Subject: [Tweeters] Help needed
Date: May 27 19:10:56 2013
From: Diane W - diane_weinstein at msn.com


Thanks for letting us know.

Here is the contact information for Secretary Jewell at the Department of the Interior:
http://www.doi.gov/public/contact-us.cfm

Last year there was an online petition somewhere about opening up the flow of water to the Lower Klamath Basin/Marsh. Sounds like another one is needed.

Diane Weinstein
Issaquah

From: Jon Purnell and Sherrie Rogers
Sent: Monday, May 27, 2013 4:16 PM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: [Tweeters] Help needed

Hi Tweeters

This is off topic and I?m hoping it is ok to post here?but the birds in the lower Klamath Wildlife Refuge need help?as a group we have a big say in things and we are sure that many of you have visited the refuges in Oregon. The Lower Klamath Basin/Marsh is in big trouble. Many of you may know way more about this than us and we would like your input?feel free to repond off list.

The lower Klamath Marsh is drying up?they usually route water from Tule lake to the Lower Klamath Marsh but evidently there was a final decision in a long running court case over water rights and ?the birds lost and the fish won.? They are diverting water from Tule Lake to the rivers?.which means that by June/July Klamath Marsh will no longer be a Marsh but a vast dried-up wasteland with the potential for thousands and thousands of birds on the refuge to die. The biologist that we talked to for quite awhile was really upset. Right now the water is dwindling?they are allowed to use up the water coming in from winter reserves but when that is gone there will be no more water coming in. As a result, the birds are concentrated into smaller and ever smaller areas so that you can see them but when the marsh dries up there will be no habitat, no food, no water.

The biologist told us to tell everyone and have them write letters to the Dept of Interior and anyone else that you can think of?.please share your ideas on contacts. Many of the farmers in the area have been diverting some of their water to the Marsh. Evidently the judge that heard the case did not understand that without the marsh there is no ecosystem that supports the food supply that feeds the birds and it was some environmentalist extremists that took the case to court so when they sued it was from an extremist viewpoint. The judge even with all the biologist testifying prioritized the water distribution with the marsh loosing out.

The biologist did say that part of the problem was also from the endangered suckerfish that inhabit the canals so they have to keep the canals full. It?s really sad. She said that when the public speaks in mass that things do get changed. So please pass this on and spread the word.

Sherrie and Jon

jonnsher at wavecable.com



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