This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE.

December 16,  2003

                   We all have a right to know what is or is not agreed to in the closed door discussions going on concerning the water rights of Upper Klamath Lake as well as the possible re-establishment of the Klamath Indian Reservation.

          After all....we should be deeply concerned because these talks can well determine what the future of this area is going to be.

          I’m not prejudging the results of the discussions, but must point out some facts that must be faced.

          In the first place.....it would be wonderful if those involved could bring forth a program that would bring the irrigators, the Indians and the fishermen together on a unified approach.

          But, in all honesty, there are some other facts that must be faced, particularly on the question of re-establishing a reservation.

          Despite what is being said.....the Klamath Indians benefited to the tune of more than $200 million dollars overall  in the termination of the reservation.  Also, at the time each Klamath Indian was given a choice of accepting some $43,000 cash for each member of their family....or putting their share of the termination funds into a trust to be managed by the U.S. Bank.

          As of 1955 the Tribe is reported to have had some 2,118 enrolled members.   After the voting of members to remain in a trust arrangement or accept the cash.....only 474 tribal members elected to remain in the Tribe and put their share of the reservation lands into a trust arrangement which was later dissolved.

          Yes there have been claims that the money expended for the reservation lands by the government were below what it should have been, at the time there were grave misgivings in the community about selling the reservation in large units to lumber companies because that might result in a cut and run strategy that would result in a timber glut and reduce the value.

          Even the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company which owned a great deal of timberland in the Basin at that time....recommended that the land become publically owned.   I can well remember the discussions involving people such as Tom Watters who was chairman of the three man commission and Frank Jenkins, Herald and News publisher at the time....that they came to the conclusion that the county would be better served by putting the lands into a National Park and that was the course they pursued.    It’s speculation today to say that the price the government paid for the lands was too low.

          Now.....let’s look at some facts that must be considered in the question of re-establishing a reservation.

          As Mike Long, Finance officer for the County, has indicated, the County last year received some 16 million as a result of the Winema National Forest.   Some of this money was apportioned to the schools.

          So...what happens if a reservation is established.

          Obviously there must be some way to offset this loss in revenue to the county else a great deal of the services provided by the county will not be available.

          In addition to that comes the question of public access to such reservation lands.    Access in the past when it was a reservation were difficult to say the least.   Hunting, fishing, recreation are rights of all the people of Klamath County....not just the Klamath Indians.

          I don’t point these things out to discourage such an effort by the Klamath Indians, but rather so that all citizens of Klamath County understand what is really at stake in the discussions going on about the future use of the area’s economic assets.

          As I said....we all should and must have a say in any agreement that certainly would have a bearing on the future of this county.

This is Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.