Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
Last spring, the federal government cut off water from Upper Klamath Lake which feeds well in excess of 1000 farms. This action was to resolve a lawsuit filed by a couple of environmental groups and an Indian tribe, who claimed that the water being used for farming was needed to:
1. Run down the river to the ocean to raise the water level in the river... Ostensibly to help the Coho survive. While the Coho are sufficiently plentiful that they are harvested and the Indians are allowed to catch whatever they want, it is officially listed as "endangered". You can buy them in the supermarket locally, and tons of them are used in cat and dog food as well. Anually, the state slaughters many tons of them to prevent them from reproducing.
2. To save the "shortnose sucker" that lives in Upper Klamath Lake. While there has been no scientific survey in quite a number of years to actually COUNT the suckers, a biologist stated a few years ago he didnt' see any while he was studying something else, and so this fish is officially "endangered". The value of this fish, as well as it's true numbers, are completely unknown.
In both of these cases, the environmental groups hired some scientist to write an opinion, which states that the Klamath Lake must be kept full to prevent death of the suckers and wrote another opinion that says that the waterflow in the river must be dramatically increased year-round to assist the Coho. These groups then sued Bureau of Reclamation for "endangering" the fish (even though the BOR's dams and water storage have improved waterflow in the river during the fall and the depth in Klamath Lake dramatically from what it would hvae been with no development), and the government simply agreed to do what the groups told them to do. Whether it works or not, nobody has any idea. Nor does it matter. So long as the government does whatever the litigants ask, even if it worsens the problem, all is fine in legal-land.
The result is, that thousands of farmers suddenly had no water. The wildlife refuges which are actually fed by the irrigation project were cut off (the area maintains a large population of Bald Eagles, ducks, geese, and many scores of other species that depend on the refuges) when the irrigation system was shut down. The green groups had so little investigation they had not realized that thier request would do so much harm. Still, the green groups then sued the government for following thier demands.
With thousands of people suddenly deprived of thier living, threatened with losing everything they have in the world, the efforts of both the government and the environmental groups have come under intense scrutiny and analysis. My conclusion, as an observer and not someone directly affected, is that the real goal is to remove the people from the countryside, not to effect environmental improvement. The net results of this have been widespread financial hardship, loss of wildlife - especially migrating birds - habitat, refuge and food, and an encroachment upon the property rights of thousands, and a huge effort by congress to commandeer ALL water use within the region, including river, reservior, lake AND well water, and then control all of it according to congressional plans. Lastly, the rights, contractual rights, and deeded property of an entire grouip of communities have all been all but totally nullified - All for not a single measurable benefit.
This story is from the Herald and News, Klamath Falls Oregon.
http://news.mywebpal.com/partners/670/public/news237948.html
01/13/02
By LEE JUILLERAT
For third generation Klamath Basin farmer Dick Carleton, last year’s water crisis threatens his family’s historic way-of-life.
For banker Greg Williams, it’s been difficult watching as Basin farm families have struggled with financial stresses.
Human impacts of the water crisis were expressed by Williams and Carleton at Saturday’s Klamath Basin Water Forum.
“You can’t take a hit like that and survive it,” said Carleton of financial impacts that resulted in his family planting no potatoes and only a portion of their usual alfalfa last year.
Carleton said that despite much publicized government aid, the water cutoff caused his family and at least four others to file for bankruptcy. He predicted another 15 families may file this year.
He also took exception with government reports that he believes minimize the losses, insisting, “The impact on this Basin is just now really beginning to be felt and it will probably be several years before we fully recover, even with full water deliveries. ”
The family’s Merrill area farm, purchased by Carleton’s grandfather George Herbert Carleton in May 1909, faces an uncertain future.
Depending on a bankruptcy court ruling in late February, the family could be out of business or operating on a limited basis.
“If there’s a way we can farm, we will,” pledged Carleton, who normally plants 250 acres of potatoes and 800 acres of hay.
Although legislators have provided $20 million for afflicted Klamath Basin farmers — to help pay such operating costs as land, tractor and house payments — Carleton explained how his family’s $122,000 share was spent.
Most critically, Carleton said the money is taxable. Because most income from the 2000 crop year was paid in 2001 and because of the water crisis, the farm had no expenses for fertilizer, fuel, parts or labor to offset that income. The resulting “double revenue” with no expenses put the farm in the 50 percent tax bracket. As a result half of the payment, about $60,000, is due back to state and federal governments.
Because the family is in bankruptcy, by court order the bank will receive the entire $122,000. The family still faces the $60,000 tax liability plus a $30,000 debt to its landlord.
“I would like to think we are an isolated case but I am sure that many of the other farmers in the Klamath Project are in the same position we are,” said Carleton. “This is only the tip of the iceberg and I am sure you will see more bankruptcies and auctions in the months to come. ”
Williams, regional vice president for Northwest Farm Credit Services, which has about $22 million loaned to 129 Klamath Irrigation Project farmers — not including the Carletons — expressed concerns on the water crisis.
“This year we have seen this factor (an ability to keep financial matters in control) impacted by stress of the unknown, uncertainty and the inability to farm at a normal level,” said Williams. “This stress has manifested itself in anger, health problems, stress within the family and between neighbors to the point it has impacted the ability of some to function at a normal level of activity. ”
Williams said the $20 million distribution was not enough to pay for living expenses, debt payments and placed farmers in a higher income tax bracket.
Likewise, uncertainties on future water deliveries have influenced real estate values. According to Williams, “Irrigated land may be worth $2,000 an acre and dry land may be worth only $250 per acre ... A 200 acre farm could be worth $400,000 or $50,000, depending on how this crisis is resolved. ”
Unknowns, he said, plague farm families like the Carletons.
