Jan 19, 2013
http://www.tworiverstribune.com/2013/01/more-whistles-sound-on-klamath-river-science/
Two Rivers Tribune.com
The Klamath River./TRT File Photo
By KRISTAN KORNS, Two Rivers Tribune
Seven biologists claim “coercive threats” are being used to censor scientific reports and to silence scientists working for the Bureau of Reclamation.
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) filed a complaint Monday, Jan. 7, 2013 with the Department of the Interior on behalf of the seven scientists.
PEER wrote in their complaint that the Bureau of Reclamation’s Klamath Basin Area Office Manager Jason Phillips had sent a memo threatening to shut down that office’s Fisheries Resources Branch because their scientific studies had been “causing problems” for other agencies.
Jeff Ruch, executive director of PEER, said, “This was used as a way to intimidate them and put them in line.”
Pete Lucerno, public affairs officer for the Mid-Pacific Region Bureau of Reclamation, said Phillips’ memo could have been worded better, but was only intended to open a line of discussion with the scientists and their union.
“The Bureau’s new Regional Director David Murillo, who came on in mid-December, is working with Jason [Phillips] to see how best to maximize our resources,” Lucerno said. “This is clearly a case of reorganizing for efficiency’s sake to meet our mission.”
In the memo sent out in November, Phillips recommended shifting research and data collection for the Klamath area over to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
Phillips wrote, “Stakeholders in the Klamath Basin, including tribes, other agencies, and interest groups, view studies performed by USGS and other scientific entities, such as universities, as credible.”
“Unfortunately, this is not the case of the studies carried out by KBAO,” Phillips wrote.
Hoopa Valley Tribal Chairman Leonard Masten Jr. said, “Recent claims of retribution by government scientists come as no surprise.”
“The Bureau of Reclamation has used bad science in the past,” Masten said. “No one living on the Klamath can forget the Bush administration decision to manipulate science in 2002 and the subsequent death of 60,000 salmon.”
In 2002, water was diverted away from the Klamath to desperate Oregon farmers during a drought, despite Endangered Species Act regulations designed to protect the river’s fish.
By September 2002, tens of thousands of fish were dead and rotting along the banks of the river.
Then lead biologist on the Klamath for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Mike Kelley blew the whistle on what he characterized as political pressure to ignore or reverse science findings.
“I believed, both personally and professionally, that our agency had violated the law during the Klamath River ESA [Endangered Species Act] section 7 consultation,” Kelley said.
Kelley’s team had just delivered a report outlining the lowest possible flows for survival of Coho salmon, when his supervisor received a call and stepped out of the room.
When the supervisor returned, he cut the estimated flows in half.
It was later revealed by The Washington Post that unprecedented political pressure had been brought by then Vice President Dick Cheney in support of Oregon farmers.
The political pressure included direct phone calls from Cheney to officials far down the chain of command in the Interior Department, to handle “this Klamath situation.”
More recently, hydrologist Paul Hauser, a science advisor and scientific integrity officer for the Bureau of Reclamation, said he was dismissed from his post in February 2012 in retaliation for exposing “intentional falsification” and “biased summarization” of scientific results.
“The expectation for employees to compromise scientific integrity in support of Departmental missions and goals, and to engage in systematic reprisal when an employee questions the Department’s scientific integrity, is clearly an abuse of authority,” Hauser said.
Lucerno said possible reorganization of the Fisheries Resources Branch had nothing to do with scientific misconduct or reprisal, but is a way to avoid wasting resources or duplicating the efforts of other agencies.
“If Fish and Wildlife is doing scientific research, why do we need to continue to do the same research when we have other things these guys could be doing?” Lucerno said.
Lucerno added that every employee would continue to work, but the work would change if other agencies took on future studies in the region.
“Some could shift over to overseeing grants for outside agencies that do science for us,” Lucerno said.
Ruch said he viewed Phillips’ memo as an implied threat.
“They’re sort of being told ‘make nice, or you’ll all go,’” Ruch said.
May 14, 2012
Endangered Species Act,
Federal gov & land grabs,
KBRA or KHSA,
Klamath River & Dams,
Oregon and Water,
Paul R. Houser Ph.D. scientist,
Politicians & agencies,
Salmon and fish,
Sham Science,
Threats to agriculture,
Water rights,
Water, Resources & Quality,
Whistleblowers
Ridin’ Point
By Marcia H. Armstrong, Siskiyou County Supervisor – District 5
“Klamath Whistleblower” Part 1 of 2:
Recently, Paul Houser, Ph.D. met with the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors (BoS) to discuss the science of the Klamath dam removal studies. Houser has a degree in hydrology and is an expert in hydrometeorology. He is currently a Professor at George Mason University. He was the Bureau of Reclamation’s (BoR) Science Advisor and his duties included advice on peer review and scientific integrity.
