Not even a month ago, Interior Secretary Bernhardt and Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman visited the Klamath Basin to talk with Tribal and agriculture representatives to see what can be done about the ongoing crisis that’s impacting farms and fish. Secretary Bernhardt left, making no promises about timelines or plans of what would be implemented.
And now, thanks to our Convoy For Change tractor rally and the incredible participation of our community and others from all over Oregon and Northern California, something we hoped would happen is happening.
On Wednesday, July 29th, the Bureau of Reclamation committed $1.2 million to update the science that dictates how water is used in the Klamath Project. The last time any research was performed on the Klamath Project was nine years ago, and of that science from what we can tell hasn’t helped salmon or sucker fish. If anything it seems the four affected species are declining, not recovering.
What exactly are they going to be looking into? According to this article in the Herald and News by Alex Schwartz, the study will include:
• A new naturalized flow study of the Lower Klamath, which would build on studies in the early 2000s that estimated how much water would have naturally flowed down the Klamath River before the Project was developed.
• Updating the study of water levels in Upper Klamath Lake done by the U.S. Geological Survey and Fish and Wildlife Service, which serve to assess the habitat quality of endangered suckers.
• Evaluating flow and habitat relationships in the Klamath River below Iron Gate Dam in order to support the needs of juvenile Chinook and endangered coho salmon.
• Building upon a model that estimates the survival of juvenile salmon as they migrate from the river to the sea.
• Improving data collected about salmon diseases throughout the basin.
This scientific overhaul has been long-needed. Considering that the Bureau is going to look at so many aspects of trying to help stabilize and help salmon and sucker fish recover, it appears that is a great first step towards helping fish and farms.
This wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support we received from our community. The Klamath Basin agriculture and its supporters have been heard, and we can’t thank our supporters enough. Thank you.
And thank you to Secretary Bernhardt and Commissioner Burman for making the trip to the Klamath Project and making this incredible first step. This is incredible news, and we are grateful. Lastly, thank you Representative Greg Walden and Representative Doug LaMalfa for their work on behalf of the Klamath Basin and Klamath, Siskiyou and Modoc counties.