Klamath Basin Business - May 2015

May 2015

Basin Business

Thursday, May 21, 2015, Herald and News

KLAMATH BASIN

Chamber golf tourney set in June —Page 6

Business

Leadership Klamath enrollment opens —Page 4

Periwinkle

& Resale

Consignment

Chamber president Dan Keppen talks about the GAC — Page 5 New owners take over Microtel Inn & Suites — Page 7

Linda Warner, owner of Periwinkle in downtown Klamath Falls, details her success in this month’s Basin Business feature — Page 2

A publication of the Herald & News

www.klamath.org

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Thursday, May 21, 2015, Herald and News

Basin Business

Clothing on consignment

Periwinkle marks its success with mark-downs on apparel, home decor

By GERRY O’BRIEN H&N Editor

P

A variety of name-brand quality cloting is pictured above in the Periwindle store in downtown Klamath falls.

At right, men’s clothing is a new line for the consignment shop, called Periman’s, “resale for him.”

H&N photos by

eriwinkle clothing resale and consignment store opened at the right place and at the right time. Owner Linda Warner recalls opening in 2007 during the upswing of the Great Recession.

“It was good because we provided a place people could buy quality clothing at about one-fifth the price.

They knew they were getting quality. And, if you had extra clothing you wanted to sell, you could make a little money doing that too,” Warner said.

Warner, 65, is a retired English and journalism teacher from the city schools.

“I was ready to retire but not ready to quit working,” she said.

She and her husband, Dave, a retired Oregon Tech physics professor, were vacationing in Mexico for Christmas when they met a couple running a resale store in Houston. That sparked an idea.

“I researched like crazy; read everything I could get my hands on,” she said.

Custom jewelry is another line The first storefront offered by Periwinkle opened at 900 Main in a 1,500-square-foot building.

Then she opened Periwinkle Home, home furnishings and décor, in 2011 at 831 Main. Finally, the clothing store at 811 Main opened in a 4,200-square-foot building, the former site of the Woolworth store.

“Technically we’re two storefronts and have four times the floor space,” she said.

Why the name Periwinkle? “I just like the color,” she said.

Today the store employs nine people and has continuous traffic of consigners.

Keeping track

One of the first things Warner did was purchase consignment software to track all the items. There are several thousand items to track.

Plus, Warner likes to offer reduced pricing the longer an item stays on the shelf. About every 10-20 days the prices are reduced by 20 percent or until it’s sold or re-upped by the consigner.

More on Page 3

Basin Business

Thursday, May 21, 2015, Herald and News

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Store managers Katie Huck, store manager of the clothing store Sara Ortiz is the assistant manager Paulette Rico home manager Hours: Periwinkle’s is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. In the summer, during Farmers Market, the store opens 9 to 4 on Saturdays.

(Continued from Page 2) “That’s the fun of consigning. If you wait too long, you may miss a bargain,” she said.

Also, the first Friday of every month items are marked down another 20 percent, split between the store and consigner.

Consigners get 50 percent of the sale or take 60 percent in store credit.

The computer program tracks everything from the moment an item comes through the door till it’s sold or returned; including the markdowns.

“I’ve had the program since day one. I don’t think I could have done this without it,” she said.

The stores offer shoes, accessories, sporting garments, purses, hats, scarves, some lingerie, home furnishings and decorative items.

Paulette Rico, left, manager of the Periwinkle Home, and her mother, Judy Reynolds, set up a display at Periwinkle Home, which includes furniture and home decor, at 831 Main Street, just down the block from Periwinkle clothing.

Above, a Periwinkle tag is pictured on a shirt.

High quality “We only take better name-brand and designer clothing,” Warner said.

While nearly all the items are consignment, the store does offer new jewelry, some accessories, greeting cards, candles and lotions.

Items are not used, but “gently loved,” she said.

“One thing we ask of our patrons is to bring in clean clothing on hangers, not piled in plastic bags.

Otherwise we have to stream press everything.”

