releases: https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-applauds-trump-administration-fulfilling-water-commitment
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-applauds-trump-administration-fulfilling-water-commitment | Greg Walden Applauds Trump Administration for Fulfilling Water Commitment to Klamath Basin Farmers | 2020-06-09 | 2020 | 2020-06 | Republican | House | OR | Greg Walden | W000791 | walden.house.gov | legacy | Clickhereor on the image above to hear an additional statement from Rep. Walden. WASHINGTON, D.C. --Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) commended the Trump Administration on today's announcement by the Department of Interior that made good on an April commitment to deliver 140,000 acre feet of water for farmers in the Klamath Basin. Walden, who participated in therallyin the Klamath Basinat the end of May that attracted thousands of participants, has been working with White House officials and the Secretary of Interior on the water delivery issue for over a month. The Administration heard our pleas loud and clear and were able to fulfill the allocation of water that was forecast in April. While this will help most farmers get through this crop year, I'm doubling down on my efforts to get a longer-term fix for the Basin. As I said at the rally, it's time for a reset.Despite every effort, the government's schemes to save the sucker fish have not improved the survival of the suckerfish, buthave harmed farmers. Every year we go through the same fights and get the same outcomes. Enough is enough. This strategy is a failure,said Walden. Farms inthe Klamath BasinofOregon andCalifornia havefaced uncertaintyin their water supply fordecades due toburdensome federal regulationsfrom multiple agencies. It is something Walden has worked on tirelesslyfor more than two decades including helping to putfish screens in canals, removing theChiloquin Dam to improve access to fish spawning habitat, and providing additional funding to improve water efficiency and reduce water use in the basin. I'm also working closely with our senators to pass legislation providing for immediate drought relief. We're clearly in a drought year in the Basin. Farmers in a normal year would receive more than double the water they're getting this year. We're going to suffer some losses, and we need to make sure the Department of Interior has all the legal tools they need to help those who are harmed,said Walden. Last Friday, Walden traveled aboard Air Force One with President Trump and Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt where he continued to advocate for the farmers and community in the Klamath Basin. He gave the Presidenta letterand urged President Trump to convene a multi-agency task force,including the Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture, to collaborate and find asolution for Klamath Basin farmers. We've done just about all there is we can do. And yet the government and courts always tell us it is not enough.Scienceshowsthat the plans and government regulations are just not working. Farmers are worse off than before. And fish populations are not improving. No one seems to know how many fish there are, how many there were, or how many there should be. Wemustdo better. We need a fresh look at this whole system, and you can help accomplish that,Walden wrote in the letter. In the letter, Walden highlighted that this year's drought has made the situation in the Klamath Basin worse than usual. Farmers are the backbone of our great nation. Inthe West, water is life. Without it we cannot raise the crops we need for our communities to surviveeconomically.We've faced droughts before, but this year things are worse than usual.Cropswereplanted before water allocations were reducedas farmers watchedwater released to help salmon downstream flow past dying crops,Walden wrote in the letter. Walden concluded the letter urging the President to convene a multi-agency task force to help find a solution for the farmers and ranchers in the Klamath Basin. He also suggested holding a summit, something he called for last week, to bring together officials to find the best path forward. We can't wait another two decades to make positive change. We need it right now,Walden wrote in the letter. Walden also released a video statement on both today's Klamath Basin announcement and about asking President Trump to convene a task force. Watch the video statement from Waldenhere. Read the full letter to President Trumphereand below: President Donald J. Trump 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20500 DearPresident Trump, Family farmsinthe Klamath BasinofOregon andCalifornia havefaced uncertaintyin their water supply fordecades due toburdensome federal regulationsfrom multiple agenciesthatfavorfish over farmers.Upper KlamathLakecovers an area three times the size of Manhattan,but most of the water ismanagedfor fish, leaving farmersas the last in line to receive water in droughts like they face this year.Farmers have done their partover the years, reducing water usage, improving access to fish habitat,and more,yet they get little credit for their efforts. They are getting a raw deal, but it doesn't have to be that way. With your help in conveningamulti-agency task force to look at the competing issues across the Klamath Basin, we can find a solutionthat provides water certainty to our family farms and ranches. This issueissomethingIand others in theKlamathBasinhave worked on tirelesslyfor more than two decades.Over the years, we'veputfish screens in canals, we've removedtheChiloquin Dam to improve access to fish spawning habitat.We've provided fundingand taken land out of production.We'vetalked to scientists. We've done just about all there is we can do. And yet the government and courts always tell us it is not enough.Scienceshowsthat the plans and government regulations are just not working. Farmers are worse off than before. And fish populations are not improving. No one seems to know how many fish there are, how many there were, or how many there should be. Wemustdo better. We need a fresh look at this whole system, and you can help accomplish that. Farmers in Oregon and Northern California have had enough. Last week, I attended a rally in Klamath Falls where thousands of fed upfarmers, ranchers and their neighborsshowed up and took a stand.A convoy of roughly2,200tractors, combines, trucks and moretraveled across thebasinin alinethat would have stretched across Manhattan from top to bottom.About 4,000 individuals showed up throughout the dayto make their support for our farmers and ranchersknown.Farmers are the backbone of our great nation. Inthe West, water is life. Without it we cannot raise the crops we need for our communities to surviveeconomically.We've faced droughts before, but this year things are worse than usual.Cropswereplanted before water allocations were reducedas farmers watchedwater released to help salmon downstream flow past dying crops. I know you and your administration care greatly about America's farmersand ranchersandyou canhelpsolvethis decadesold problem.Iencourage youtoconvene a multi-agency task force,including the Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture, to collaborate and find asolution.It would be highly beneficial to bring togetherthe right people within youradministration at a summit inOregonand find a path to water certainty for farmers and ranchers in the basin.We can't wait another two decades to make positive change. We need it right now. Sincerely, Congressman Greg Walden Oregon's Second Congressional District cc:Secretary David Bernhardt, Department of Interior | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |