Thousands rally in support of Oregon farmers

Wednesday, August 22, 2001

Thousands of farmers and other demonstrators plunked a giant bucket on the steps of a federal center in Oregon on Tuesday to protest a government decision to funnel scarce irrigation water to endangered wildlife.

Led by horseback riders wearing white cowboy hats and waving American flags, an estimated 4,000 protesters from five states rallied in Klamath Falls, Oregon, chanting, singing and demanding water for drought-ravaged farms.

The crowd included members of a "Convoy of Tears" who converged on the southern Oregon town from Nevada, Montana, California and Washington state, protesting an April decision to slash federal farm irrigation in the Klamath River basin.

A small release of water to farms in July ordered by U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton -- about 75,000 acre-feet -- will run out by Thursday and with little rain in the region this summer, many farms face grave prospects.

Farm water has taken a back seat to the needs of endangered fish, commercial fishing and tribal economies, and a wildlife habitat supporting over 1,000 bald eagles in a nearby refuge known as the "Everglades of the West."

That decision triggered a series of protests by farmers who lost a lawsuit then broke open irrigation headgates three times to obtain water.

Tuesday's demonstration was the largest to date.

One local farmer, Stan Thompson, announced on Tuesday he and others were ready to force the headgates open again when the relief allocation runs out.

But the irrigation mechanism is now protected round the clock by armed federal guards.

"Our security people will remain at the headgates in order to prevent a reoccurrence of the trespassing that has occurred in the past," Bureau of Land Management spokesman Jeff McCracken said.

Thompson said he was prepared to be arrested if needed. There have been no arrests or injuries so far in the summer of protests in the town, located near the California border about 175 miles (280 km) southeast of Portland.

Convoy members brought the embattled local farmers food, clothing and other supplies, including symbolic jugs of water and the 10-foot (three-meter) tall metal bucket.

Donnie Boyd, who runs a farm equipment dealership and is a spokesman for the farmers, said the bucket would stay on the steps until the farmers' battle with the government to restore irrigation for the farmers is won.

"We are law-abiding folks in this town. But if this injustice continues into next season, I don't see any way to keep it from being violent. Too many people are hurting," he added.

About 1,000 farms have been left without water by the government decision. Over 7,000 Klamath and Yurok Indians as well as thousands of commercial fishermen on the West Coast depend on the region's salmon.

Klamath County sheriff Tim Evinger, who has spearheaded mediation efforts between the various sides, said the mood of the crowd on Tuesday was "light-hearted and spirited. They want to get media attention and they certainly have that. It feels like the county fair."

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