In September of 2011, Dr. Houser was asked to review a press release and summary of the dam removal science. In his review, he felt that the documents were biased and the science was being spun or manipulated to support dam removal. Houser commented that science informs decisions and decision-makers should get a realistic summary of the risks.
When he transmitted his concerns, he was advised not to create a document that would be discoverable by Congress or a Freedom of Information Request (FOIA.) It was also indicated that his disclosure was not welcome because the Secretary of Interior wanted the dams removed. It became clear to Dr. Houser that the decision to remove the dams had already been made and the science was being manipulated to support a predetermined outcome.
Despite making his concerns known in writing, they were never addressed. The press release was changed slightly, but not the summary of the science. The BoR recategorized his position as probationary and eliminated his travel, training and mentoring. In February 2012, his Supervisor gave him the option of resigning or being terminated. He chose the later and has filed a complaint raising issues of biased science and scientific integrity with the Inspector General for Whistleblower Protection. The following Monday, the Secretary of Interior delayed the anticipated announcement on his decision whether or not to remove the Klamath dams, stating that Congress had not yet passed legislation giving him the authority to do so.
Citing examples of manipulated science to the BoS, Houser pointed out that the dam removal EIS/EIR (Environmental Impact Statement/Report) claims an expected 81.4% increase in Chinook population. The expert scientific panel actually indicated an expected possible increase of as much as 10% in chinook spawners due to 10 different factors, including water quality and significant restoration work in the tributaries. The 81.4% figure came from an un-peer reviewed report by a contractor, which had a huge range of uncertainty.
When asked by the BoS about his opinion concerning dam removal, Houser pointed out core water quality and temperature issues in the Upper Klamath that were limiting factors to salmon. He also expressed concern about the impacts of the sediment flush. He said that he believed that removing the dams was at best – risky, and at worst – tragic. One of the real issues is that the BoR failed to consider logical alternatives to dam removal, such as truck and haul or the fish bypass. Also, his Supervisor had been a long time lobbyist for Trout Unlimited, which posed an ethical conflict of interest.
Houser talked about how paid science can reflect the purchaser’s agenda. The wording of a hypothesis given to a scientist by an agency drives the science and can result in bias if it fails to consider all the options. The government’s failure to do social and economic impact analysis also leads to imbalanced decisions and the failure to recognize trade-offs.
He talked about his concerns over how the dams would be breached and the remaining slow release of eroded fine sediment that would affect the river for years afterward. According to Houser, the habitat in the Upper Basin is not even good habitat for salmon and steelhead. He agreed with Supervisor Kobseff that a trial test of released hatchery salmon in the Upper Basin would be a prudent experiment before removing the dams. Houser also agreed that truck and haul was not a radical alternative and that it was being used in other rivers.
State Responsibility Area (SRA) Fire Prevention Benefit Fee: There will be a hearing by the CA Board of Forestry on the proposed draft permanent State Responsibility Area (SRA) fee on May 23 at the Shasta County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 1450 Court Street, from 1-4 p.m. As it currently stands, fee bills of $150.00 per per habitable structure are set to be sent to property owners on August 7. Property owners within the SRA and also within the boundaries of a local agency that provides fire protection services shall receive a reduction $35.00 per habitable structure. Written comments on the permanent regulations can be submitted anytime to the Board of Forestry at board.public.comments@fire.ca.gov or Mr. George Gentry, Executive Officer , Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, P.O. Box 944246, Sacramento, CA 94244-2460
Ridin’ Point
By Marcia H. Armstrong, Siskiyou County Supervisor – District 5
“Klamath Whistleblower” Part 2 of 2:
Recently, Paul Houser, Ph.D. met with the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors (BoS) to discuss the science of Klamath dam removal. Houser was the Bureau of Reclamation’s (BoR) Science Advisor and his duties included advice on peer review and scientific integrity.
According to Dr. Houser, politics has no place in science and if you are trusting science from the BoR, it comes with a political agenda. The expert panel reports were rather good in expressing the uncertainty and the risk of the impacts of dam removal. It was decision-makers higher up that were trying to change the science to match their political agenda. Houser also expressed some concern about the peer reviewers selected to review the science. In one case, a dam removal engineer was selected as a reviewer – bringing a possible predetermined bias and conflict of interest.
