Klamath Restoration Agreements

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Klamath Agreements Benefit Local and Regional Economies

Investing in Solutions

The Klamath (salmon) Management Zone stretches over 400 miles from Coos Bay Oregon to Monterrey Bay California. In several recent years, commercial and sport salmon fishing has been restricted or entirely halted due to poor runs of Klamath salmon. TIn response to these fishing closures, federal and state governments have spent hundreds of millions of dollars in disaster relief.  The Klamath Agreements aim to  reverse this trend by investing in real solutions that will end the Klamath Crisis.

Jobs for Struggling Rural Economies

backhoe_removing_roadThe Klamath Agreements would fund dam deconstruction, river restoration, and improvements in agricultural infrastructure that together represent an investment of nearly $1 billion in Siskiyou County California and Klamath County Oregon – areas with unemployment rates over 15%. Each dollar spent in the construction industry in California cycles through local economies 2.35 times. This means that if  $1 billion is spent on dam removal , habitat restoration, and improvements to agricultural infrastructure, it would provide over a $2.3 billion boost to the local economy. 

After dam removal, economic benefits will remain. Consider that each fish caught by a recreational fishermen is worth $200 to the local economy. If the number of fish caught were simply doubled, it would be worth over $4.4 million annually. Doubling the number of fish in the river would also create 71 permanent jobs directly related to the fishery; 48 in recreational industry, 24 in commercial industry. Currently PacifiCorp employs only 18 people to operate the dams.[1]

Financing the Agreements 

The KHSA provides a total of $450 million for purposes of dam removal: $200 million from PacifiCorp’s ratepayers, $250 million from California. The primary source of California's funding would be through the pending water bond.

The KBRA reallocates $450 million in existing funding for newly prioritized restoration activities and calls for an additional $450 in congressional appropriations over the next 10 years.

If for any reason there are budgetary shortfalls in funding dam removal, the Agreements require settlement parties to meet and confer in order to solve the impasse.

Featured Links:
References:

 [1] Preliminary Economic Assessment of Dam Removal: The Klamath River, by Sara Kruse and Astrid Schultz, EcoTrust, Jan. 31, 2006.

[2] A job is defined as full time employment for one year.

 



Did You Know?

Water Shut-off Highlights Need for Klamath Agreements

Karuk Tribe

P R E S S  R E L E A S E

For Immediate Release: March 18, 2010

For more information: Craig Tucker, Klamath Coordinator, Karuk Tribe, cell 916-207-8294

 

Drought Highlights Need for Klamath Agreements

Fish and Farms would be better off today if the Klamath Restoration Agreements where already in place

 Orleans, CA – Today Secretary of Interior Salazaar addressed the current drought situation in the Klamath Basin by breaking the hard news to irrigators that water deliveries will be reduced to 30-40% of average. Before agricultural deliveries can be made, the Bureau of Reclamation must first ensure that the water level in Upper Klamath Lake and the flows in the Klamath River meet minimal requirements to allow for the survival of ESA listed suckers and coho salmon.

 “It’s a difficult year for everyone. Even though irrigation deliveries are being dramatically cut, the water fish are getting only meets the minimal amount needed to avoid extinction. It’s barely enough water to keep the fishery on life support,” according to Leaf Hillman, Director of Karuk Natural Resources Department.

 The current situation is due in large part to a lack of precipitation, but if fisheries managers had the flexibility to manage the system in the manner prescribed by the recently signed Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, more water would be available for fish in the crucial spring months ahead and more water would be available for agriculture as well.

 The current management plan prescribes winter flows in the river without considering weather events in real time. In a dry winter like this one, the result is that flows are held steady even in the face of deteriorating hydrologic conditions. Under Real Time Management, flows would have been pared back to better reflect the weather conditions in real time. This approach would have allowed resource managers to provide more water to the river in the spring when fish need it most, left more water in Upper Klamath Lake for suckers, and more management flexibility in meeting irrigation needs.

 According to Hillman, “We basically ran up a water deficit this winter gambling that a late season storm would bail us out, but the rains never came. Implementation of the Klamath Restoration Agreement would provide a more sound approach to water management.”

 In addition, the Real Time Management Plan called for by the KBRA would restore some of the Klamath’s natural hydrograph. This means river flows would be greater during storm events and less during dry periods. Current management calls for flat line flows out of Iron Gate Dam which is bad for fish. “Flat line flows contribute to the algae and fish disease problems on the Klamath by creating a stable environment for algae and disease carrying parasites to flourish. If we mimicked the river’s natural flow pattern with normal flow variability, it would help these problems greatly,” according to Karuk Senior Fisheries Biologist Toz Soto.

 Tribes are offering to support disaster relief measures to help farm families through the season. “Hopefully, we can get the Klamath Restoration Agreements enacted by congress this year and avoid a crisis like this in the future. Until then, Tribal and fishing communities will need to support our neighbors in farming and ranching as they brace for a year of economic hardship,” said Hillman.

 

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Technical memo describing how KBRA management would have helped address this year’s drought