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<P><SPAN class=headlinedetail>Water forums build trust,
communication</SPAN></P><SPAN class=bylinedetail></SPAN>
<P><SPAN class=storydetail>Published March 21, 2005</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=storydetail>By HOLLY OWENS</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=storydetail>A fourth in the series of meetings among
parties to the Klamath Basin's water controversies ended last week in
Tulelake with participants saying they'd made some progress.</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=storydetail>"Everyone sits as an equal. Everybody's vision
for a better future is recorded; and trust is being built, respect is
being established, communication is opening, certain barriers are starting
to dissolve," said Marshall Staunton, a Tulelake area farmer.</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=storydetail>The meetings are held under the name of the
Greater Klamath Basin Stakeholders. Last week's meeting was Wednesday
through Friday at the home economics building on the Tulelake Fairgrounds.
A fifth is tentatively scheduled for Chiloquin to bring in upper-Basin
representatives.</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=storydetail>Staunton said more representation is also
needed from environmentalists and wildlife refuge interests.</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=storydetail>"It's the best forum you'll ever imagine for
solving these issues. We're going to find the best possible outcome,"
Staunton said. "There's enough energy and desire to solve this in the best
possible way."</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=storydetail>At the workshop were members of the Klamath,
Yurok and Hoopa Valley tribes, farmers, ranchers, loggers, commercial
fishermen, biologists, personnel from federal and state government
agencies and environmentalists.</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=storydetail>About 80 to 100 people participated.
Journalists were admitted on the condition that they get permission from
those they quote at the meeting.</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=storydetail>During the workshop, group members sit in a
large circle, or groups of smaller circles, face to face and side by side
throughout the session. In the center of the circle was a representation
of the Klamath River watershed system, created on the floor of the home
economics building with blue tape.</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=storydetail>"They're here to explore how to create a Basin
with restored rivers and healthy economies," said Bob Chadwick of
Consensus Associates, the facilitator for the workshops. "They believe
they can make it happen."</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=storydetail>Klamath Tribal Council member Philip Jackson
said he's been to other meetings on Basin issues and found they were much
different. It was just people listening to someone speak, he said, no
interaction.</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=storydetail>"Here, you have your say, and everyone has
input," Jackson said.</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=storydetail>"People are trying to see how they can get
everyone's needs met," said Garrick Jackson, Klamath Tribal Council
member.</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=storydetail>Members of the group were conscious of this
year's drought situation, with the current outlook for water worse than it
was in 2001. They often invoked the analogy of a "perfect
storm."</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=storydetail>"We are facing a severe drought. It's
imperative that irrigators above Klamath Lake do whatever they can to help
alleviate pressure in this drought year," said Becky Hyde, a rancher on
the Sycan River. "We must join together with the Klamath Tribes, the
downstream tribes and communities as well as with the Klamath Project and
Scott and Shasta irrigators to survive this year."</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=storydetail>Yurok tribal members who fish for salmon at the
mouth of the Klamath River in Klamath, Calif., are also looking for
solutions. In September 2002 it was estimated that 34,000 salmon died
because of a parasite and disease outbreak in the Klamath
River.</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=storydetail>"We're very interested and anxious to work with
people in this Basin, to resolve longstanding Basin issues. We think that
this type of forum will provide all interested groups with a more real
human understanding of each other," said Troy Fletcher, Yurok Tribe
spokesman.</SPAN></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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