The shop does offer alterations for clothing too, and has added a line for men’s clothes.

Infant, children and maternity clothes are being sold by another consigner, Blue Dot Kids, just down

the street at 135 S. 9th St. The Warners moved to Klamath Falls from Missouri for work in 1984. Now that they’re retired, “I wouldn’t live anywhere else,” Linda Warner said.

To her, Downtown Klamath Falls is an important hub for the city. And, the city is slowly changing its identity from a former cattle and timber town to a great place to retire.

“We can make downtown a destination where people come to eat, shop, take in a movie,” she said. gobrien@heraldandnews.com

Mark Fay, M.D. Scott Stevens, M.D. Physician/ Surgeon of the Eye Physician/ Surgeon of the Eye

Edwin Tuhy, O.D. Optometrist

Jennifer Sparks, O.D. Optometrist

New Patients Welcome

2640 Biehn St. • 541.884.3148 • www.klamatheyecenter.com

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Thursday, May 21, 2015, Herald and News

Basin Business

Leadership Klamath enrollment opens

The Klamath County Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for Leadership Klamath 2015-2016, according to a news release.

Leadership Klamath was developed by the Chamber in response to the ongoing need for leadership in all areas of public service.

For participants, the program creates a comprehensive and objective awareness of the Klamath community in action. The program consists of 10 one-day sessions over the course of a 10-month period. Each meeting encompasses a specific topic or industry such as tourism, emergency services, education, legal systems and economic development.

The program fosters commitment to our region and develops leaders to meet the demands of the future.

Since its inception, more than 325 people have graduated from the program. Beth Sanders of the Klamath County Museum is part of the 2014-2015

class.

“Leadership Klamath has not only introduced me to many of the opportunities, programs, and initiatives currently occurring in Klamath County, but has also allowed me to meet other current and future leaders within our community, both those in the program and those presenting, who have inspired me to think about how we can collaborate more effectively in Klamath to improve our individual and community capacities,” Sanders said in the news release.”

Leadership Klamath identifies and motivates emerging leaders and develops their potential for community leadership by exposing them to the realities, opportunities and challenges facing of our area.

For 10 months, participants attend seminars, tours, lectures and briefings. The program challenges class participants to become more involved in the decision-making process of Klamath County in political, social and business arenas.

Anyone interested in learning more about the program may contact the Chamber at 541-8845193 or register online.

Registrants who sign up before Aug. 15 will receive a $50 discount. Deadline for registration is Aug. 29. The first session will begin Sept. 16 and continues every third Thursday through June 2016. For more information on how you or your company can become involved, or to register for the program please call the Chamber office.

Klamath Freedom Celebration to host 4th festivities The Klamath Freedom Celebration and its 501 c3 nonprofit Foundation will coordinate and host the 2015 Independence Day Parade and Fireworks, the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce said in a news release.

The organization will plan, coordinate, and fundraise for the festivities. The Klamath Freedom Celebration will be working with the local VetMassie erans of Foreign Wars (VFW) on organization of the parade. The Chamber will maintain a supportive role in marketing and advising to help ensure the event’s continued success.

The change is part of a new strategic vision for the Chamber as it moves into more direct business service support of the membership.

Charles Massie, the Chamber’s Executive Director, says, “Over the last three years, the Chamber has been reviewing its programs and events to determine value, and interest, to Chamber membership. As we

move into more business services, it became necessary to assess the projects our staff is working on and the impact on available resources.”

Massie noted that following this assessment and member surveying; “It became apparent that the Independence Day event no longer fit the Chamber’s planned strategic direction. The Klamath Freedom Celebration expressed interest and is an excellent fit for the family-friendly event.”

Doug Brown of the Klamath Freedom Celebration says, “We’re excited to take on the parade and fireworks

to celebrate Independence Day in 2015.”

