USING THE FARMLAND STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM
& THE CONSERVATION DELIVERY TEAM APPROACH
to Resolve Conflicts

Here's an approach that could help resolve issues facing the Klamath Basin:

Please note: several of the documents listed below are in PDF format and requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader (which you can download for free).

1.  A week-long visit with local governmental officials, local representatives of several  federal agencies and local producers was undertaken in January 2003 to learn more about the issues facing the Klamath Basin, discuss possible strategies for addressing these issues, and suggest ways in which the delivery of conservation options could be facilitated through the Farmland Stewardship Program.

2.  The Farmland Stewardship Program/Conservation Delivery Team approach that was discussed with stakeholders is described in a series of Talking Points  (that were used as the basis for an August 22, 2002 conference call). Steps are now being taken to work with agency representatives and producers to lay the initial groundwork for this approach. To view the talking points, click here.

3. A report on impressions gained from discussions with local stakeholders during a week-long visit in January 2003 can be viewed by clicking on the documents below: 

• Summary Report (3 pages)

• Full Report (16 pages)

4.  Background Thoughts on Using the Farmland Stewardship Program in the Klamath Basin (written in June 2001)

Current Information:

Klamath Basin Weather (forecast, current weather, historical data, regional hydrology) click here

Klamath Water Crisis update click here

Information on last fall's fish kill crisis in the Klamath Basin:

• February 16, 2003 - Siskiyou Daily News, What Caused Salmon Deaths?

• January 29, 2003 - Hearld and News Op/Ed, Klamath bashers do nothing to try to improve things.

• October 7, 2002 Wall Street Journal Editorial, Klamath Gothic.

• October 17, 2002 letter from Northern California farmers published in the Wall Street Journal, "Environmentalism's Aura Intimidates Its Critics"

• September 28, 2002 New York Times article, As Thousands of Salmon Die, Fight for River Erupts Again

For background information on the Klamath Basin issue, go to:

• June 20, 2001 New York Times article, Cries of Save the Suckerfish Rile Farmers' Allies

• June 22, 2001 letter to the editor, Why Endangered Fish Lose to Farmers

• December 1, 2001 SCIENCE NEWS article, Tough Choices -- Endangered species are keeping some landowners thirsty

• January 28, 2002 announcement, Bureau of Reclamation Announces First Step Towards Comprehensive Plan For Klamath Basin

• April 8, 2002 Finding of No Significant Impact (2 page PDF document)

• August 8, 2002 AP News story (from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer), Farmers initiate $50 million Klamath Basin aid program

Other Related information:

• Klamath Basin Water Users Association weekly newsletters (includes information on the water users association and links to all of the weekly newsletters published in 2002)

• General Information on Local Water Issues (Oregon State University Agricultural Research, Klamath Experiment Station)

• Inventory of Current EPA Efforts to Protect Ecosystems in the Klamath Basin

• Who Will Pay for Environmental Improvements in the 21st Century? (A resource guide assembled by a group of National Agricultural Library staff for distribution at the symposium "Who Will Pay for On-Farm Environmental Improvements in the 21^st Century?" held April 12, 2000 at NAL in Beltsville, Maryland.  Includes a paper on the Klamath Basin -- paper #8 -- "Agriculture and Endangered Species: An Analysis of Trade-Offs in the Klamath Basin, Oregon.")