Klamath Falls, OR – Today, the Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA), the Klamath Water and Power Agency (KWAPA) and the Upper Klamath Water Users Association (UKWUA) supported the public release of the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement. As part of a long-running negotiation, the parties have been working together for months to ensure that all Upper Basin irrigators have access to the best terms possible for water security, regulatory assurances, and power delivery.
KWUA President Luther Horsley emphasized that this agreement is part of a larger package, the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement that will provide meaningful benefits to irrigated agriculture. Horsley applauded Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar’s commitment to complete the remaining work on the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA) in order that it can be considered together with the Hydro Agreement. “We look forward to having dedicated time, now that the Hydro Agreement is complete, to update and finalize the KBRA document.”
Hollie Cannon, Executive Director of Klamath Water and Power Agency, said the proposed Hydro Agreement includes commitments to acquire and deliver power from Bonneville Power Administration to irrigators inside and outside of the Klamath Project in Oregon. He added that elements of the KBRA are still essential to the overall power program, particularly for agency members in California.
Karl Scronce of the Upper Klamath Water Users Association affirmed that off-project irrigators will receive equal treatment with the Klamath Project under the KHSA and the proposals in the KBRA. “We recognize that all Upper Basin agricultural interests need to work together for benefit of our communities – and together we have been able to convey the importance of our issues to both PacifiCorp and Interior.”
The Hydro Agreement also addresses issues beyond the hydro dams. Greg Addington, who has led the negotiation process for KWUA, noted that Keno Dam, owned and operated by PacifiCorp, was an important consideration. “Keno is essential to Klamath Project operations. To their credit, other parties we’re working with were sensitive to that and recognized the need to protect the interests of irrigators and Lower Klamath Refuge, which rely on Keno.”
KWUA, KWAPA and UKWUA noted that the Final Hydroelectric Agreement is not where the bulk of the irrigation parties’ power interests are dealt with. “We look forward to turning our full attention now to the KBRA and finalizing terms that combine federal power and renewable energy investment to provide affordable power for our members,” said Becky Hyde, of UKWUA.
Horsley added “This Hydro Agreement is the beginning of what will be a thorough internal review process for all agricultural parties, which concludes when we have a final KBRA for them to evaluate.”