Brown says the parade will move back to the morning starting at 10 a.m. on Main Street and the VFW will help with parade management. The fireworks will be hosted and held for the first time ever by the Klamath County Fairboard and located at the Klamath County Fairgrounds. Brown went on to say this is very exciting as the facility makes for more parking, better traffic control, and is centrally located in the community.

The Klamath Freedom Celebra-

tion will be looking for sponsors and volunteers to help pull the event together.

The Chamber has coordinated the 4th of July events since 1995. “We’re excited about this change and think it will be a great experience for the entire community. The Klamath Freedom Celebration, VFW, and Klamath County Fairgrounds, are a great fit for the event and they’re going to do a great job,” said Heather Tramp, the Chamber’s marketing and program coordinator.

For more information on the event and these changes, contact Doug Brown at (541) 281-7094 or Gale McMahon at 541-591-7013, for all information including registrations go to www.klamathfc.org. You can also contact the Chamber at (541) 884-5193.

The Klamath County Chamber of Commerce has served Klamath County since 1905. It is a memberbased association made up of businesses and individuals who work together to advance the civic, economic, industrial, professional, and cultural life of Klamath County and the City of Klamath Falls, through advocacy and broad communication connections.

Basin Business

Thursday, May 21, 2015, Herald and News

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Chamber Government Affairs Committee Advocating for the local business community

By Dan Keppen Chamber President

The Klamath County Chamber of Commerce in recent years has pledged to find ways for members of our local business community to further realize y tangible results from being a member of the Chamber. Towards this end, the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee (GAC) has been increasingly active in recent years to monitor, engage in and influence government policies that affect local businesses.

Small businesses are the key to the economic health of our community. Unfortunately, business owners face a number of significant challenges, including laws and administrative policies that emanate from Washington, D.C., Salem and local city and county governments.

As the voice of business in Klamath County, the chamber is committed to keeping Klamath County competitive and improving the business climate. One Keppen of the best ways we can achieve this goals is through the legislative process.

The chamber’s GAC, created at the direction of the chamber board to advise and take action on legislative issues, is proud to work on behalf of the membership to advocate policies and legislation that contribute to the growth and prosperity of Klamath County.

The chamber advocates for a business climate that is conducive to business retention and expansion, and believes the regulatory environment must be balanced and not burdensome for business. The chamber wants to give its members a bigger bang for the bucks they contribute.

Our merchants face enough challenges running their own businesses, let alone worrying about whether new rules and regulations will bring new hurdles and uncertainty into their operations. On the other hand, there are countless activist groups — many with budgets in the tens of millions of dollars — who are doing everything in their power to influence policymakers to make decisions with negative consequences for businesses.

The GAC includes interested chamber business owners who coordinate with state and national Chambers of Commerce and local elected political officials to keep our members up to speed on policy matters that affect them.

Contact us: Klamath County Chamber of Commerce 205 Riverside Drive, Suite A Klamath Falls, OR 97603 Office: 541-884-5193 Fax: 541-884-5195 Charles “Chip” Massie: Executive Director cmassie@klamath.org

Heather Tramp: Marketing and Program Coordinator

The committee coordinates with our members and the chamber board of directors to set priorities and engage where required.

Because the GAC believes the business community wants to see real change and a move away from what they perceive as government dysfunction, the GAC five years ago fleshed out policy priorities and vetted those with Chamber leadership. The government affairs agenda is organized into the following categories: ■ Business Creation, Retention, Expansion and Recruitment ■ Education and Workforce Development ■ Environment, Energy and Regulation ■ Healthcare ■ Kingsley Field Retention and Expansion ■ Transportation and Infrastructure ■ Immigration Under each category, the GAC has summarized state, federal and local priorities, which are updated on a regular basis.

The involvement of our membership is vital to our organization. If you are interested in receiving GAC updates or participating on our committee, please contact Chip Massie at the Chamber (phone: 541-884-5193, or e-mail:cmassie@klamath.org).

Keppen is also the chair of the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee.

Do you own or manage rental properties?

• Ever had a tenant pay the rent late or not at all?

