[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

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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