GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — The Klamath Tribes are the first to approve a $1 billion agreement for restoring Klamath River salmon and bringing peace to long-standing water battles in the basin.
The tribes announced Tuesday that their members voted to approve the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, which is part of a broader settlement designed to remove aging hydroelectric dams that block salmon.
The overall settlement is expected to be signed by the dozens of parties next month.
Tribal chairman Joe Kirk says the agreement is good for the tribes. It helps them regain ownership of a 90,000-acre tree farm that was once part of their reservation.
He adds that it is good for the basin, settling decades of battles over scarce water and helping restore fish and wildlife.
