Facebook Twitter Email
MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2002

President Bush on Saturday said he would help white farmers in the Klamath Basin of Oregon get the water they have been denied over the past year.

At a town hall in Portland, Bush expressed concern for the farmers whom the Department of Interior denied water in order to protect endangered species and uphold responsibilities to area tribes. Bush, according to a White House transcript of the event, said: "We spent time talking about the Klamath Basin. I share their concern about people who make a living off the land . . . [W]e'll do everything we can to make sure water is available for people who farm."

Bush did not provide any details on what he would do. He did not say anything about the tribes in southern Oregon and northern California who also depend on fish for living.

Get the Story:
Bush pledges aid to Oregon farmers, voices concern over jobless rate (AP 1/6)
Transcript of Speech to Oregon Workers (The White House 1/5)

Relevant Links:
Water Allocation in the Klamath Basin: An Assessment of Natural Resource, Economic, Social, and Institutional Issues - http://eesc.orst.edu/klamath

Related Stories:
Klamath water dispute subject of review (11/6)
Klamath farmers file new lawsuit (10/12)
Meeting held over Klamath water (9/27)
Denying farmers water was right, says tribe (9/5)
Klamath protesters stage barbecue (8/30)
Calm as water shut off in Oregon (8/24)
Klamath farmers prepare for water shut-off (8/23)
Protest held over Klamath water (8/22)
Klamath water war continues (8/14)
Norton asks for review of Klamath decision (8/2)
Violence feared among Klamath farmers (7/27)
Norton releases water for angry farmers (7/25)
Ore. farmers seek water diversion (7/20)
Norton won't convene 'God squad' (7/16)
Ore. town helps feisty farmers (7/12)
Authorities let farmers break law (7/9)
Farmers break into Ore. canal (7/6)
Farmers protest water for tribes, fish (5/8)
Water use upheld for tribes, salmon (5/1)
Tribes, groups discuss water project (4/24)
Klamath steelhead proposed as threatened (2/21)