Print Version
Email this story
Comment
The H&N's view
published Dec. 09, 2003
Good data on river should ease conflict
Developments in the Klamath Basin water controversy continue to remind us how little we know about fish biology. That's a point we've made before, but it's well worth repeating.
It's brought to mind most recently by a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation draft study that says Klamath River streamflows often were lower before the Klamath Reclamation Project was developed than they are now.
Before it's considered final, the study will be reviewed by scientists, an independent laboratory, the public, state officials and others with interest in the river flows.
This is a good effort by the Bureau to come up with basic data and, if critiqued ahead of time by a such a wide variety of interests, it is less likely to have its accuracy questioned. That's important. A lot of the fighting has revolved around basic facts.
The Basin has spent much of the past few years fighting over Klamath River flows, as gauged by releases from Iron Gate Dam. The dam, located in Siskiyou County a few miles south of the Oregon-California border, regulates flows from the upper Klamath Basin to the lower river.
Downriver interests, such as Indian Tribes and fishermen, see the flows as a vital component of salmon spawning runs.
In the upper Basin, Klamath Reclamation Project farmers need water for crops, and in low-water years that puts them in conflict with downstream interests, and with legal obligations to meet standards for endangered fish species on both Upper Klamath Lake and the lower Klamath River.
One of the key parts of the debate has been a lack of solid evidence as to what happened on the river before the project was developed and began drawing water out of the river system. The system's primary diversion is the A Canal, which pulls water out of Upper Klamath Lake just above the Link River Dam in Klamath Falls.
The Link River connects Upper Klamath Lake on the northwest side of Klamath Falls to Lake Ewauna near Veterans Park. Lake Ewauna is where the Klamath River originates.
The report is still in preliminary form. It may be too early to draw conclusions from it.
Simply noting, for example, that the Klamath River used to run lower doesn't automatically lessen pressure on the Klamath Project to make up for low water flows on the Lower Klamath. To get a true picture, that information has to be dovetailed with other major changes in the Klamath River system, such as the diminished flows from the Trinity River. The Trinity is a major tributary to the lower Klamath River, but its flows have been largely diverted for agriculture to California's Central Valley. We suspect that the Trinity diversion is more important the flows from the upper Klamath.
Once properly critiqued, the Bureau study will offer some hope for reducing the conflict over Klamath Basin water.
Acquiring knowledge is a big step toward resolving issues on Klamath Basin water. Acquiring knowledge that every agrees to, is priceless.
The "H&N view" represents the opinion of the newspaper's editorial board, which consists of Publisher John Walker, Editor Tim Fought, City Editor Todd Kepple and Opinion Editor Pat Bushey.
Good data on river should ease conflict
Developments in the Klamath Basin water controversy continue to remind us how little we know about fish biology. That's a point we've made before, but it's well worth repeating.
It's brought to mind most recently by a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation draft study that says Klamath River streamflows often were lower before the Klamath Reclamation Project was developed than they are now.
Before it's considered final, the study will be reviewed by scientists, an independent laboratory, the public, state officials and others with interest in the river flows.
This is a good effort by the Bureau to come up with basic data and, if critiqued ahead of time by a such a wide variety of interests, it is less likely to have its accuracy questioned. That's important. A lot of the fighting has revolved around basic facts.
The Basin has spent much of the past few years fighting over Klamath River flows, as gauged by releases from Iron Gate Dam. The dam, located in Siskiyou County a few miles south of the Oregon-California border, regulates flows from the upper Klamath Basin to the lower river.
Downriver interests, such as Indian Tribes and fishermen, see the flows as a vital component of salmon spawning runs.
In the upper Basin, Klamath Reclamation Project farmers need water for crops, and in low-water years that puts them in conflict with downstream interests, and with legal obligations to meet standards for endangered fish species on both Upper Klamath Lake and the lower Klamath River.
One of the key parts of the debate has been a lack of solid evidence as to what happened on the river before the project was developed and began drawing water out of the river system. The system's primary diversion is the A Canal, which pulls water out of Upper Klamath Lake just above the Link River Dam in Klamath Falls.
The Link River connects Upper Klamath Lake on the northwest side of Klamath Falls to Lake Ewauna near Veterans Park. Lake Ewauna is where the Klamath River originates.
The report is still in preliminary form. It may be too early to draw conclusions from it.
Simply noting, for example, that the Klamath River used to run lower doesn't automatically lessen pressure on the Klamath Project to make up for low water flows on the Lower Klamath. To get a true picture, that information has to be dovetailed with other major changes in the Klamath River system, such as the diminished flows from the Trinity River. The Trinity is a major tributary to the lower Klamath River, but its flows have been largely diverted for agriculture to California's Central Valley. We suspect that the Trinity diversion is more important the flows from the upper Klamath.
Once properly critiqued, the Bureau study will offer some hope for reducing the conflict over Klamath Basin water.
Acquiring knowledge is a big step toward resolving issues on Klamath Basin water. Acquiring knowledge that every agrees to, is priceless.
The "H&N view" represents the opinion of the newspaper's editorial board, which consists of Publisher John Walker, Editor Tim Fought, City Editor Todd Kepple and Opinion Editor Pat Bushey.
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of HeraldAndNews.com. Comment Disclaimer: The editors of heraldandnews.com reserve the right to refuse publication of any comment posted for consideration. We may refuse for any reason, including use of profanity, disparaging comments, libelous comments, etc. Any reader who notices a comment they believe is particularly offensive, should notify us at webmaster@heraldandnews.com.
RSS