Supervisor Grace Bennett expressed concern that removal of the dams would eliminate their function as “settling ponds” in cleaning the river. Houser indicated that the water quality in the Upper Basin was impaired by phosphorus from volcanic soils. Studies have shown how the dams have cleaned up water quality. Without them, the poor water quality at Keno will be the water quality for the entire river. He also indicated that in the Upside down nature of the Klamath River, the Trinity River’s contribution to cold, clean water is extremely important. It appears to be treated as a separate river, instead of a vital part of the Klamath River system.
Houser had concerns for the toxicity of the sediment behind the dams. He said that it contained chemicals that had been used in the past that don’t break down easily. Once the dams are removed, a layer of from one to six feet of sediment would be deposited on the streambed downstream of the dams. The dam removal EIS/EIS (Environmental Impact Statement/Report) assumes that most of the sediment will stay in place. As has been shown with old mill dams in the Shenandoah, erosion over the years can caused a legacy of water quality problems into the future.
Surprisingly, there has been very little push back from his allegations from supporters of dam removal. When he was challenged to a debate by an environmentalist, he answered that he was going to argue in favor or scientific integrity and asked if the challenger was going to argue in favor of scientific misconduct.
In the delta smelt lawsuit, each side had its own scientists. The irrigator’s scientists tried to convince the judge that the fish’s needs allowed for flows to farmers. The agency’s scientists tried to convince the judge that every drop of water was needed for the fish. It was obvious what the biases were and the judge had to decide between them. He blasted the federal scientists. He told them that they were being paid by the tax payer and were obligated to look at all sides, good or bad, and provide unbiased and balanced information upon which to base a decision.
In the case of the Klamath, Houser indicated that the local scientists he had spoken with are disgusted with what has happened with science on the Klamath. Houser would like to do an independent peer review and take a look at what we do know and what we still need to know.
Supervisor Bennett indicated that the local fish passage idea had been turned down out of hand by the CA Dept of Fish and Game and BoR. Houser stated that the fish passage idea looked like a good creative idea if it would deliver fish to suitable habitat. Engineering makes sense in other areas with high tech elevators, etc., why not on the Klamath?
Natural Resource Specialist Ric Costales asked whether or not working in a hotbed of political pressures was just par for the course for scientists. Houser indicated that the Klamath was particularly egregious because the Secretary had made the decision to remove the dams years before in 2009 and had implemented a process masquerading as a scientific process to justify it.
County Counsel Tom Guarino stated that the BoS had long been concerned about the quality of Klamath science and had insisted that reference to the President’s March 9, 2009, Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies on “scientific integrity” be included in the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement. Dr. Houser indicated that, as BoR advisor for scientific integrity, he was required to follow these Presidential orders.
In regard to his formal complaint to the Inspector General for Whistleblower Protection on the scientific bias and lack of integrity, Houser stated that he had also included Siskiyou County’s concerns raised in its comments on the dam removal EIS/EIR
Apr 9, 2012
PNP comment: Wow, I was interviewed. I also sent in a Press Release on Paul R. Houser Ph.D. coming to Klamath and Siskiyou and this is all the Herald and News printed? Oh yeah, Herald & News signed on as supporters of the KBRA. Check out KBRA = Jobs site, which is nothing but biased propaganda! And there is also much more to the Whistleblower complaint. — Editor Liz Bowen
Herald and News
Klamath Falls, Oregon
April 9, 2012
A scientist who filed a whistleblower complaint after being fired as an advisor to the Bureau of Reclamation on ethical issues will talk about his case during public appearances in Klamath Falls and Yreka.
Dr. Paul Houser will speak at meetings hosted by the Cal-Ore Bi-State Alliance, including a 5 p.m., May 6, session at Triad School in Klamath Falls.
In February, Houser said in his complaint he was fired because he believed statements by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar supporting removal of four Klamath River dams predetermined results of scientific studies that support dam removal.
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NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted
material herein is distributed without profit or payment to those who have
expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit
research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml
This information and much more that you need to know about the ESA,
the Klamath River Basin, and private property rights can be found at The
Klamath Bucket Brigade’s web site – http://klamathbucketbrigade.org/index.html –
please visit today.
Apr 2, 2012
April 2, 2012
From:
Cal-Ore Bi-State Alliance: Grassroots groups represents five counties — Siskiyou, Modoc, Klamath, Jackson and Josephine with three sheriffs participating, including Siskiyou Jon Lopey, Modoc Mike Poindexter and Oregon’s Josephine Sheriff Gil Gilbertson.
