A positive step forward for the Klamath Basin

The Klamath River Basin Restoration Agreement is the result of more than two years of negotiations between farmers, ranchers, four different Native Tribes, federal and state agencies, and a host of environmental nonprofits. (Learn more & read the Agreement.)

While Sustainable Northwest was not a participating party of Agreement negotiations, we facilitated early meetings that led to conceptual agreements, provided examples and technical assistance, and made it possible for a number of parties to actively participate.

We believe the Agreement is a positive advancement, and a real opportunity to achieve economic, ecological, and community vitality and resilience in the Klamath Basin. We encourage everyone to learn more and read the Agreement before forming an opinion.

From our perspective, some highlights are:

Community-based Governance – The Agreement was crafted through a community-based process where local voices were represented and local governance structures were created.  As a result, the settlement agreement gives local communities much more control of key issues facing the Basin, like water and wildlife.

Ecological Restoration – The Agreement puts into motion one of the most significant ecological restoration activities in the United States. The Klamath Basin historically had the third largest salmon run on the West Coast; the combination of dam removal, increased in-stream flows and habitat restoration will aid in endangered species recovery.

Economic Development – The Agreement supports economic stability of communities in the Basin. Ranchers, farmers, tribes and coastal fisherman have all operated at very low margins and are vulnerable to increasing power rates, uncertainty in water availability, and threats of regulation. The settlement agreement addresses all of these challenges, stabilizing ranching and farming in the Basin, and generating greater economic opportunities through restoration jobs, renewable energy, robust fisheries, and forest stewardship.