Klamath Agreement Signing Ceremony

On April 18, 2014, Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, Undersecretary of the Department of Commerce Kathryn Sullivan, California Resources Secretary John Laird, Klamath Tribal Chair Don Gentry, and members of the Klamath Basin Task Force gathered along the banks of Spring Creek at Collier Memorial State Park for the official signing of the Upper Klamath Basin Comprehensive Agreement. The historic agreement is the result of more than nine months of good-faith efforts from members of the Klamath Tribes and Upper Basin water users to develop solutions to water issues affecting the region. A draft Agreement was released in December for public review. The final Agreement, completed in March, details water management and restoration measures planned for the Upper Klamath Basin and reflects the commitment and hard work of people throughout the region. "We're here today because many people had the courage and the vision to set aside differences and work together to change the status quo," said Secretary Jewell. "With the three Klamath agreements in place, we have the tools needed to restore the basin, advance the recovery of its fisheries, uphold trust responsibilities to the Tribes, and sustain our ranching heritage from the headwaters of the Klamath to the ocean."