    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 9 (Monday, March 4, 2002)]
    [Pages 327-328]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Memorandum on the Klamath River Basin Federal Working Group

    March 1, 2002

    Memorandum for the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of
    Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, the Chairman of the Council on
    Environmental Quality

    Subject: Klamath River Basin Federal Working Group

        The 2001 drought in the Klamath River Basin in Oregon and
    California, along with Federal legal requirements regarding water use,
    resulted in a scarcity of water available both for agricultural use and
    for maintenance

    [[Page 328]]

    of water levels necessary to sustain threatened and endangered fish
    populations in the Klamath River Basin. Last year, the reduction in
    water available for irrigation caused severe economic consequences in
    the Basin. Ensuring that the farming community has access to sufficient
    water supply while complying with Federal environmental laws and
    respecting Tribal trust obligations will involve complex economic and
    legal issues that call for the immediate attention of Cabinet-level
    officials and others. Accordingly, I direct as follows:
        1. Establishment. There is hereby established the Klamath River
    Basin Federal Working Group, which shall consist of the following
    officers of the Federal Government or other such officers designated by
    them: the Secretary of the Interior, who shall serve as Chair; the
    Secretary of Agriculture; the Secretary of Commerce; and the Chairman of
    the Council on Environmental Quality. Any designee named by a member of
    the group shall be a full-time or permanent part-time officer or
    employee of the Federal Government. The Secretary of the Interior may
    invite the participation of other Federal officials as appropriate and
    shall preside at meetings of the Klamath River Basin Federal Working
    Group and shall direct its work.
        2. Mission. The Klamath River Basin Federal Working Group shall
    advise the President on immediate steps and long-term solutions to
    enhance water quality and quantity and to address other complex issues
    in the Klamath River Basin. In formulating this advice, the Klamath
    River Basin Federal Working Group or its members are encouraged to seek
    input from stakeholders, including members of the farming and fishing
    communities; residents of the Basin; representatives of conservation,
    environmental, and water use organizations, and existing coordinating
    entities; the States of Oregon and California; local governments; and
    representatives of Klamath River Basin Tribal governments.
        3. Funding. The Department of the Interior shall, to the extent
    permitted by law and consistent with the need for funding as determined
    by the Secretary of the Interior, make funds appropriated to the
    Department of the Interior available to support the administrative costs
    of the Klamath River Basin Federal Working Group.
        4. Authority. Advice is requested from the Klamath River Basin
    Federal Working Group pursuant to the Opinions Clause of Article II,
    Section 2 of the Constitution and other applicable constitutional
    authorities of the President.
        5. Termination. The Klamath River Basin Federal Working Group shall
    terminate 18 months from the date of this memorandum, or at my
    direction, whichever occurs earlier.
                                                    George W. Bush