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Still no backing for ranch plan
By JENNIFER BATES
The Klamath County Board of Commissioners withheld its support Tuesday for a plan to convert a private ranch beside Upper Klamath Lake to a water storage reservoir under federal management.
The commissioners declined to act on a request to reduce taxes for the Barnes Ranch once it is no longer being used for ranching purposes, saying it was beyond their authority to do so.
They also cited mounting concerns over budget problems and the need for all available tax revenue.
Dave Sabo, Klamath area manager for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, gave the commissioners a report on water conditions in Upper Klamath Lake, and asked them to support federal acquisition of the Barnes Ranch.
Sabo said he had good news and bad news about Upper Klamath Lake. The lake is within 1 foot of reaching capacity. However, the recent rainfall washed away much of what little snowpack accumulated during the winter months, he said.
He said he is looking for every possible way to store water this year, and he is fairly sure the Basin area is in for it's third consecutive dry year.
Sabo said flooding of the 2,785-acre Barnes Ranch and surrounding acreage would help meet the water needs of the Basin.
The American Land Conservancy has obtained an option to buy the ranch for $3,200 per acre. The ranch has an estimated market value of $2,500 per acre, according to the county assessor's office.
The land is located west of Agency Lake and north of Upper Klamath Lake.
Under private ownership, the ranch qualifies for a farm-use discount on property taxes. But that discount would be withdrawn if the land is no longer used for agricultural production.
The conservancy intends to sell the land to the federal government, and the Bureau of Reclamation would then manage it along with adjacent parcels for water storage. But the conservancy will be responsible for property taxes on the ranch until it comes under federal ownership.
The conservancy asked the county commissioners last week to retain the lower tax rate for the land.
The commissioners made no decision last week, and expressed doubts about the effectiveness of this method of water storage.
Allen Foreman, chairman of the Klamath tribes, told the commissioners Tuesday that he supports federal acquisition of the land, and urged commissioners to support ecosystem restoration efforts.
"We want the lake back to its natural level," he said.
Jeff Mitchell, Upper Basin coordinator of the Klamath River Intertribal Fish and Water Commission, said the water storage project has the greatest potential of increasing water capacity.
"It can only be good," he said.
Commissioner John Elliott doubted it being all good if the federal government was involved.
Elliott said he is concerned the Basin is putting all its eggs in one basket - all inside the federal government's basket.
He said he isn't convinced the Barnes Ranch would store enough water to make a difference anyway.
"I guess I'm a little skeptical - 40,000 to 45,000 acre-feet of water will not solve the water shortage," he said.
Mitchell told Elliott that drastic restoration efforts need to be made in the Upper Klamath Basin, and that he sees the Barnes Ranch as a step in the right direction.
"It is still a good move. The price the tribe has paid has been high, and will continue to be high," Mitchell said.
Commissioner Al Switzer said a deep reservoir with cold water is the best solution. The only way he can see to get that done is by building a dam.
"No one wants to hear the word 'dam.' We dance around it. But, we need to get it done," he said.
Jim Carpenter, an ecological consultant, also spoke in support of the Barnes Ranch project. In reference to the water shortage, he warned commissioners they should recognize a huge train wreck is coming this year, and it will polarize the community.
Switzer responded to Carpenter's train wreck analogy by giving his own.
"We have another train wreck coming ... more in cuts from the state budget," Switzer said.
West said he didn't think the commissioners had the authority to change the taxes. He said the tax issue would have to be answered by the state, not the county.
The commissioners finished the discussion by inviting conservationists and community leaders to future discussion on the issue.
• • • • •
The Klamath County Board of Commissioners meets at 9 a.m. every Tuesday at 305 Main St., Room 219. The meeting is broadcast live on cable Channel 3 in Klamath Falls and rebroadcast 7 p.m. the following day. For more information call 883-5100.
Reporter Jennifer Bates covers local and state government. She can be reached at 885-4415 or (800) 275-0982, or by e-mail at jbates@heraldandnews.com.
The commissioners declined to act on a request to reduce taxes for the Barnes Ranch once it is no longer being used for ranching purposes, saying it was beyond their authority to do so.
They also cited mounting concerns over budget problems and the need for all available tax revenue.
Dave Sabo, Klamath area manager for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, gave the commissioners a report on water conditions in Upper Klamath Lake, and asked them to support federal acquisition of the Barnes Ranch.
Sabo said he had good news and bad news about Upper Klamath Lake. The lake is within 1 foot of reaching capacity. However, the recent rainfall washed away much of what little snowpack accumulated during the winter months, he said.
He said he is looking for every possible way to store water this year, and he is fairly sure the Basin area is in for it's third consecutive dry year.
Sabo said flooding of the 2,785-acre Barnes Ranch and surrounding acreage would help meet the water needs of the Basin.
The American Land Conservancy has obtained an option to buy the ranch for $3,200 per acre. The ranch has an estimated market value of $2,500 per acre, according to the county assessor's office.
The land is located west of Agency Lake and north of Upper Klamath Lake.
Under private ownership, the ranch qualifies for a farm-use discount on property taxes. But that discount would be withdrawn if the land is no longer used for agricultural production.
The conservancy intends to sell the land to the federal government, and the Bureau of Reclamation would then manage it along with adjacent parcels for water storage. But the conservancy will be responsible for property taxes on the ranch until it comes under federal ownership.
The conservancy asked the county commissioners last week to retain the lower tax rate for the land.
The commissioners made no decision last week, and expressed doubts about the effectiveness of this method of water storage.
Allen Foreman, chairman of the Klamath tribes, told the commissioners Tuesday that he supports federal acquisition of the land, and urged commissioners to support ecosystem restoration efforts.
"We want the lake back to its natural level," he said.
Jeff Mitchell, Upper Basin coordinator of the Klamath River Intertribal Fish and Water Commission, said the water storage project has the greatest potential of increasing water capacity.
"It can only be good," he said.
Commissioner John Elliott doubted it being all good if the federal government was involved.
Elliott said he is concerned the Basin is putting all its eggs in one basket - all inside the federal government's basket.
He said he isn't convinced the Barnes Ranch would store enough water to make a difference anyway.
"I guess I'm a little skeptical - 40,000 to 45,000 acre-feet of water will not solve the water shortage," he said.
Mitchell told Elliott that drastic restoration efforts need to be made in the Upper Klamath Basin, and that he sees the Barnes Ranch as a step in the right direction.
"It is still a good move. The price the tribe has paid has been high, and will continue to be high," Mitchell said.
Commissioner Al Switzer said a deep reservoir with cold water is the best solution. The only way he can see to get that done is by building a dam.
"No one wants to hear the word 'dam.' We dance around it. But, we need to get it done," he said.
Jim Carpenter, an ecological consultant, also spoke in support of the Barnes Ranch project. In reference to the water shortage, he warned commissioners they should recognize a huge train wreck is coming this year, and it will polarize the community.
Switzer responded to Carpenter's train wreck analogy by giving his own.
"We have another train wreck coming ... more in cuts from the state budget," Switzer said.
West said he didn't think the commissioners had the authority to change the taxes. He said the tax issue would have to be answered by the state, not the county.
The commissioners finished the discussion by inviting conservationists and community leaders to future discussion on the issue.
• • • • •
The Klamath County Board of Commissioners meets at 9 a.m. every Tuesday at 305 Main St., Room 219. The meeting is broadcast live on cable Channel 3 in Klamath Falls and rebroadcast 7 p.m. the following day. For more information call 883-5100.
Reporter Jennifer Bates covers local and state government. She can be reached at 885-4415 or (800) 275-0982, or by e-mail at jbates@heraldandnews.com.
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