• Has your property been damaged by a tenant?

• Do you need rental forms?

• Are you looking to save money when upgrading or repairing your property?

• Are you aware of the Fair Housing regulations?

If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, find out how the Klamath Rental Owners Association can help you.

JOIN TODAY!

Email: heathert@klamath.org www.klamath.org www.facebook.com/Klamath Chamber twitter.com/AccessKlamath

4509 South 6th St. #314 www.KlamathROA.com

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Thursday, May 21, 2015, Herald and News

Basin Business

Klamath Falls Chamber members

Amerigas Atrio Health Plans Basin Transport and Delivery Carter-Jones Collection Service, Inc. Countertops by TopSecret Express Employment Professionals Exquisite Limousine Floyd A Boyd & Son Friends of Ella Redkey Pool Grange Co-Op imortgage Jalapenos Taco Shop Inc Klamath Art Association & Gallery Klamath Basin Homebuilders Assoc.

Klamath Basin Sunrise Rotary Club Klamath County Farm Bureau Klamath County Fire Dist #1 Klamath Equestrian Center Klamath Rental Owners Association Klamath Symphony Orchestra Kruise of Klamath Krysta Chavez Agency LLC/AmFam Les Schwab Tire Center Inc. Linkville Players M’Bellish Majestic Inn & Suites Metal Masters Mick Insurance Agency, Inc Olympic Inn Oregon Child Development Coalition Oregon Human Development Corp.1 Oregon Ostrich, LLC P & C Construction Company Paychex Inc. Rogue Credit Union Shasta View Speech Center, LLC Sizzler - Double S. Foods LLC Take Shape for Life The Creamery Brewpub & Grill The Shuttle/ Pelican Charters Transworld Systems Inc. U.S. Bank Ward’s Klamath Funeral Home Inc Waste Management Woodland Lighting Design

Submitted photos

A golfer, above, tees off during the Swing into summer tournament last year. Below, the Chamber’s Marketing and Program Coordinator Heather Tramp is pictured with her team, Brian Jones, Rob Cardoza, and David Alvarado.

Swing into Summer golf tourney set The much-anticipated “Swing into Summer Golf Tournament,” an annual golf tournament and fundraiser for the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce is set for Friday, June 19, at Reames golf course.

Registration will kick off at 11 a.m. and the shotgun-style tournament will begin at noon.

Golf committee chair Bridgitte Griffin, said in a news release that the tournament will host two flights this year. For the competitive golfers, flight one requires handicaps for all four players and no mulligans or string is permitted. For the second flight, handicaps are not necessary, string and mulligans will be available for purchase.

Griffin says the tournament is open to the general public; the event is not for only chamber members.

“Everyone is invited to come and enjoy a great day of golfing and networking,” said Griffin. “We have a great lineup of sponsors and raffle prizes, and the best part is you don’t even have to be a golfer to have a great time!”

Teams and individuals who register before the end of May will receive a 10 percent discount.

The chamber is also looking for tee sponsors to join the event.

“This event gives Chamber members and interested parties a way to start increasing their network and expand their business, “ said Heather Tramp, the Chamber’s Marketing and Program Coordinator. “This tournament is just another way to network with members and potential customers in the community.”

To sponsor or register a team, call the Chamber at (541) 884-5193 or visit www.klamath.org

Basin Business

Thursday, May 21, 2015, Herald and News

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Goodbye, child care costs … hello, college savings opportunities If you’re a working parent, you know firsthand about the difficulties of finding quality, affordable care for your children. But eventually, your kids head off to school, and those child care bills go away, or at least diminish greatly. When that happens, you could start putting away money for another one of your children’s milestones: college.

Just how expensive is child care?

Costs vary greatly among the 50 states, but the national average for a 4-year-old at a child care center is approximately $7,880 per year, according to Child Care Aware of America, a child care resource and referral agency sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. What could you do with the money once your child enters kindergarten?

