Office of the Secretary

For Immediate Release: March 30, 2001

Water Allocation Decision for Klamath Project
Subject of Continuing Discussions

Federal officials are continuing to work on an agreement for the operation of the Klamath Project's water supply for this water year. The Department of the Interior does not anticipate announcing that operations plan until toward the end of next week.

Two draft Biological Opinions are set to be finalized soon regarding Endangered Species Act responsibilities for the project. Managers from the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the National Marine Fisheries Service are continuing to meet to forge a decision on the issues.

The Department of the Interior is working very hard to develop the Fish and Wildlife Service biological opinion and the Bureau of Reclamation operations plan for the water allocation for basin farmers. The Bureau of Reclamation notified water users today that, "Reclamation anticipates the consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service to be completed during the first week of April 2001. Until such time that the consultation is completed, no diversion of Project water shall occur that would result in a violation of Section 7(d) of the Endangered Species Act."

-DOI-