The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a resolution designed to shield Klamath Project irrigators from adverse impacts of dam removals and species restoration, as well as costs from two dams that remain.

Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ore., authored HR 7938, which was passed by a voice vote with two-thirds majority and without objection Dec. 17.

“This long overdue legislation is necessary if the federal government is to honor critical commitments it has made to farmers and ranchers,” Bentz said, in his floor statement.

Legislation details

Under the legislation, federal agencies would not be allowed to pass on the costs of operating or maintaining Keno and Link River dams, infrastructure built and formerly operated by PacifiCorp.

While four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River were removed this year, Keno and Link River dams will remain in place upstream.

Tracey Liskey, Klamath Water Users Association president, said in a news release that the resolution was an important achievement and great news for local irrigators.

“We have been promised for years that we would not be stuck with these costs but need this legislation to make that promise real,” Liskey added.

The legislation also will ensure that upstream migration of salmon and steelhead won’t impose new regulatory burdens. It provides a mechanism for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to install and pay for measures such as fish screens.

Similar Senate legislation

Similar legislation, S 482, authored by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., is pending in the Senate.

“Senator Wyden and Senator Merkley have been champions of this legislation for years,” said KWUA Executive Director Paul Simmons.

“It passed the full Senate in a previous session of Congress and has moved through all necessary Senate committees again this year,” he added in a news release.

Under the current congressional calendar, it is not known whether the legislation can be taken up in the current session of the Senate, which is needed for the bill to become law.

“We feel very positive that bipartisan leadership and support we have can push this across the finish line,” Simmons said.

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