Of course, not all schools provide all-day kindergarten, so you still may have some child care costs. For the purposes of illustration, let’s presume you can finally say “goodbye” to child care costs when your child is in first grade and let’s also assume your child is attending a public school. If you invested that $7,880 every year for 12 years, until your child reaches 18, you could accumulate more that $150,000 in a tax-advantaged college savings account, such as a 529 plan – assuming the money was placed in a hypothetical investment that earned 7% per year. (Keep in mind, though, that the word “hypothetical” means exactly that, because whenever you put money in any variable investment, there are no guarantees.)

Actually, earnings in a 529 plan accumulate and are distributed tax free, provided they are used for qualified higher education expenses. (529 plan distributions not used for qualified expenses may be subject to federal and state income tax and a 10% IRS penalty on the earnings.) Also, your 529 plan contributions may be deductible from your state taxes. However, 529 plans vary, so be sure to check

with your tax advisor regarding deductibility.

A 529 plan offers other benefits, too.

For one thing, the lifetime contribution limits are generous; while these limits vary by state, some plans allow contributions well in excess of $200,000.

And a 529 plan is flexible: If your child decides against college or vocational school, you can transfer the unused funds to another family member, tax and penalty free.

A 529 plan is a widely used choice for college savings, but it is not your only option. You could also consider a Coverdell Education Savings Account, which, like a 529 plan, can generate tax-free earnings if the money is used for higher education expenses. You can typically only put a maximum of $2000 per year to a Coverdell account, but it lets you use the fund on a K-12 and college expenses.

Whichever college-savings vehicle you choose, it will take discipline on your part to continue investing in it, year after year. And after freeing yourself from those child care bills, you can certainly think of other ways to use this “found” money. That’s why you might want to automatically move money from your checking or savings account to your 529 plan, Coverdell account or other investment earmarked for college. As your income rises over the years, you can increase the amount of these automatic transfers.

In any case, once those child care bills stop, you can put that money to work on your children’s behalf. Make the most of this opportunity.

MEREDITH HOFFMAN Financial Advisor, Edward Jones 1307 S Alameda Avenue, Suite B Klamath Falls, OR 97603-3601 Phone: (541)273-2483 Fax: (877)452-1831

Submitted photo

The new owners of Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham, above, are, from left, Raj Patel, Raksha (Rachel) Patel, Raj Patel and Sanjay (Sean) Patel.

New owners take over Microtel Inn & Suites Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham of Klamath Falls, previously owned by Lava Rock LLC, changed hands late last month.

The new group of owners are: Raj Patel, Sanjay (Sean) Patel, Raj Patel, Raksha (Rachel) Patel.

With more than 40-plus years combined hotel experience, the new owners are ready and able to take on this new challenge, according to a press release.

Microtel Inn & Suites, located on Dakota Court next to the Epicenter Bowling Center, was built in 2008 and consists of 58 modern design rooms, an indoor/outdoor heated pool, indoor hot tub, breakfast reception and shuttle service. Built to be the closest lodging establishment to the airport, the new owners are very interested in the future of air service to Klamath Falls.

Serving the many tourists that come to Klamath Falls each year, this hotel, as well as others, is the first impression of Klamath Falls for many travelers.

This hotel is certainly up for the challenge, winning the top 20 Microtel Award twice; awarded by Wyndham Hotel group for meeting brand standard, and great guest satisfaction ratings.

The new group of owners plan to make this a smooth transition and continue the culture of great service that the guest have come to expect. With many years of experience and hands-on management techniques the hotel will only improve over the next few months, just in time for the busy summer season.

“The owners are very hands-on with all of their properties. It is a pleasure to work for people that care about their business, and don’t mind working alongside the employee. It’s not often in our industry that you see the owners more than once a year, even less every day,” said Victoria Haley, director of sales and marketing.

“We are just another member of the team,” said owner Raksha (Rachel) Patel.

