DNN -Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin

IN MY OPINION - THE COASTAL FISHERY CRISIS

Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin

Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Greg Addington and Dan Keppen

George Gibbs, traveling through Northern California in 1851, was struck by
conditions at the confluence of the Klamath and Trinity rivers.

The Trinity, wrote Gibbs, "is in size about half that of the Klamath, and
its waters, likewise rapid, are of transcendent purity; contrasting with
those of the latter stream which never lost the taint of their origin."

The origin of the Klamath River is warm, shallow Upper Klamath Lake, which
feeds the federal Klamath Irrigation Project. More than 150 years after
Gibbs' visit, the Klamath River and the irrigation project are now in the
sights of the national media and environmental activists. Every week, we
read claims that the river and the coastal salmon fishery are being
destroyed by the project, a convenient source of blame for all that is
apparently tainted in the Klamath ecosystem.

What we don't see in the papers is the fact that, over the past four years,
between 40,000 and 100,000 acre-feet of water originally developed for
agriculture has instead been bought by the federal government and dedicated
annually to an environmental water bank to "protect" fish. In 2005, nearly
30 percent of the water traditionally used in an average water year by the
Klamath Project and wildlife refuges was reallocated in this manner.

Further, even though the Klamath Project is one of the most water-use
efficient reclamation operations in the country, more than 800 growers have
applied for 2002 Farm Bill funding to implement cost-share projects that
conserve water.

These actions are laudable. However, one has to remember that there is only
so much water that can be squeezed from an area that is just 2 percent of
the watershed and uses only 3 percent to 4 percent of Klamath River flows in
an average year.

Despite these efforts, irrigators are now being blamed in the media by
environmental activists for a looming crisis on the coast. This spring,
commercial salmon fishing has been closed along 700 miles of Pacific
shoreline, which federal regulators believe will prevent "take" of Klamath
River salmon. This very complicated issue is deftly and simply portrayed by
faraway activists as " fishermen vs. farmers."

Once again, they've got it wrong.

Recently, a group of irrigator representatives traveled to Coos Bay and met
with more than 50 coastal fishermen and political leaders. It was somewhat
of a revelation that not a single fisherman at the meeting pointed to the
Klamath Project as the cause for the fishery closure. Instead, they offered
up other explanations, including:

Insufficient hatchery production and failure to count hatchery fish.

Disjointed stock management by state and federal agencies.

Sea lion predation.

Unfavorable ocean conditions and several years of drought.

The meeting ended in mutual pledges by the irrigators and the fishermen to
work together. As a first step, the Klamath Relief Fund -- created to assist
distressed farmers in 2001 -- has been re-activated by the Klamath farming
community. This time, the money raised will be used to help fishermen and
their families.

We're tired of the Klamath finger-pointing. Instead, we want to extend a
helping hand.

Greg Addington is executive director of the Klamath Water Users Association.
Dan Keppen is former executive director of the association and is now
executive director of the Family Farm Alliance. They both live near Klamath
Falls. You can donate to the Klamath Relief Fund for Commercial Fishermen at
P.O. Box 5252, Klamath Falls, OR 97601.


This information and much more that you need to know about the ESA, the Klamath Basin, and private property rights can be found at The Klamath Bucket Brigade's website - HYPERLINK
"http://www.klamathbucketbrigade.org/"http://www.klamathbucketbrigade.org/

Tuesday, May 16, 2006 9:05 AM

The Klamath farmers and ranchers have reactivated the Klamath Bucket
Brigade's Relief Fund to help support the coastal fishermen. They supported us in 2001 and now they're facing financial ruin. If you have a spare dollar or two, please donate to this worthy cause. The address to send donations to is in the last paragraph and remember, your donations are tax deductible.

HYPERLINK
"http://www.oregonlive.com/commentary/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/1147724709218350.xml&coll=7

-- please visit today.

DNN: Comment and Response

An anonymous source made the following comment:

"While I am supporting Mike Sullivan in the third district supervisor race, I shy away from anything Ron Plechety says. If it wasn't for his "goose in the toilet" fiasco, McNamara would have defeated McClure in the last election. I always wonder if Ron apologizes each and every time he sees Rick for costing him the election."

Rick McNamara's response:

I want to thank Siskiyous and DNN for letting me respond to this comment.

Ron and I agreed to disagree on the goose in the toilet. One of the most frustrating things for a candidate is the fact that your supporters are tougher on you than your detractors. Ron and others felt I could not be tough enough to beat McClure. They thought they could beat her up and I would benefit from it.

