PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley say they’ve introduced promised legislation based on an agreement last month over water in the Upper Klamath Basin.
The agreement calls for sharing access to water and cooperating on restoring habitat for endangered fish.
The upper basin had a long legal battle over water rights on rivers running through former reservation land. The agreement followed a decision last year by an administrative law judge that the Klamath Tribes’ rights are most senior. The decision coincided with a severe drought.
Whether such legislation has a chance in the Republican-controlled House is a question. The basin is in the district of Rep. Greg Walden, Oregon’s only House Republican.
Spokesman Andrew Malcolm said Wednesday Walden hadn’t read the bill but looked forward to learning its details.
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