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<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><B><FONT
face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Irrigators clash
over proposed Klamath deal<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><B><FONT
face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Capitol Farm
Bureau Federation – 2/27/08<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><B><FONT
face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">By Christine
Souza, staff writer</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Irrigators
who once stood alongside one another and protested the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Klamath</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Basin</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> water shut-off in 2001 are now at
odds over a proposed settlement agreement that would potentially benefit one
group of irrigators and may cause problems for others.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">"The
proposed settlement was a tough choice for Klamath irrigators," said Chris
Scheuring, managing counsel for the California Farm Bureau Federation's National
Resources and Environmental Division. "At the same time, folks on the Shasta and
Scott rivers have concerns about the blowback. All of it shows that species
laws, in their current form, are pitting the human species against itself in a
way that perhaps was not contemplated when they were enacted."
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The
proposed Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, released to the public by
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Klamath</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">River Basin</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> stakeholders in
January, is a $985 million plan that would ensure irrigation water and
affordable power for irrigators of the Klamath Water Project and revive the
river's salmon populations. The deal, developed by an assortment of groups and
agencies including farmers, tribes, fishermen and environmentalists, is
contingent upon the removal of four dams on the <st1:place w:st="on">Klamath
River</st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">"This
proposed agreement would implement a true watershed-wide approach to Klamath
issues, something we have stressed since 2001," said Greg Addington, executive
director of the Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA), one of 26 stakeholders
involved in the negotiations. "This is a product of more than two years of
blood, sweat and tears. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">We
believe, given the range of alternatives and needs of Klamath irrigators, that
we have negotiated a successful package that secures our future as a viable
agricultural economy." <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">For
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Klamath</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Basin</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> irrigators, Addington
said the KWUA did make some compromises in its water allotment, but said the
association has tools that can help work with those and keep communities
sustainable and keep agriculture in production for future generations.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">"The
agreement is multifaceted and will not be without some controversy," Addington
said. "We have to look at what the alternatives are for us. For some groups,
status quo is OK. If you are an irrigator in the Klamath Reclamation Project,
the status quo is a frightening place to be where assurances related to water
deliveries are year to year, month to month." <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">However,
downstream <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Scott</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">River</st1:PlaceName> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Shasta</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">River</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> valley irrigators, who were not at
the table during settlement negotiations, are concerned about what this plan
could mean for their farming operations. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">"Siskiyou
County Farm Bureau is concerned that during dry years, with no minimum flow
established on the <st1:place w:st="on">Klamath River</st1:place>, they will
look to the Shasta and Scott rivers to make up the flow in times of drought and
during dry summer months," said Siskiyou County Farm Bureau President Mike Luiz.
"That would be detrimental to irrigators, striking a blow to Scott and Shasta
valley agriculture." <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Other
areas of concern include higher power rates, encroachment of private property
rights, a reduction in funding for restoration projects, increased regulations
and water quality issues. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">"The loss
of the power generation capabilities of those dams is something that needs to be
addressed," said Luiz, a Montague sheep rancher. "In <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State> and across the
West we are still bordering on a power crisis. Every summer we receive warnings
of a power shortage and this is good green power that we will be pulling out, so
how will they replace that?" <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The
removal of dams, Luiz said, will also reduce the value of homes located on the
region's lakes and the <st1:place w:st="on">Klamath River</st1:place>.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">"If the
dams are removed the value of these people's properties is going to be severely
impacted. These homeowners are going to go from having lakefront property to
desolation-front property," Luiz said. "People have purchased these properties
to be next to the lakes and to take advantage of the recreation opportunities so
the value of that property is going to be severely impacted."
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Retired
rancher Ernie Wilkinson, who serves as an associate director for the Siskiyou
Resource Conservation District, estimates that over the course of the last 20
years, nearly $15 million has been spent on recovery projects in the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Scott</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">River</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> valley. He is worried that these
recovery dollars that have been spent on projects such as installing fish
screens and riparian plantings, may be directed to other projects.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">"We're
concerned with fishery health overall because we get an awful lot of pressure
from the California Department of Fish and Game to sustain habitat for fish,"
Wilkinson said. "My concern is that a fairly large portion of whatever is
available in the way of recovery project funding may go elsewhere."
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">For Etna
rancher Gary Black, who also works for the Siskiyou Resource Conservation
District, one of the main problems for many in the <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Scott</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">River</st1:PlaceName>
and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Shasta</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">River</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> valleys is not having
had a seat at the table during the discussions. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">"There are
a lot of unknowns and there appears to be no way to fit into the process if we
need to," Black said. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Klamath</SPAN></FONT></st1:PlaceName><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Basin</st1:PlaceType> farmer Luther Horsley, president
of the KWUA, said <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Klamath</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Basin</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> irrigators taking part in the
negotiations had three primary objectives: a reliable source of water to
irrigate crops; affordable power for irrigation and drainage pumps; and
regulatory assurance from lawsuits related to the introduction of new species.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">"We
believe this agreement achieves those objectives," Horsley said. "We also feel
by working together with other interests and parties along the river, we can
achieve a lot more than we have from the past status quo of fighting and suing
each other." <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Horsley
recalls how farmers suffered from the water shut-off of 2001, when the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service issued biological
opinions under the Endangered Species Act that required higher water levels to
protect endangered sucker fish and higher flows to protect threatened coho
salmon. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">"In 2001
it was devastating for us in the basin and we just know that we don't want to go
through that again, not only for the farmers, but all of the other species that
depend on the water life and habitat that we create," Horsley said.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The
parties who were involved in the development of the settlement agree that the
many restoration projects that the plan sets in motion, combined with the
removal of the dams, will translate into significantly improved conditions for
coho and other anandramous fish. The key to making this agreement work is the
removal of the <st1:place w:st="on">Iron Gate</st1:place>, J.C.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Boyle,
Copco1 and Copco2 dams which are owned by Oregon-based PacifiCorp. This would
give threatened coho salmon and other fish species access to 300 miles of
habitat in the river and improve water quality. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Negotiations
are currently taking place with PacifiCorp to reach an agreement on the removal
of the utility's dams. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Stakeholders
say the estimated $120 million tab to remove the dams should be paid for by
PacifiCorp. PacifiCorp spokesperson Paul Vogel stated that the utility is
currently reviewing the 256-page proposed agreement.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">"We have
made it pretty clear for a long time if dam removal is what is settled upon, we
are willing to consider that option, but our customers have to be protected and
not be paying the unreasonable cost of dam removal, plus replacement power, plus
the liability," Vogel said. "Hand in hand with the liability is the science and
what is an accurate scientific understanding of what the impacts are of taking
these dams out." <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Stakeholders
have estimated the cost to implement the restoration is $985 million over 10
years. Of that total, $585 million would come from existing programs and the
remaining $400 million would have to be authorized by Congress.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Settlement
party negotiators have indicated initial support, but the agreement now needs
approval of individual irrigation districts, tribal governments, fisheries
groups and state and federal agencies. #<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><A
href="http://www.cfbf.com/agalert/AgAlertStory.cfm?ID=989&ck=A1140A3D0DF1C81E24AE954D935E8926">http://www.cfbf.com/agalert/AgAlertStory.cfm?ID=989&ck=A1140A3D0DF1C81E24AE954D935E8926</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">####<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>