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SCOTUS Non-Ruling: The Klamath Water Users React

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The John C. Boyle dam is one of four that are planned to be removed from the Klamath River.
Bobjgalindo/Wikimedia

No water, and no compensation for not getting water. That's the effect of a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court against taking a case that originated in the Klamath Basin nearly two decades ago.

The Bureau of Reclamation cut water allocations for farmers in order to protect fish, and the farmers sued. They and the Klamath Water Users Association argued that cutting the water amounted to a "taking" and should have resulted in payments to farmers.

Trial and appeals courts disagreed, and the Supreme Court's refusal to hear the case marks the end of the road for it.

KWUA President Tricia Hill and Executive Director Paul Simmons join us with their thoughts on the case and the issues involved.

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The Jefferson Exchange is Jefferson Public Radio's daily news program focused on issues, people and events across Southern Oregon and Northern California. Angela Decker is the program's senior producer, Charlie Zimmermann is the assistant producer, and Geoffrey Riley hosts the show.