Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement facts for kids
The Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA) was a special plan for the Klamath River and its surrounding area, called the Klamath Basin. This area stretches across parts of California and Oregon. The agreement was a legal promise about how water would be used and who had rights to it.
Discussions about the KBRA started in 2005. Many different groups worked together on it. However, the plan needed approval from the United States Congress. Congress did not pass the necessary laws by the deadline of January 1, 2016. Because of this, the KBRA did not become a full law.
Many groups were part of this agreement. These included the states of California and Oregon. Native American tribes like the Karuk Tribe, the Klamath Tribes, and the Yurok Tribe were also involved. Several counties, such as Del Norte County, California, Humboldt County, California, Klamath County, Oregon, and Siskiyou County, California, also joined. In addition, 26 private groups, companies, and local farming water districts participated. Seven non-profit organizations, including California Trout and Trout Unlimited, were also signatories.
Contents
About the Klamath Basin Agreement
Why the Agreement Was Needed
The idea for the KBRA came from a big problem in 2001. Water for farming was stopped for farmers in the Klamath Project. This happened to protect certain fish. These fish included the threatened coho salmon and the endangered Lost River Sucker. The coho salmon in this area are listed as threatened.
That summer, many people showed their support for the farmers. Nearly 20,000 people took part in a "bucket brigade." They passed 50 buckets of water, one for each state. The water went from Upper Klamath Lake to a canal that supplies farms in the Klamath Project. This event showed how important water was to the community.
Signing the Agreement
The final document for the KBRA was signed on February 18, 2010. The signing ceremony took place in Salem, Oregon. Important leaders signed the agreement. These included Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was the Governor of California at the time. Ted Kulongoski, the Governor of Oregon, also signed. Joseph Kirk, the Chairman of the Klamath Tribes, was another important signatory.
What Happened Next?
As mentioned, the United States Congress did not pass the laws needed to make the KBRA official. The deadline for this was January 1, 2016.
However, a new agreement was created. It is called the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA). This new plan was signed on April 6, 2016. The KHSA aims to remove four hydroelectric dams. These dams are Copco 1, Copco 2, J.C. Boyle, and Iron Gate. The plan is to remove them by the year 2020. Removing these dams is expected to help the river and its fish.
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