71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 Regular Session
 
HA to HM 2
 
LC 4241/HM 2-1
 
                       HOUSE AMENDMENTS TO
                        HOUSE MEMORIAL 2
 
              By COMMITTEE ON WATER AND ENVIRONMENT
 
                             May 18
 
  On page 1 of the printed memorial, line 3, after the second
comma delete the rest of the line and lines 4 through 31 and
insert 'the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of
Commerce:
  ' We, your memorialists, the House of Representatives of the
State of Oregon, in legislative session assembled, respectfully
represent as follows:
  ' Whereas the economy of the Klamath Basin relies on
agriculture; and
  ' Whereas the Klamath Project delivers water to farmers in the
Klamath Basin; and
  ' Whereas precipitation for the rain year from September 1,
2000, through April 17, 2001, in the Klamath Basin is 47.4
percent of normal; and
  ' Whereas the Governor of the State of Oregon declared Klamath
County in a state of drought emergency on March 28, 2001; and
  ' Whereas the Klamath Basin is home to the Lost River sucker
fish ( { - Deltistes luxatus - }), the shortnosed sucker fish
( { - Chasmistes brevirostris - }), the coho salmon
( { - Oncorhynchus kisutch - }) and the bald eagle
( { - Haliaeetus leucocephalus - }); and
  ' Whereas the Lost River sucker fish and the shortnosed sucker
fish are listed as endangered species and the coho salmon and
bald eagle are listed as threatened species under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973; and
  ' Whereas the Endangered Species Act states, 'It is further
declared to be the policy of Congress that Federal agencies shall
cooperate with State and local agencies to resolve water resource
issues in concert with conservation of endangered species'; and
  ' Whereas the United States Bureau of Reclamation declared on
April 6, 2001, without cooperation from the State of Oregon,
local officials or local agencies, and without consideration of
the economic implications to the Klamath Basin, that 'no water
will be available from Upper Klamath Lake to supply the farmers
of the Klamath Project' and 'based on current estimates, the
Bureau of Reclamation projects that there will be only about
70,000 acre-feet available for the irrigation of 'A' lands on the
east side of the basin'; and
  ' Whereas a full supply for the Klamath Project is 500,000
acre-feet; and
  ' Whereas the decision by the United States Bureau of
Reclamation is devastating to the population and economy of
Klamath Falls; and
  ' Whereas the water problems in the Klamath Basin are similar
to those facing farmers and ranchers in other western states; and
  ' Whereas the Governor of the State of Oregon has publicly
stated that 'an approach which involves private landowners in the
decision-making -- which gives them some ownership and investment
in the work being done -- has a greater and more immediate
 
positive impact on the resource than simply applying regulations
that tell them what to do'; and
  ' Whereas the State of Oregon is committed to preserving native
wildlife for future generations and is capable of developing and
implementing policies that preserve endangered species and the
livelihoods of local communities; now, therefore,'.
  On page 2, delete lines 1 through 5.
  Delete lines 7 through 25 and insert:
  ' (1) The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of
Commerce are respectfully urged to:
  ' (a) Require a local economic impact statement when making
decisions in implementing the Endangered Species Act;
  ' (b) Cooperate with state, local and tribal governments when
resolving water resource issues; and
  ' (c) Encourage the reevaluation of the biological opinions on
the Lost River sucker fish, shortnosed sucker fish, coho salmon
and bald eagle.
  ' (2) The President of the United States, the Senate and the
House of Representatives of the United States of America, in
Congress assembled, are respectfully urged to:
  ' (a) Pass federal legislation amending the Endangered Species
Act to take into account the local economic impact when
implementing the Endangered Species Act, to strengthen the role
of states, to provide increased certainty and assistance to
landowners and water users affected by the Endangered Species
Act, and to provide for scientific peer review and enhanced
public participation in the decision-making process;
  ' (b) Declare Klamath County a federal disaster area due to
drought conditions and the implementation of the Endangered
Species Act;
  ' (c) Provide disaster assistance to farmers and businesses
that are gravely affected by the water allocation decisions made
by the United States Bureau of Reclamation in the Klamath Project
2001 Annual Operating Plan; and
  ' (d) Develop long-term water supply augmentation, conservation
and storage solutions for irrigation and other water demands in
the Klamath Basin.
  ' (3) A copy of this memorial shall be sent to the President of
the United States, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary
of Commerce and to each member of the Oregon and California
Congressional Delegations.'.
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