“Most made it through this past year and will again this next year” said Williams. “We just don’t know how many more family farm operations will be lost before this water crisis is resolved. ”
1. Run down the river to the ocean to raise the water level in the river... Ostensibly to help the Coho survive. While the Coho are sufficiently plentiful that they are harvested and the Indians are allowed to catch whatever they want, it is officially listed as "endangered". You can buy them in the supermarket locally, and tons of them are used in cat and dog food as well. Anually, the state slaughters many tons of them to prevent them from reproducing.
2. To save the "shortnose sucker" that lives in Upper Klamath Lake. While there has been no scientific survey in quite a number of years to actually COUNT the suckers, a biologist stated a few years ago he didnt' see any while he was studying something else, and so this fish is officially "endangered". The value of this fish, as well as it's true numbers, are completely unknown.
In both of these cases, the environmental groups hired some scientist to write an opinion, which states that the Klamath Lake must be kept full to prevent death of the suckers and wrote another opinion that says that the waterflow in the river must be dramatically increased year-round to assist the Coho. These groups then sued Bureau of Reclamation for "endangering" the fish (even though the BOR's dams and water storage have improved waterflow in the river during the fall and the depth in Klamath Lake dramatically from what it would hvae been with no development), and the government simply agreed to do what the groups told them to do. Whether it works or not, nobody has any idea. Nor does it matter. So long as the government does whatever the litigants ask, even if it worsens the problem, all is fine in legal-land.
The result is, that thousands of farmers suddenly had no water. The wildlife refuges which are actually fed by the irrigation project were cut off (the area maintains a large population of Bald Eagles, ducks, geese, and many scores of other species that depend on the refuges) when the irrigation system was shut down. The green groups had so little investigation they had not realized that thier request would do so much harm. Still, the green groups then sued the government for following thier demands.
With thousands of people suddenly deprived of thier living, threatened with losing everything they have in the world, the efforts of both the government and the environmental groups have come under intense scrutiny and analysis. My conclusion, as an observer and not someone directly affected, is that the real goal is to remove the people from the countryside, not to effect environmental improvement. The net results of this have been widespread financial hardship, loss of wildlife - especially migrating birds - habitat, refuge and food, and an encroachment upon the property rights of thousands, and a huge effort by congress to commandeer ALL water use within the region, including river, reservior, lake AND well water, and then control all of it according to congressional plans. Lastly, the rights, contractual rights, and deeded property of an entire grouip of communities have all been all but totally nullified - All for not a single measurable benefit.
This story is from the Herald and News, Klamath Falls Oregon.
http://news.mywebpal.com/partners/670/public/news237948.html
01/13/02
By LEE JUILLERAT
For third generation Klamath Basin farmer Dick Carleton, last year’s water crisis threatens his family’s historic way-of-life.
For banker Greg Williams, it’s been difficult watching as Basin farm families have struggled with financial stresses.
Human impacts of the water crisis were expressed by Williams and Carleton at Saturday’s Klamath Basin Water Forum.
“You can’t take a hit like that and survive it,” said Carleton of financial impacts that resulted in his family planting no potatoes and only a portion of their usual alfalfa last year.
Carleton said that despite much publicized government aid, the water cutoff caused his family and at least four others to file for bankruptcy. He predicted another 15 families may file this year.
He also took exception with government reports that he believes minimize the losses, insisting, “The impact on this Basin is just now really beginning to be felt and it will probably be several years before we fully recover, even with full water deliveries. ”
The family’s Merrill area farm, purchased by Carleton’s grandfather George Herbert Carleton in May 1909, faces an uncertain future.
Depending on a bankruptcy court ruling in late February, the family could be out of business or operating on a limited basis.
“If there’s a way we can farm, we will,” pledged Carleton, who normally plants 250 acres of potatoes and 800 acres of hay.
Although legislators have provided $20 million for afflicted Klamath Basin farmers — to help pay such operating costs as land, tractor and house payments — Carleton explained how his family’s $122,000 share was spent.
Most critically, Carleton said the money is taxable. Because most income from the 2000 crop year was paid in 2001 and because of the water crisis, the farm had no expenses for fertilizer, fuel, parts or labor to offset that income. The resulting “double revenue” with no expenses put the farm in the 50 percent tax bracket. As a result half of the payment, about $60,000, is due back to state and federal governments.
Because the family is in bankruptcy, by court order the bank will receive the entire $122,000. The family still faces the $60,000 tax liability plus a $30,000 debt to its landlord.
“I would like to think we are an isolated case but I am sure that many of the other farmers in the Klamath Project are in the same position we are,” said Carleton. “This is only the tip of the iceberg and I am sure you will see more bankruptcies and auctions in the months to come. ”
Williams, regional vice president for Northwest Farm Credit Services, which has about $22 million loaned to 129 Klamath Irrigation Project farmers — not including the Carletons — expressed concerns on the water crisis.
“This year we have seen this factor (an ability to keep financial matters in control) impacted by stress of the unknown, uncertainty and the inability to farm at a normal level,” said Williams. “This stress has manifested itself in anger, health problems, stress within the family and between neighbors to the point it has impacted the ability of some to function at a normal level of activity. ”
Williams said the $20 million distribution was not enough to pay for living expenses, debt payments and placed farmers in a higher income tax bracket.
Likewise, uncertainties on future water deliveries have influenced real estate values. According to Williams, “Irrigated land may be worth $2,000 an acre and dry land may be worth only $250 per acre ... A 200 acre farm could be worth $400,000 or $50,000, depending on how this crisis is resolved. ”
Unknowns, he said, plague farm families like the Carletons.
“Most made it through this past year and will again this next year” said Williams. “We just don’t know how many more family farm operations will be lost before this water crisis is resolved. ”
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