Even as we disagreed on what he was doing, Ron and I worked on the reconstruction of Lake Earl Grange, and on comments on various issues like the Critical Habitat designation of the Snowy Plover, and the misuse of green sticker funds at the Miller Rellim site. A misuse that was going to put more taxpayer dollars into the "Friends" personal bank accounts.

If Ron says there is a problem with RAC funds then I am certain he did his home work and can document it.

Always remember the McNamara vs. McClure race woke many people up in this community. It is entirely possible that many of those people would have stopped paying attention and working for change if I had won.

Rick McNamara

DNN: Fenswick Tax Lien

Jenifer Fewswick's $58,000 tax lien is yet another reason not to elect the DCC's hired gun as our Elections officer.

Fenswick was unavailable to comment on this issue.

DNN - CORRUPTION: Guest Editorial by Ron Plechety

Hey gang,

In a classic "heard it on the grapevine":

Our good fellow and shy retiring all too often repressed Ron Plechaty sent the following observation to our "local opinion rag" as a "lett to the ed". It'll be interesting to see it they print it. Yeah right! Mmmmm - could happen! - ALT

Wake up District 3 !!!

Clark Moore who is running for a District 3 Supervisor has a serious ethics problem that needs to be made public. Moore and McClure are on the RAC Committee (AKA Resource Advisory Council) and are able to vote for projects and recommend to the Board of Supervisors where and how to spend money on projects within this county. Pay attention to this:

The Redwood Economic Development Institute who also has McClure as CEO, also employs Moore as a project manager.

While on the Board of Supervisors McClure voted for money to be spent to benefit her company (REDI) who also employs Moore.

Moore actually presented the Coast to Caves Trail project to the Board.

If McClure in her capacity as a member of the Board of Supervisors voted to support funding her corporation. This is a clear conflict of interest. If this occurred anywhere else the local paper would be running a headline on the front page “McClure votes to fund REDI to Hire Moore who is also running for District 3 Supervisor.”

The worse thing about this is we need to find out how many times McClure and her political friends have done this over the years? This is wrong plain and simple.

I have repeatedly tried to alert this community of the cozy relationship McClure has with the environmentalists and the negative influence they have had in this county. When will people listen?

Good government demands that neither one of these people vote on the RAC because it benefits them monetarily. Clark Moore should have never proposed this to the Board of Supervisors as he has a stake in this project. McClure should have never been allowed to vote to spend money that goes to REDI the company she controls. When will the taxpayers and voters wake up???. Voters in District 3 please wake up!!!!.

In my opinion, Moore will do the same thing as a Supervisor as evidenced by the above.

RP

DNN - OLD News that should be re read.

The following Sierra Times report references Sarah Sample's decission on Bloody Valentines day February 14th 2003, to flood her constituents out of their homes.

CA: Lake Earl Flooding Leads to Mysterious Lake Breach
By J.J. Johnson - Sierra Times

Crescent City, CA continues to be embroiled in controversy. Lake Earl was mysteriously breached after the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors were called to an emergency meeting by Del Norte County Sheriff Dean Wilson on March 25th. Wilson declared a health and safety emergency at Lake Earl.

At issue is the ongoing saga of allowing the lake to virtually flood the town for environmental reasons.One of Wilson's motivations is the old Fort Dick dump, just off of Kellogg road. The dump, on School District Land, has a clay cap but no liner. The County claimed it was used for “household trash”, but everyone knows that automobiles and agricultural chemical barrels are buried there. The dump is inundated with water when the Lake reaches between five and six feet. Additionally, septic systems began to fail and and wells were in danger.

The Daily Triplicate reported that one woman had to be rescued from her home in Pacific Shores by Del Norte Search and Rescue. Rescuers reported traveling a mile in their boats over County Roads to reach her.Sheriff Wilson reportedly gave the County Supervisors two letters. One with the option of getting the myriad of permits demanded by various agencies, and one insisting the breach should be undertaken even if the agencies balk.

The Supervisors, who voted February 14th to leave the Lake un-breached, voted 4-0 to open the Lake. County Planning Director Ernie Perry told Dan Honeywell that the County would open the Lake even thought the Army Corps of Engineers would probably not issue a permit.

Lake Earl Grange conducted an informational protest of the politics, and bad policy, surrounding the Lake at this weekend’s Aleutian Goose Festival. In February, supporters of the festival asked the Board of Supervisors to leave the Lake un-breached because it is better kayaking when the Lake is at flood levels.

