February 16, 2024 — The Interior Department on Wednesday announced an armistice in the battle over the Klamath River, unveiling an agreement between farmers reliant on the waterway for irrigation and tribal nations seeking to restore the region’s fisheries.
The memorandum of understanding between the Klamath Water Users Association, which represents farmers in the Pacific Northwest, and the Klamath Tribes, Yurok Tribe and Karuk Tribe will guide future negotiations over the Pacific Northwest waterway.
The document, also signed by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, states that all parties will work on both improving the ecosystem of the Oregon-California waterway and improving “water supply reliability” for agricultural users.