Fish killed on the Klamath – High Country News – Knowing the West



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Anna V. Smith’s report on Klamath River fish mortality in the July edition (“The continued fish mortality on the Klamath River is an ‘absolute worst case scenario’,” July 2021) mentions the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, which was not adopted by Congress. The report did not note that, had it become law, it would have blocked the flows of the Klamath River.

Since the 1980s, the Republican and Democratic administrations have orchestrated and Congress has approved more than 30 tribal water regulations. Although each is unique, tribal governments have generally waived or agreed not to exercise superior rights over water. In return, the tribes receive funding for water infrastructure, sewage systems and tribal government operations.

But who in their right mind would sell or compromise a superior right to water in the West?

I believe historians will view the current colonization period as the second great con of the indigenous peoples of North America: first, they took the land and tried to exterminate the people; now they are taking water, with the consent of the tribal governments which are themselves colonial creations.

Good peace
Klamath Glen, California



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