Governor Kulongsoki Announces Landmark State-Federal Partnership for the Klamath River Watershed
(Salem, Ore.) – Today Governor Ted Kulongoski announced the formation of a landmark federal-state partnership to enhance coordination and communication among the State of Oregon, the State of California, the federal government, tribal and local governments, and other interests working to resolve water quantity, water quality, and fish and wildlife resource issues in the entire Klamath Basin. The Governor also recognized the leadership of Congressman Greg Walden and Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith over the last several years to resolve the water issues in the Klamath Basin and their support of this new partnership is a continuation of their dedicated efforts.
“Today marks a turn in the right direction because it is only through a true partnership like this, beginning with the two states and the federal government, and expanding to the tribes, local governments and communities, that we can make meaningful progress in protecting, recovering and enhancing the natural and economic resources of the Klamath Basin,” said Governor Kulongoski. “The Klamath Basin plays an important role in Oregon’s economy and environmental heritage, but for too long, the efforts to balance the needs of the various interests have been divisive - not unified as they need to be.”
By signing the Klamath River Watershed Coordination Agreement, Governor Kulongoski; Governor Schwarzenegger; Gale A. Norton, Secretary, Department of Interior; Ann M. Veneman, Secretary, Department of Agriculture; Donald L. Evans, Secretary, Department of Commerce; and Michael O. Leavitt, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency have taken an important step to develop a process for all parties to participate in the resolution of water issues facing the Klamath Basin. The agreement is a result of the efforts of the state of Oregon to develop a collaborative decision-making process among all interested parties.
Representatives from Oregon, California, and the federal government, as well as local and state stakeholders have already begun working together on this issue, and this agreement takes the next step by establishing the process for a successful collaboration, including:
- Designating representatives from Oregon and California as co-chairs of the State and Federal Klamath Basin Coordination Group. It will consist of the appropriate designees of the two states, the U.S. Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, and Commerce, and the Environmental Protection Agency;
- Committing to make Klamath Basin activities and coordination and communications with one another and with tribal governments, local governments, private groups and individuals, to resolve water quantity, water quality and fish and wildlife resource problems in the basin a priority, including moving expeditiously to identify existing funding sources to accomplish these ends;
- Implementing an aggressive, coordinated approach to allocate existing resources to the extent possible toward short-term opportunities that will improve conditions in the basin; and
- Developing and implementing the Klamath Basin Conservation Implementation Program concept which will meld a scientific oversight body, the broad communities of Klamath Basin interests, and resource agencies to identify the Basin’s critical water quality, water quantity, and fish and wildlife restoration problems, set priorities and measures of success for addressing those issues through consensus, and monitor progress in resolving them.
Media Contact:
Marian Hammond, (503) 378-6169
Anna Richter Taylor, (503) 378-6496
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