamath Tribes of
Southern Oregon. Conservationists presented their
plan as an alternative to a back-room effort
spearheaded by the Bush administration which would
transfer a Rhode Island-sized swath of Winema and
Fremont National Forest to the Tribes in return for
an agreement that the tribes will not pursue their
claim on certain water rights. These water rights,
coveted by Klamath Basin irrigators, are key to
tribal efforts to recover endangered lake fish
populations, an important cultural resource.
"America's native peoples have suffered greatly at
the hands of the federal government and we believe
The Klamath Tribes deserve justice" said Jay Ward,
ONRC's Conservation Director. "The tribes should not
be asked to give up their water rights, nor should
the American people be asked to give up public
lands, natural resources, and the priceless national
forest legacy that belongs to all of us."
The roots of the current debate stretch back over a
half-century. During the 1950's, Congress terminated
The Klamath Tribes and, in a controversial series of
transactions, bought much of the reservation lands.
These former reservation lands were then designated
as National Forests, while a smaller portion of the
former reservation was sold to private individuals
and corporations, among them timber companies.
The tribes now seek approximately 690,000 acres
(1,000 + square miles) of the Winema and Fremont
National Forest for a new reservation. Such a
transfer to tribal ownership would mean a loss of
legal protections for over 136,000 acres of
old-growth forest, over 47,000 acres of roadless
areas suitable for wilderness designation, and
nearly 10,000 acres of threatened bald eagle
habitat. Moreover, access to nearly 60,000 acres of
big game habitat may be lost. Under management plans
currently proposed by the tribes, logging would
increase 13% from recent levels. As a sovereign
nation, The Klamath Tribes would change management
plans for the forest. Future generations of
Americans would be limited in their ability to
challenge or modify those plans. There would be no
guarantee that future tribal governments would not
liquidate large tracts of old-growth forest to
maintain a tribal economy.
The ONRC plan proposes a Congressionally-managed
public process which would determine the full extent
of damages to which The Klamath Tribes and
individual tribal members may be entitled. After
determination of damages, The Klamath Tribes and its
members could choose to set up a permanent fund to
support tribal services, purchase former reservation
lands currently owned by private parties, or accept
payments in cash. Public lands, including National
Forest lands, would not be eligible for purchase.
Additionally, Klamath County would receive a
one-time payment to compensate for any tax revenues
lost as a result of the reservation restoration.
Finally, the plan calls for legislation mandating
fuller cooperation between the U.S. Forest Service
and The Klamath Tribes in managing the Winema and
Fremont National Forest.
The conservationists believe their plan offers the
greatest certainty to the greatest number of
Americans, and makes the most economic sense.
"Trading National Forest lands worth between 1 and 2
billion dollars to free up irrigation water for
private lands worth 300 million dollars is a bad
deal," said Andy Kerr, ONRC's Senior Counselor.
"Even if The Klamath Tribes give up all their water
rights, the water needs of the Klamath's six
National Wildlife Refuges, endangered species, and
downriver fishing communities are not going away."
"An equitable remedy to this injustice requires an
open public process, not closed meetings and
back-room deals," said Jim McCarthy, Policy Analyst
for ONRC. "We call on the Bush administration to
stop playing politics with this important issue, and
help craft a solution that serves the interests of
all Americans."
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