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Basin Business

Thursday, May 21, 2015, Herald and News

Paid Advertisement

May 2015 Newsletter for Oregon State Senator Doug Whitsett, District 28 Senator Doug Whitsett

R-Klamath Falls - District 28 I represent the citizens of Senate District 28, which includes Klamath, Lake and Crook, as well as parts of Jackson and Deschutes Counties.

As Senator of one of the largest Senate districts in the state, it is extremely important that my constituents remain in contact with me about the issues and concerns that affect their lives. You and I must work together to protect the common interests of rural Oregonians.

I encourage you to contact my office by either email or telephone so that I can know how to best serve you. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best Regards, Senator Doug Whitsett

Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-311 Salem, OR 97301 Capitol Phone: 503-986-1728 Newsletters: www.leg.state.or.us/whitsett Email Senator Doug Whitsett: sen.dougwhitsett@state.or.us

ADMINISTRATIVE BUREAUCRATIC DESTRUCTION OF BASIN AGRICULTURE MUST STOP Record low snow packs in Oregon mountain ranges have prompted Governor Kate Brown to proclaim drought declarations in Lake, Crook and Klamath counties. Those declarations emphasize the importance of creating efficient policies relating to the regulation of water use throughout Oregon.

The Senate attempted to improve Klamath Basin water policy by passing Senate Bill 206-A. I helped to craft the bill and had the honor of carrying the measure on the Senate floor, where it passed unanimously.

If passed by the House and signed into law by Gov. Brown, SB 206A will be of immense help to local irrigators who are imperiled by the lack of predictable water supplies. The division of water in the Upper Klamath River Basin is currently controlled by the administrative Finding of Fact and Final Order of Determination (FFOD) in the Klamath River Adjudication and by Biological Opinions (BO) being implemented to protect alleged endangered and threatened fish species.

That FFOD was issued by the Oregon Water Resources Department (Department) in March 2013. The entirely administrative determination is enforceable, and is currently being carried out by the Department.

However, Oregon water rights are not fully adjudicated until after the court has made its final ruling on exceptions, to the Department’s FFOD, and all judicial appeals have been completed. Current Oregon water law prohibits transfer of the place of use, and the type of use, until the water rights are fully adjudicated by the courts.

SB 206-A makes a unique and limited change to that statutory prohibition. It authorizes the temporary transfer of the place of use of a water right, as well as temporary in-stream leasing of a water right, subject to the administrative phase of the Klamath River adjudication. It strictly prohibits any temporary transfer or lease that would serve to either enlarge the water right or injure another water right.

The bill is limited and specific to only water rights subject to the FFOD in the Klamath River Basin. This unique authorization will allow Klamath Basin irrigators to better utilize what little irrigation water has been left for them to use in order to grow food and fiber. The transfer authority will either sunset in 20 years, or when the courts have completed the judicial phase of the adjudication.

Throughout recorded history, the Basin has experienced periodic meteorological droughts, lasting from one to several years. That reality is entirely normal for high-mountain valleys located east of the Cascade summit. Traditionally, water users have worked together, with good success, to get through those drought years.

However, during the past 20 years, the Klamath Basin has experienced persistent, ongoing and worsening man-caused droughts.

Water that has been diverted or stored for irrigation, for more than a century, has been reallocated, by our state and federal governments, for higher and better uses, under the “public trust” doctrine.

To make matters much worse, the Oregon Water Resources

Department (Department) is expanding its efforts to restrict the use of groundwater. On its own initiative, the Department initiated “conjunctive” management of groundwater and surface water in the Klamath Basin.

The Department alleges that this new groundwater management program authorizes the regulation of most irrigation wells located within a mile of a stream with a protected instream flow.

The Department bases its new pumping restrictions on ground water computer modelling that it claims is sufficient to prove, by a preponderance of evidence, that groundwater pumping is causing measurable and harmful negative influence to instream flows. Several well-respected hydrogeologists have reviewed the Department’s computer modelling and found it to be incomplete, unconvincing and possible fraudulent.

