Posted on 01/08/2002 8:12:33 PM PST by nunya bidness
Congressman Walden and Senator Gordon Smith flew on Air Force One with President Bush prior to the president’s address in Portland. According to Congressman Walden, the focus of much of their discussion was the challenge associated with natural resources issues in Oregon, with emphasis on the 2001 Klamath Basin crisis. The local farming community is still reeling from devastating effects of the April 6, 2001 decision precipitated by federal fishery agency decisions that resulted in zero water allocation from Upper Klamath Lake.
President Bush pledged to help Klamath Basin farmers during Saturday’s visit to Oregon. “I share their (Smith’s and Walden’s) concern about people living off the land. I told these two good men we’ll do everything we can to make sure water is available for people who farm,” Bush said.
Dan Keppen, Klamath Water Users Association new executive director will also speak during the forum. His presentation will include recent developments and policies that directly affect the water deliveries in the Klamath Basin.
Russ Brooks, Pacific Legal Foundation representative will discuss their efforts to challenge the Coho salmon listing.
A California Waterfowl Association representative will discuss the importance of Klamath Basin agriculture to the Pacific Flyway. He’ll outline their efforts to guarantee full water deliveries to farms and refuges in 2002 and the future.
The public is strongly encouraged to attend this informative event. It is especially important because under the current biological opinion guidelines, the Basin is not guaranteed water delivery even with current rains and 160% of average snow pack. The committee anticipates a crowd of 4000-5000.
The panel discussion will be followed by a barbecue that will feature - ironically - coho salmon donated to the Oregon Food Bank earlier this year by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). Although the Coho are listed as an endangered species on the Lower Klamath River, approximately 140,000 hatchery Coho salmon from coastal streams were killed and donated to the Food Bank in 2001. This year, ODFW requested that special attention be paid to the Klamath Falls area, where the irrigation cutoff and resulting economic damage made local farmers eligible for Food Bank donations. “Basin residents find it particularly ironic that they could not irrigate because of the Coho but they can stand in food lines to eat them.,” said Deb Crisp, Tulelake Growers Association Executive Director.
--The Klamath Basin Bucket Brigade Committee is a local grassroots organization that advocates for balance in the ecosystem which includes irrigation water for farming and ranching.
Toto, we're definitely not in Kansas any more.
Mind you, there were relatively nearby areas that were hurtin' for water. Not sure if there was a realistic way to shift water around, but still...
Then it ought to be an easy fix:
Just open the headgates, Mr. President.
Easier said than done. There's still that Biological Opinion due from the DOI that can't seem to get it's website up and hacker free.
Saturday will tell us what the powerbrokers have up their sleeves.
Just like they did when they scrambled for the mikes when the big bucket was set down in front of the county office building in Klamath.
Want to see how long I can hold my breath?
That is a lie and Bush knows it. If he really wanted to do something, he could use another illegal executive order to call off the Feddogs and let the farmers have what is legally theirs.
We have become so used to the very lowest scummiest bottom of the barrel lying actions from our politicians in general that merely TALKING about doing anything legal or moral or ethical is cause for joyous celebration among the various partisans of this or that faction involved. This administration, the previous administration, and the one before that in particular. It's actually taken as something "positive", when it is still a non-action. "Talking" is not "doing". Truly a condemnation of the entire political system as it's run and enjoyed now. And also a condemnation of the governmental bureaucratic "work" force, badged or non-badged, who are so used to either ignoring laws or enforcing/facilitating illegal laws and spewed dictates that they have no idea what is just and proper anymore. if they do, it's ignored anyway. It's beyond disgusting. The solution is one-term limits for all governmental positions that are electable, and ZERO governmental pensioned jobs. Put the 'service' back into 'government service", make it something like ten years maximum employment, then back to the private sector. End career government employment at any level. those two steps would do more to free up the US and return to constitutional law than anything else I can think of. A third step would make it illegal for any corporation or organization to donate one penny for any campaign, hard or soft money. Make political donations come from individuals ONLY, and put a reasonable small cap on the limit, to end BRIBERY in government.
This would be our Grange Suit.
under the current biological opinion guidelines, the Basin is not guaranteed water delivery even with current rains and 160% of average snow pack.
I hate to say it but being denied water again under these circumstances would really help our cause because it would negate the argument that there wasn't enough water. This would make the farmers martyrs. Very effective.
The Grange has filed another suit to list the Klamath Basin Agriculturalist as an Endangered Species.
Don't do it! We need ya! ;o)
Easier said than done. There's still that Biological Opinion due from the DOI that can't seem to get it's website up and hacker free.
It could be just as easily done by being said. If the DOI (which answers to the President) comes to a conclusion that places the higher priority on the animals over the people, then the President could simply set it aside and do what we all know is the right thing.
But, I'm not gonna test my ability to hold MY breath on it!
It'll take GWB a little time to undo the harm that the wacko Enviro-Nazis terrorist's have created !!
Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!
The Right Of The People To Keep And Bear Arms Shall Not Be Infringed !!
An Armed Citizen, Is A Safe Citizen !!
No Guns, No Rights !!
Molon Labe !!
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