Norton Seeks Review of Her Experts’ Actions
Interior Secretary Gale Norton will ask the National Academy of Sciences to review the work of federal biologists that led to a shut-off of irrigation water to some farmers in the Klamath Basin, along the California-Oregon border.
The request is unusual because it seeks an outside critique of experts at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an agency Norton oversees.
Those biologists set a minimum level for Upper Klamath Lake to protect two endangered species of sucker fish, meaning that no water was available for farmers who have been dependent on irrigation water channeled from the lake.
A National Academy spokesman said the independent group’s board will probably vote at its September meeting to undertake the review.
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