Water users recap worst year on record at annual meeting, but still hold hope for federal change
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KWUA Executive Director Paul Simmons speaks at the 2022 KWUA annual meeting. (Image: Brian Gailey, Klamath Falls News)
Congressman Bentz provides an update from Washington DC to the several hundred in attendance at the 2022 Klamath Water Users Association Annual Meeting.(Image: Brian Gailey, Klamath Falls News)
KWUA Focuses on alternatives to failed single species management
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - On Tuesday, the Klamath Water Users Association held its annual meeting at the Klamath County Fairgrounds. Several hundred people attended the meeting which included dinner and social hour. The main focus of the event was on current water deliveries, the future of irrigation in the Klamath Basin, and an overall message of hope for basin farmers.
The event featured several updates from key individuals; including US Representative Cliff Bentz as the event’s featured speaker.
The Representative of Oregon’s 2nd District updated on items he has been working on for Klamath Project irrigators in Washington DC; as the ranking member of the subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife, which is part of the House Natural Resources Committee.
Bentz briefly talked about available funding, future funding, and how he is leading the way in educating Washington that farmers just want to farm.
Congressman Bentz speaks at the 2022 Klamath Water Users Association Annual Meeting.(Image: Brian Gailey, Klamath Falls News)
In addition to Rep. Bentz’s update, the meeting featured program updates by KWUA Executive Director Paul Simmons, Julie Davies O'Shea executive director of Farmers Conservation Alliance, and Ernest Conant regional director of the US Bureau of Reclamation.
Oregon Senators Ron Wyden & Jeff Merkley, and US Representative of California’s 1st District Doug LaMalfa provided video messages for the guests in attendance.
Paul Simmons, KWUA Executive Director speaks to the crowd regarding two significant issues that need to be addressed and resolved by the court - federal discretion and stored water. (Image: Brian Gailey, Klamath Falls News)
Two significant issues
In his update, Simmons spoke to the group about recent legal issues and related policy dynamics. He explained that there are basically two significant issues that need to be addressed and definitively resolved by a court.
One – which he called the “federal discretion” issue – involves whether and to what extent the Bureau of Reclamation has authority to curtail deliveries or direct districts to do so in order to provide more water for ESA-listed fish. There have been developments in the law through court decisions that are favorable.
The second issue – the “stored water issue” concerns whether and the extent to which Reclamation can or must release water that was stored in Upper Klamath Lake under an irrigation right for fish species in the Klamath River.
“Districts and KWUA have had a difficult time in attempts to litigate these issues affirmatively and in a way that is binding on the federal government,” said the KWUA in an email to Klamath Falls News. “During the Trump Administration, the Department of the Interior issued guidance on these issues that was favorable to the position of water users. But Secretary Haaland withdrew this new legal guidance soon after taking office in 2021.”
Simmons also said that it is possible the two issues can be decided in litigation now pending in the Federal District Court for the Northern District of California. He noted that it is unlikely that litigation alone can solve the irrigation water problems, but it could improve the situation of KWUA members and affect overall dynamics among parties in the basin.
Simmons identified an immediate, high priority related to the Bureau of Reclamation’s Interim Operations Plan (IOP) which is in effect through September 30, 2022. KWUA is concerned because Reclamation has indicated that it may extend the IOP indefinitely, and will oppose any plan for extending the IOP.
Gene Souza who holds a couple of distinct positions one as KWUA Operations Committee Chair and another as Executive Director of Klamath Irrigation District provided background on the project. Giving insights on what the area was like before the project. (Image: Brian Gailey, Klamath Falls News)
Alternative water & pre-project history
KWUA Director of Water Policy Moss Driscoll speaks about alternative water sources that could in the long term supplement available project water. (Image: Brian Gailey, Klamath Falls News)
KWUA Operations Committee Chair Gene Souza, and KWUA Director of Water Policy Moss Driscoll spoke to the crowd regarding alternative water sources as well as provided a comparison of the current projects usage and historical evaporation estimates.
Driscoll introduced the idea of seeking alternative water sources to help supplement the water captured from Upper Klamath Lake. These ideas included using all water for the project, by the project, and capturing evaporation.
“The future of basin’s “water issues” would revolve around the identification and pursuit of multi-benefit solutions that restore and re-establish the Klamath Project as a functioning, productive landscape and ecosystem” said Moss. “The Endangered Species Act would presumably still exist and play a role, but it wouldn’t be the singular determinant of water management decisions in the basin.”
Gene Souza who holds a couple of distinct positions one as KWUA Operations Committee Chair and another as Executive Director of Klamath Irrigation District provided background on the project. Giving insights on what the area was like before the project.
Souza showcased how water naturally collected in several bodies of water behind the natural Keno reef barrier and how the current full usage of the Klamath Project is less than the estimated evaporation of those historic bodies of water
Souza provided the map below of “pre-Klamath Irrigation project conditions” for the audience to aid in his presentation.
When asked how he felt the meeting went, Souza responded, “post-meeting discussions were very affirmative that my message was heard by many...although I am not sure the audience I was directing my comments to[ward] were listening.”
Souza added, “I pray for my community. I pray for wisdom in my daily decisions and actions. I pray our pleas will be heard and that wickedness will be exposed and we shun it.”
[KFN is working with Driscoll to further explain his ideas beyond what was introduced at the meeting. As well as with Souza with further information on the history of the area. Watch for future updates on this in the coming weeks.]
Pre-Klamath Irrigation Project Conditions (Gene Souza / KWUA) click to enlarge.
Download the full PDF handout.
It takes a village
The event could not be completed without the behind-the-scenes womanpower of Chelsea Shearer, KWUA Executive Assistant. Shearer spends countless hours organizing and planning the event as guided by the KWUA Board of Directors and executive staff.
“This event is one of two large events that KWUA hosts for the public, which is completely funded by sponsors who have similar visions of the organization,” said Shearer.
Weeks before the meeting, the KWUA board, and executive staff pick topics that have the most impactful information to share. From there, Shearer finds the right guest speakers to help share the information.
Shearer added, “Educating the public and providing a venue to educate is how we move forward in our mission. In recent years the meetings have brought grim news with water allocations of zero or nearly, this year is no different, but we look forward to a time when we can gather and have a reasonable allocation announced and hear positive conversations about how farms intend to prosper during that season.”
