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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Emergency services, Oct. 16 ... Since You Asked: Park resurfacing delayed during winter ... SOU training gives tips on what to do if there's an active shooter ... Emergency services, Oct. 16 ... Since You Asked: Park resurfacing delayed during winter ... SOU training gives tips on what to do if there's an active shooter ... OTHER VIEWS Other Views: Keep Klamath water plan moving in Congress Comment By Herald and News MailTribune.com By Herald and News Posted Apr. 11, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Herald and News Posted Apr. 11, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News There probably isn't anyone who favors every piece of the Klamath Basin water settlement proposal in Congress. Yet it's important to the Basin that the package continue to move forward. It's the only realistic proposal there is. Rep. Greg Walden acknowledged as much in a recent visit to Klamath Falls when he said, "We lose a settlement opportunity here that could escape us if we don't get this right. I know it's not popular. I don't want to take out the dams, but I'm not sure what the alternative is anymore." By its nature, the water issue is divisive, but just as that's inevitable, so must be the effort to resolve it. The divisions split some irrigators and some tribes. In the Upper Klamath Basin, the tribes have the highest priority water rights. The tribes along the Klamath River are in favor of dam removal, but divided on the overall package in the KBRA, and its associated proposals — the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement and the Upper Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement. The Klamath Tribes back the proposal overall, but there is some tribal resistance on the lower Klamath River in California contending the proposals don't go far enough in recognizing tribal rights. The three agreements are interlocking and depend on each other and can't be separated without the whole thing coming apart. Maybe that strikes some people as good idea, but it isn't, since the success of the package would bring with it more certainty to water users especially during drought years. The Basin is now in its third — or is it the fourth? — year of drought. The Basin needs a water settlement. Walden deserves credit for moving in that direction after his initial hesitation on it, but the proposed settlement also needs demonstrated support from Klamath County. That's especially important because if it isn't approved by Congress by the end of the year, the KBRA process will terminate. Currently, the Klamath Tribes have an agreement with irrigators on the Klamath Project not to fully exercise their first-priority water rights, but it's up to the tribes as to how long that will last. Every significant part of the settlement proposal is linked to something else. If it doesn't move ahead on that basis, the Basin will suffer. By Herald and News MailTribune.com By Herald and News Posted Apr. 11, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501