November 28, 2007

Portland, Ore--In striking contrast to a previous report, the research arm of the National Academy of Sciences (the National Research Council or NRC) has determined that increased flows in the Klamath River are likely to benefit salmon. Hydrology, Ecology and Fishes of the Klamath River Basin analyzed what is known as the Hardy Phase II study and found that “following its prescribed flows probably would have some beneficial effects on the suite of anadromous fishes in the Klamath River...” (p.134)  

The NRC report also recommended that pending further study, “the recommended flows resulting from the [Hardy II] study should be adopted on an interim basis” (p. 129).

“This report is a major victory for salmon, commercial fishermen, Native Americans, and everyone else who cares about the health of the Klamath River,” observed Steve Pedery, Conservation Director for Oregon Wild.  “For years the Bush administration and agribusiness have claimed Klamath salmon don’t need more water, and now the National Academy of Science has slammed the door on their arguments.”

The NRC report examined two flow studies conducted on the Klamath River; a Bush administration-backed “natural flow study” by the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) that attempted to determine what river flows were like before dams and agricultural development, and the Hardy Phase II “instream flow study” that sought to determine what flows are necessary to aid the recovery of salmon. The NRC was dubious of the scientific rigor of the USBR study, pointing out specific shortcomings in the following areas: calculating the amount of water that historically evaporated from wetlands, properly considering the role of groundwater and land cover, using monthly rather than daily data and failure to adhere to standard scientific practices.

“The NRC gave the Bureau of Reclamation’s natural flow study a D,” said Oregon Wild’s Klamath Wildlands Advocate, Jim McCarthy.

The new report comes at a critical time for the Klamath Basin.  Federal fisheries agencies are currently reviewing the Bush administration’s draft 2008-2018 management plan for the Klamath Irrigation Project-a plan that envisions giving less water to salmon than called for by the NRC. Today’s report should provide guidance for federal biologists in calling for changes in the Bush plan.

The new report also comes as a Bush-administration sponsored "settlement" group works on a deal that seeks to tie progress on Klamath River dam removal to controversial anti-environmental initiatives on Endangered Species Act enforcement in the Klamath Basin, commercial agricultural development on the areas National Wildlife Refuges, and reduced water flows in the Klamath River.  The NRC’s findings are a major roadblock to the Bush administration’s behind-the-scenes drive to guarantee water deliveries to Klamath agribusiness without similar provisions for salmon.

“If the Bush administration’s settlement talks produce a worthwhile deal, it must provide Klamath salmon with river flow guarantees as good or better than those called for in the Hardy Phase II study,” added Pedery.  “Doing anything less would be both immoral and illegal under the Endangered Species Act.”

The NRC report comes five years after the largest fish kill in U.S. history claimed some 70,000 salmon on the Klamath River. That fish kill was preceded by a reversal of a 2001 flow plan that had called for more water for salmon. Later media reports alleged that the catastrophic decision to reduce flows in 2002 was orchestrated by Vice President Dick Cheney’s office. Today’s report specifically states that “scientific efforts must be independent of political meddling.” (p. 143)

“The NRC report shows that when scientists are allowed to do their jobs and the process isn’t tampered with, the Klamath River can get what it needs to be healthy again,” concluded McCarthy.

Fair and science-based flow levels that provide for fish recovery are part of a broader solution for the problems in the Klamath Basin. Any long term solution will also include an agreement with PacifiCorp for the removal of the lower four Klamath River dams, a voluntary program to buy back water rights from Klamath irrigation interests and returns these flows to rivers and streams, and a large-scale wetlands restoration program, starting with and end to commercial agricultural development on Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

Read pull quotes from NRC report online.

Contact: Oregon Wild's Klamath Wildlands Advocate, Jim McCarthy, at (503) 283-8396

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