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State official: Activist group is no water user
published April 22, 2003
By DYLAN DARLING
WaterWatch of Oregon, an advocacy group based in Portland, has been dismissed from the Klamath Basin water adjudication process by a state hearings officer.
The group, which is devoted to restoring flows in rivers and streams for wildlife, wanted to be part of the adjudication to represent the public interest in water for wildlife, said Steve Pedery, spokesman.
"We think someone needs to be in the process talking about wildlife needs and saying how much water those interests need," he said.
But, Maurice Russell, a judge who reviewed motions by stakeholders in the adjudication, ruled the group should be removed from the process.
Last November, Klamath Reclamation Project irrigators filed the first motion to dismiss WaterWatch as a party, claiming that WaterWatch did not have standing to contest the claims in the case.
"WaterWatch is an advocacy organization which generally opposes irrigated agriculture and seeks allocation of water to in-stream uses," the original water users' motion states. "... WaterWatch has no place in this proceeding."
In attempt to become part of the adjudication, WaterWatch had purchased 1 percent interests in two pieces of property in the Basin.
One of the properties is occupied by Schlotzsky's Deli on Washburn Way and, though it is within the Klamath Reclamation Project, it doesn't receive project water. The interest in the other property was sold weeks after WaterWatch filed its claim.
By DYLAN DARLING
WaterWatch of Oregon, an advocacy group based in Portland, has been dismissed from the Klamath Basin water adjudication process by a state hearings officer.
The group, which is devoted to restoring flows in rivers and streams for wildlife, wanted to be part of the adjudication to represent the public interest in water for wildlife, said Steve Pedery, spokesman.
"We think someone needs to be in the process talking about wildlife needs and saying how much water those interests need," he said.
But, Maurice Russell, a judge who reviewed motions by stakeholders in the adjudication, ruled the group should be removed from the process.
Last November, Klamath Reclamation Project irrigators filed the first motion to dismiss WaterWatch as a party, claiming that WaterWatch did not have standing to contest the claims in the case.
"WaterWatch is an advocacy organization which generally opposes irrigated agriculture and seeks allocation of water to in-stream uses," the original water users' motion states. "... WaterWatch has no place in this proceeding."
In attempt to become part of the adjudication, WaterWatch had purchased 1 percent interests in two pieces of property in the Basin.
One of the properties is occupied by Schlotzsky's Deli on Washburn Way and, though it is within the Klamath Reclamation Project, it doesn't receive project water. The interest in the other property was sold weeks after WaterWatch filed its claim.
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