The ongoing reallocations of the use of water, under the public trust doctrine, have largely transcended the “doctrine of prior appropriations” which has been the measure of water allocations since long before statehood. Government reallocation of water, for higher and better uses under the “public trust doctrine,” has invariably resulted in more water being left instream and in the ground.

These forced changes in the use of water from irrigation to grow food and fiber, to instream flows for the benefit of fish, is the overarching cause of the persistent water shortages in the Upper Klamath River Basin. Our state and federal governments have accomplished all of these changes of the use of water entirely through the application of administrative actions.

Those changes are ongoing and becoming more onerous with each passing year.

Recently, the Klamath Tribes made their third consecutive annual “call,” to protect the instream water rights given to them, administratively, by the Department in its FFOD. Their “calls” requiring water, previously used for irrigation, to be left in the rivers have effectively prohibited the diversion of virtually any water, for irrigation, in four entire watersheds tributary to Upper Klamath Lake.

The Upper Basin “settlement agreement” includes the permanent “retirement” of 30,000 acre feet of irrigation water, to be delivered to Upper Klamath Lake. That enormous concession will permanently dewater about 25 square miles of fertile crop and pasture land. The “retired” water was intended to enhance instream flow in the tributaries to Upper Klamath Lake, and to provide more water for the Bureau of Reclamation’s 1,200-family Klamath Project downstream.

Last month, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced their intention to administratively “take” all of that 30,000-acre feet of water, for the benefit of alleged threatened Coho salmon in the Klamath River.

Approximately 15,000 acre feet in the spring is to be used for pulse flows to flush Coho smolts downriver, and 15,000 acre feet in the fall is to ensure adequate flows for the Coho to migrate upriver.

The NMFS’s only alleged alternative, to this ongoing theft of irrigation water, is to prohibit salmon fishing in the Klamath River this fall. According to the federal agency’s administrative rules, the prohibition of fall salmon

fishing in the Klamath River would require officials to shut down salmon fishing on the entire southern Oregon and northern California coasts.

This most recent reallocation of irrigation water only represents the tightening of the regulator noose. It is in addition to the 175,000 acre feet already dedicated for environmental flows in the Klamath River, the requirements for minimum Upper Klamath Lake levels for the alleged benefit of endangered sucker fish, and the new “conjunctive management” restriction on the use of irrigation wells.

Irrigation interests were compelled, coerced, some say even extorted, to join in the “settlement agreements.” Most have agreed to participate in order to save any part of their private property rights, from regulatory takings by governments “gone rogue.” The agencies are empowered by a less-than-transparent administrative rules process that shields the agencies from meaningful opportunities for irrigators to access due process in a court of law.

The Oregon Supreme Court has ruled that an irrigation water right is a valuable, and protected, property right. How should the value of a water right be determined?

Some people may recall that the federal government shut-off the irrigation water supply for 1,200 farm and ranching families within the Bureau of Reclamation’s Klamath Project in 2001. The alleged reason for the entirely “administrative” water shut-off was for the benefit of endangered sucker fish in Upper Klamath Lake and for the benefit of threatened Coho Salmon in the Klamath River.

During that water shut-off, the Klamath County Assessor reassessed the value of the irrigated farm and ranch land, from $2,700 per acre to $27 per acre. He reasoned that virtually nothing can be grown in the area without irrigation. Further, Oregon’s land-use planning rules prevent the use of the land for “any other” purpose. On appeal, the Oregon Department of Revenue upheld the assessor’s 99 percent reduction in assessed value.

The ongoing “taking” of irrigation water by government administrative fiat has resulted in grossly inadequate water for Basin irrigators to produce food and fiber for American consumers.

It is that unrelenting administrative reallocation of irrigation water that represents the primary need for SB 206-A. Please remember—if we do not stand up for rural Oregon, no one will.

Best regards, Doug Follow the link below to subscribe to an electronic version of my weekly legislative newsletter updates: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/ ORLEG/subscriber/new?topic_id=ORLEG_30.