Klamath Basin Headgates Re- Opened During Peaceful Rally 

From: klamathbasincrisis.org news team 
July 4th, 2001 

Klamath Falls, OR:  The headgates are open again. This time by a calm but persistent group of local farmers, ranchers and supporters .... In the heat of the afternoon, today, Independence Day, 2001. 
    A group of about  300, met peacefully, yet purposefully today at the head gates to the Klamath Project. After gaining entrance to the fenced area where the gates are located, about half of the group crossed in, subjecting themselves to possible arrest for trespassing. Having brought the proper tools, several members of the group then proceeded to liberate the locking mechanism, all the time being cheered by the group both inside and outside the gate. Then at least twenty people, representing a cross section of the basin, helped to turn the long steel rod, that opens the gate. All the other peaceful protestors cheered and sang. 
    A moment of concern for the protestors occurred when a couple Klamath Falls Police Department squad cars arrived, however they stayed on the other side of the street and did not interfere. Klamath County Sheriff Tim Evinger also showed up, when asked, he said he was just here to monitor the water level in the canal, nothing more. As a symbolic action only one of the six gates were opened, creating no danger of any flooding.
    "If the Bureau of Reclamation closes it,  we will come and open it again", one member of the group said, It's our water, it was given to us by the government, then we paid for it, worked for it, we have the right to get it back."   
    Another said: "Today I stood with my fellow Americans, with flags flying, patriotic songs in our hearts.. in our souls, we locked arms, we made our statement. If all the gates are closed already, it still was truly one of the high points of my life, to show our strength, our resolve, together on the 4th of July! 

See background and  more on this continuing crisis  at http://www.klamathbasincrisis.org/

The Headgates