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Water users want more data
Letter urges search to continue for clues in salmon die-off
published August 28, 2003
By DYLAN DARLING
The Klamath Water Users Association has sent a letter to state and federal officials, urging for more information about water flowing in the Klamath and Trinity rivers.
The letter, addressed to Gov. Ted Kulongoski, U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton and California Resources Agency Secretary Mary Nichols was sent Wednesday. Copies were also sent to U.S., California and Oregon representatives and senators, county officials, state and federal wildlife agencies and others.
Last September, about 34,000 salmon died on the Klamath River of gill rot. What caused the fish to get the bacterial infection, called columnaris, is still up for debate.
Soon after the fish kill the California Department of Fish and Game released a report saying low flows from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Iron Gate Dam triggered the kill. In a recent district court case the water users countered with the findings of a private-sector biologist, who said the kill was caused by warm water and an early salmon run.
The debate goes to trial next May.
Through their research for the court case, the water users have come across spots of missing data and points of concern, said Dan Keppen, water users executive director.
"There are some big data gaps that weren't addressed last year," he said.
In the letter, the water users give observations and recommendations about how the state and federal agencies could fill these gaps and manage the Klamath and the Trinity rivers, which merge about 45 miles from the Pacific Ocean.
These include improved water quality monitoring, fish health data and river flow information. They also want improved reporting of salmon run size and timing.
"We must learn from last year's unfortunate situation and attempt to better understand all of the complexities that may have led to the fish die-off," he wrote in the letter.
published August 28, 2003
By DYLAN DARLING
The Klamath Water Users Association has sent a letter to state and federal officials, urging for more information about water flowing in the Klamath and Trinity rivers.
The letter, addressed to Gov. Ted Kulongoski, U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton and California Resources Agency Secretary Mary Nichols was sent Wednesday. Copies were also sent to U.S., California and Oregon representatives and senators, county officials, state and federal wildlife agencies and others.
Last September, about 34,000 salmon died on the Klamath River of gill rot. What caused the fish to get the bacterial infection, called columnaris, is still up for debate.
Soon after the fish kill the California Department of Fish and Game released a report saying low flows from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Iron Gate Dam triggered the kill. In a recent district court case the water users countered with the findings of a private-sector biologist, who said the kill was caused by warm water and an early salmon run.
The debate goes to trial next May.
Through their research for the court case, the water users have come across spots of missing data and points of concern, said Dan Keppen, water users executive director.
"There are some big data gaps that weren't addressed last year," he said.
In the letter, the water users give observations and recommendations about how the state and federal agencies could fill these gaps and manage the Klamath and the Trinity rivers, which merge about 45 miles from the Pacific Ocean.
These include improved water quality monitoring, fish health data and river flow information. They also want improved reporting of salmon run size and timing.
"We must learn from last year's unfortunate situation and attempt to better understand all of the complexities that may have led to the fish die-off," he wrote in the letter.
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