Political Quotes

“I rise today to address the long history of water disputes in the Klamath Basin and commend the work of the community in coming together to begin a new, collaborative era of water management in the region. When I was first elected to the U.S. Senate, one of my first trips across Oregon included a visit to the Klamath Basin to gather information about the history of the water wars in the region and meet with the stakeholders who were working on a solution. On my way down to the Basin I was extremely skeptical that traditional rivals could reach agreement on a written management plan. Only a few years earlier, the region was embroiled in protests and civil disobedience over sizeable fish kills and limited supplies of water for irrigation. The generational battles over water had deepened divides, often making it hard for parties to be in a room together, let alone work together. When I arrived in Klamath Falls, therefore, I was deeply surprised to find farmers, ranchers, fishermen, Tribal leaders and conservationists working together on a comprehensive and collaborative plan that would end the ongoing water wars of the region, improve the local economy and create a stronger environment for the future. They told me they were tired of the unproductive battles of the past and of the massive amounts they were spending on lawyers rather than solutions. They thought they had some chance of finding a better path forward. This was impressive.…”