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Walden bill aims to ease the region's water woes Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Standing in front of the county courthouse in Medford on Monday, Michael Byrnd led a group of Klamath Falls farmers and business owners in support of Congressman Greg Walden's proposal to help solve the water problems in the Klamath Basin. By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune U S. Rep. Greg Walden agrees with Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith that about $175 million needs to be poured into the Klamath Basin to solve its water woes. But that is where the 2nd District congressman - who represents all of Eastern Oregon as well as Jackson and Josephine counties - largely parts company with the senators. "The senators did not have the benefit of the information we had," the Republican from Hood River told the Mail Tribune editorial board Monday. "A lot has happened since Wyden put together his bill last December." Since Democrat Wyden's bill, supported by Republican Smith, was created, President Bush has appointed a Klamath Basin task force. Two biological assessments, including one by the National Academy of Sciences, have also concluded that Uncle Sam's decision to withhold farmers' water last year was based on flawed information. Walden notes that his detailed amendment tossed into the congressional mix last week was based on those changes, including a biological assessment by the Department of Interior. "Frankly, one of my goals - and I make no bones or apologize for it - is to try to keep irrigated agriculture alive in that basin," he said. Just before Walden's presentation, a group of Klamath Basin farmers rallied in Medford in support of Walden's amendment. During last summer's drought, water for the Klamath Reclamation Project, a federal irrigation project serving 220,000 acres along the Oregon-California border, was cut drastically under provisions of the federal Endangered Species Act. While Walden's funding would be the same as that provided in the Smith-Wyden bill, he would provide $30 million for the Upper Klamath Basin Working Group created by former Oregon Sen. Mark Hatfield. The group, consisting of tribal leaders, environmentalists, farmers, local officials and federal officials, would make grant recommendations. The Wyden proposal would earmark $30 million for Indian tribes to be used for habitat improvement. "My feeling is that it would be more effective to run it through the Hatfield group because they've been involved in all this stuff," Walden said, adding that it would go to the same purpose. He would also take out the old Chiloquin irrigation dam on the Sprague River that blocks 95 percent of suckers' access to breeding habitat. He proposes creating a water banking system, conducting studies, developing new and improved water supplies and creating a fish hatchery for the endangered sucker fish in Upper Klamath Lake, among other actions. He also would allow community-led land purchases to be made by two water resource conservation districts in the basin. Wyden's bill would allow federal purchase of farmland from willing sellers. "I want to make sure we spend this on projects that will do the most good in the basin," Walden said, adding that he wants to ensure that farmers, fish and fowl get sufficient water. But he was quick to observe that the fate of any Klamath aid is uncertain. "This is not a check waiting to be cashed - we've got a fight on our hands," Walden said. He referred to a miscalculation on the Senate side that has resulted in some $6 billion being spent beyond the spending limit. Many items are expected to be trimmed or cut. Klamath aid has been included in a Senate-approved farm bill, but not in the House's version. Negotiators are working on a compromise. Klamath Basin rancher Mike Byrne said Walden's bill provides clear direction to deliver water for agriculture. "... his amendment holds the best chance for making the lasting improvements to the basin that will benefit every stakeholder," he said. Tulelake resident Marshall Stauton, whose family has farmed the area for three generations, agreed. He is also co-chairman of the Klamath Water Users Association. "There is more meat in Walden's bill (than Wyden's)," he said. There is no question the region faces ecological problems, said Tim Griffith, regional biologist for the California Waterfowl Association in the Klamath Basin. Not only does the Walden amendment provide funding, but it earmarks specific restoration projects that scientists have stressed need to be accomplished to restore the basin's health, he said. Klamath Basin farmer Steve Kandra, who sits on the boards of two irrigation districts - one in Oregon, the other in California - said Walden's amendment would solve many of the district's problems. "The Walden package gets right to the crux of solving the problems and addressing the issues," he said. Last week, a different group of Klamath Basin residents, largely farmers, rallied in Medford in support of Wyden's amendment to the Farm Bill. Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.