The Grange also put up signs along access roads. Slogans included, “If you love geese, hug a farmer.” A “Burma Shave” series says; “Honk for Geese”, “Honk for Ranchers”, “Honk for Four Feet”. The Ranchers lose $250,000.00 per year in pasture to the geese, who have been forced out of State pasture land by the flooding. Four Feet is the historic management level of Lake Earl. These signs were vandalized.

One of the most controversial signs, which was described by Goose Festival organizer Sandra Jerabeck as, “cute” read, “Goose Politics, Goose People, it’s Foul.” On Thursday Wildlife Conservation Board representatives met with interested parties at the Lake Earl Grange. The County was expected to open the Lake on Thursday. But apparently some one beat them to it last Friday.

Copyright 2003 The Sierra Times

DNN: More Samples of Really Trippy Tricks

Although Sarah Samples never showed up at the public meetings over forest service road plans, and the forest service never made mention at those meetings of a plan for an OHV park north of Gasquet, now a few moments before election time Sarah Samples and the trippy people claim she has worked for years to help OHV users.

This is typical election moment propaganda by the trippy people. It is obviously meant to decieve the people interested in OHV's into believing Sarah cares about their issue.

Anyone who knows the OHV issue in Del Norte County should realize instantly that Sarah will leave you high and dry. This is in contrast to her constituants living near Lake Earl whom she enjoys flooding out of their homes and ranches.

DNN - Trippy Tricks: a prediction

The Del Norte newspaper The Daily Triplicate actively promotes political candidates supporting the expansion of government power and control over ordinary people.

On Tuesday May 16 the front page demonstrated their bias.

The first lesson news journalist students are taught is that only about 10 percent of all readers will read the part of a front page story that is not on the front page.

So in the story on Supervisor candidates Hemmingson and Samples they focus on Samples on the front page.

They also place Hemmingson's photo below Samples. To be fair photos should be published side by side.

In the story itself Samples is described with active verbs, and sentences about her are not passive. Hemmingson is described as a long time businessman. The description alone nearly puts a reader to sleep.

Del Norte News predicts the upcoming story on Sullivan, Dunham, and Moore will show these same journalistic tricks heavily weighted to favor the candidate who supports government over people, Clark Moore.

The failures of the agencies he oversees will be ignored in favor of a rosy future scenario. Sullivan and Dunham will be dammed with faint praise.

Del Norte News: Archie

The family and friends of Archie Gargaetas extend thanks to the women and men of Del Norte County’s volunteer fire departments. They turned out in strength at Archie’s funeral to say farewell, bells ringing and sirens wailing, to a man they obviously loved.

Archie embodied everything we hold dear about opportunity, liberty, and individuality. Archie’s devotion to the Greek Orthodox Church, his commitment to fire fighting, his passion for sports and his generosity made him a man recognized by the entire community.

He was a successful businessman, operating Archie’s Chevron station at 6th and H Street, and then working as a landlord and apartment housing developer.

He proudly displayed the American flag and the Marine Corps flags on his pickup.

Archie received wounds while fighting on Iwo Jima in the Corps. The sounds of taps and an eight gun salute over his gravesite, delivered by his brother marines, lead to his wife Dottie and his daughter Sophia requesting that we recite Archie’s favorite prayer: The Pledge of Allegiance.

If, on Heaven’s scene, we truly will find the streets guarded by United States Marines, it will be a true pleasure for each of us to enjoy once again the joyful company of Archie.

Archie Gargaetas was 80 years young.

Del Norte News: More is Less

The Coast to Crest Trail is another assault on private property and business in Del Norte County.

On French Hill the trail crosses a private holding that contains the largest rock quarry in Del Norte County that is not on a river bar.

The owners of the property are under attack from the Friends of Del Norte and the other trail advocates. Clark Moore is a leader in pushing for yet another piece of private land to become park.

When highway 199 was being repaved the rock was quarried on French Hill. The “Friends” stopped the location of a temporary asphalt plant there because trucks would use the road. One of the loudest opponents is the daughter of a high ranking county “economic development” bureaucrat.

The asphalt plant was then placed right next to the highway and the river for all the tourists to see. Plus, all the trucks had to make extra trips so the cost to Del Norte County taxpayers and world energy supplies went up.

Del Norte County has great hiking with little to no crowding on our trails. There are alternative routes to the Crest, but God forbid someone might have to sleep over night in the sacred Redwood National Park. The current route was chosen to focus energy on converting the French Hill gravel mine to public land.

The owners of the French Hill property are fighting to keep their land private and productive. The way to help them is to look at the big picture and just say, “NO MORE”!