KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Yesterday, on a motion by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), the United States Senate passed H.R. 7938, which fulfills financial and regulatory commitments made years ago to Klamath Project irrigators.
“Senator Wyden has led the charge on this legislation for a long time,” said Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA) President Tracy Liskey. “He and Senator Merkley have pushed for it for years.”
Because H.R. 7938 passed the House of Representatives as well, it is headed to President Biden’s desk and expected to become law before the end of this year. “Don’t ask me how, but the stars lined up,” said Mr. Liskey.
Under the legislation, federal agencies would not be allowed to pass on the costs of operating or maintaining Link River and Keno Dams. This infrastructure was built and operated for generations by PacifiCorp, which also operated four hydroelectric generation facilities at downstream locations on the Klamath River.
With the downstream hydropower dams being removed, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation agreed to take over Link River and Keno Dams, but irrigators were concerned they would be asked to pick up the costs of operating and repairing the remaining infrastructure, which still provides multiple public benefits.
“With this legislation being enacted, farmers and ranchers cannot be stuck with that financial burden,” said KWUA Executive Director and Counsel Paul Simmons.
The legislation would also provide the authority and tools needed for keeping a promise that upstream migration of salmon and steelhead would not impose new regulatory burdens by providing a mechanism for the Bureau of Reclamation to install and pay for costly measures such as fish screens that would not otherwise be needed.
Finally, the legislation would allow the Bureau of Reclamation to reimburse a portion of the costs that Tule Lake Irrigation District incurs for operating D Pumping Plant, a facility that provides benefits and water to two national wildlife refuges.
“The future of conservation in the Klamath Basin relies on integrating working lands and wetlands.” said Jeff McCreary, Ducks Unlimited’ s Western Regional Director of Operations. “This bill helps to provide multiple benefits for farms and two of our nation’s most important National Wildlife Refuges.”
Representative Cliff Bentz (R-OR) carried the legislation in the House of Representatives, where it passed on December 19. “There is a lot to be said for the success that can come from bipartisan, bicameral, bi-state, leadership and relationships,” said Mr. Simmons.
source – KWUA PRESS RELEASE 70 YEARS REPRESENTING FARMERS AND RANCHERS OF THE KLAMATH PROJECT.
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