Klamath Restoration Agreements

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Klamath Agreements can Restore Our Salmon and Sucker Fisheries

The Klamath River once nourished the third largest salmon runs in the nation.  Today those runs number less than 10% of their historic abundance.  Dams blocking access to historic spawning habitat, plus diminished water flows and resulting poor water quality, have greatly diminished these valuable fisheries, destroying thousands of fishing-dependent jobs in the process.  Fisheries disasters like the complete closure of 2006, costing more $100 million in losses, are now common.

Implementation of the Klamath Agreements is surest path to dam removal

537sl033c1Above the dams, in Upper Klamath Lake and the Williamson, Sprague, and Wood Rivers, Lost River and shortnose suckers once constituted a prolific and vital resource to the Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin tribes. As cattle grazing impacted riparian areas, irrigation depleted the rivers, and wetlands were converted to farmland, sucker fish moved to the brink of extinction.

the new flow regimes and unprecedented habitat restoraition provided for by the Klamath Agreements will allow suckers and salmon to be restored to harvestable levels.

The importance of Dam Removal to the Klamath River System

Fisheries scientists overwhelmingly agree that that dam removal provides fisheries benefits far greater than relicensing the project with fish ladders.

Dam removal improves water quality for fish by allowing salmon, steelhead, and lamprey access to over 600 stream-miles of historic spawning habitat, removing the negative thermal impacts of reservoirs which dramatically alter run timing, and alleviating habitat conditions downstream of the dams that promote the spread of fish diseases.

The dams being considered for removal, some more than 90 years old, provide no irrigation or flood control, and on average, generate about 88 MW of power.

Because of the unprecedented magnitude of this effort, dam removal must first be evaluated by the Secretary of the Interior who will confirm the settlement parties'  preliminary view that dam removal is appropriate. The secretary's evaluation will  entail a thorough NEPA analysis to ensure that dam removal is safe, affordable, and clearly in the public interest. This evaluation must be completed by March 31, 2012.

If no insurmountable problems are revealed, the Agreement calls for the dams to be breached in 2020.

Tens of thousands more salmon are expected to recolonize newly unblocked areas, making devastating coast-wide ocean salmon fishery closures far less likely in the future.

A Community based approach to Reintroducing Salmon, Steelhead, Suckers and Lamprey to Historic Range

537sl080c1The KBRA calls for over $350 million dollars to be spent on restoring and reintroducing salmon, steelhead, and lamprey to over 600 stream-miles of historic habitat upstream of the dams.

Settlement parties will form a Technical Advisory Team to prioritize spending and specific actions to maximize restoration benefits.

130,000 to 230,000 acre-feet of additional stored and conserved water will greatly benefit Klamath River salmon runs and help them move toward full recovery.

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Did You Know?

Water Shut-off Highlights Need for Klamath Agreements

Karuk Tribe

P R E S S  R E L E A S E

For Immediate Release: March 18, 2010

For more information: Craig Tucker, Klamath Coordinator, Karuk Tribe, cell 916-207-8294

 

Drought Highlights Need for Klamath Agreements

Fish and Farms would be better off today if the Klamath Restoration Agreements where already in place

 Orleans, CA – Today Secretary of Interior Salazaar addressed the current drought situation in the Klamath Basin by breaking the hard news to irrigators that water deliveries will be reduced to 30-40% of average. Before agricultural deliveries can be made, the Bureau of Reclamation must first ensure that the water level in Upper Klamath Lake and the flows in the Klamath River meet minimal requirements to allow for the survival of ESA listed suckers and coho salmon.

 “It’s a difficult year for everyone. Even though irrigation deliveries are being dramatically cut, the water fish are getting only meets the minimal amount needed to avoid extinction. It’s barely enough water to keep the fishery on life support,” according to Leaf Hillman, Director of Karuk Natural Resources Department.

 The current situation is due in large part to a lack of precipitation, but if fisheries managers had the flexibility to manage the system in the manner prescribed by the recently signed Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, more water would be available for fish in the crucial spring months ahead and more water would be available for agriculture as well.

 The current management plan prescribes winter flows in the river without considering weather events in real time. In a dry winter like this one, the result is that flows are held steady even in the face of deteriorating hydrologic conditions. Under Real Time Management, flows would have been pared back to better reflect the weather conditions in real time. This approach would have allowed resource managers to provide more water to the river in the spring when fish need it most, left more water in Upper Klamath Lake for suckers, and more management flexibility in meeting irrigation needs.

 According to Hillman, “We basically ran up a water deficit this winter gambling that a late season storm would bail us out, but the rains never came. Implementation of the Klamath Restoration Agreement would provide a more sound approach to water management.”

 In addition, the Real Time Management Plan called for by the KBRA would restore some of the Klamath’s natural hydrograph. This means river flows would be greater during storm events and less during dry periods. Current management calls for flat line flows out of Iron Gate Dam which is bad for fish. “Flat line flows contribute to the algae and fish disease problems on the Klamath by creating a stable environment for algae and disease carrying parasites to flourish. If we mimicked the river’s natural flow pattern with normal flow variability, it would help these problems greatly,” according to Karuk Senior Fisheries Biologist Toz Soto.

 Tribes are offering to support disaster relief measures to help farm families through the season. “Hopefully, we can get the Klamath Restoration Agreements enacted by congress this year and avoid a crisis like this in the future. Until then, Tribal and fishing communities will need to support our neighbors in farming and ranching as they brace for a year of economic hardship,” said Hillman.

 

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Technical memo describing how KBRA management would have helped address this year’s drought