Bi-State Alliance Contact: Frank Tallerico at 530-841-1848
Press Release writer: Liz Bowen 530-467-3515
Whistleblower coming to Klamath and Siskiyou
The newly-formed Cal-Ore Bi-State Alliance is bringing independent scientist Paul. R. Houser Ph.D. to Klamath and Siskiyou Counties the first week in May.
Meetings will be held on both sides of the border with Dr. Houser, who was fired for his allegations of scientific and scholarly misconduct regarding the federal government’s environmental reports on the Klamath dams.
Dr. Houser was hired by the Bureau of Reclamation in April of 2011 to serve as the agency’s top ranked scientist and was one of the highest ranking scientists in the entire federal government. His job was to review and insure the scientific data and honesty in the Klamath dam removal project. But federal government officials did not like his conclusions and he faced internal reprisal and then employment termination.
“We are showing our support for Dr. Houser and invite the public to attend these meetings,” said Frank Tallerico, a leader of the Bi-State Alliance. “Come and listen. He has much to tell us.”
The first meeting held will be in Klamath Falls on May 6. Time is 5 p.m. at the Triad School, 2450 Summers Ln. The Yreka meeting will be on May 7th at the Siskiyou Golden Fairgrounds Flower Building at 6:30 p.m.
Science is the issue. Members of the Bi-State Alliance have long complained that fraudulent science is being used by government agencies to advocate the destruction of four hydro-electric dams on the Klamath River. Three of these dams are in California and the J.C. Boyle dam is on the Oregon side. But complaints about poor science have fallen on deaf ears, even at the Oct. 20, 2011 Dept. of Interior meeting that gathered public comments on the EIR/EIS of dam removal.
In February, Dr. Houser made news, locally, when he filed a “whistleblower” complaint and sent a letter to the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors asking for support.
Dr. Houser did not know members of the Bi-State Alliance have alleged, for years, that much of the science being used to advocate dam removal is fraudulent.
“I was not aware of how contentious this was,” said Dr. Houser in a recent interview. And it never crossed his mind that he would be fired for submitting his report alleging misconduct.
“I am saddened by this process. I was doing what I was hired to do,” Dr. Houser explained. “I want science to make a difference — to help people.”
One of Dr. Houser’s allegations is the intentional falsification motivated by DOI Secretary Ken Salazer’s 2009 public statement that the Klamath Dam removal “will not fail” indicating a pre-determined intention in favor of dam destruction. Dr. Houser further states that the Summary of Key Conclusions: Draft EIS/EIR and Related Scientific/Technical Reports “intentionally distorts and generally presents a biased view of the Klamath River dam removal benefits.”
Dr. Houser plans to appeal his termination of his Bureau position. “I have been treated wrongly by the Department of the Interior,” said Dr. Houser. He was hired to be the “integrity” advisor.
“The Bi-State Alliance will advocate for Dr. Houser,” added Tallerico. “We are heartened by his personal integrity regarding science.”
For more information, contact Frank Tallerico at 530-841-1848.
Mar 29, 2012
March 27, 2011
Published Siskiyou Daily News
Exciting news! Federal whistleblower Paul R. Houser, Ph.D. has been invited to Siskiyou County and he accepted.
Cal-Ore Bi-State Alliance extended the invitation and is flying him out from the East Coast. Most folks do not know about the Bi-State Alliance as it is a newly organized grassroots group with individuals from five counties and includes three sheriffs. There were 29 individuals attending our meeting earlier this month. Our goal is to keep the Klamath dams in and the clean hydro-electricity flowing to us.
The first meeting with Dr. Houser will be in Klamath Falls on Sunday, May 6 at 5 p.m.
The second meeting will be in Yreka at the Siskiyou Golden Fairgrounds in the Flower building at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 7.
The Siskiyou Board of Supervisors were told that the Bi-State Alliance is bringing him out and agreed to put him on their meeting agenda on Tuesday, May 8.
All of these meetings are open to the public. The Supervisors may need to change their meeting room to a larger venue as this is an issue of great concern: Sham science is being used to tout the destruction of four Klamath dam.
“Dr. Houser was employed by the Bureau of Reclamation in April of 2011 to serve as the agency’s top ranked scientist and was one of the highest ranking scientists in the entire federal government. It was his job to review and insure the scientific veracity, honesty, reliability and reproducibility of the agency’s scientific conclusions and publications.
“Dr. Houser’s first allegation is intentional falsification motivated by Secretary Salazar’s 2009 public statement that the Klamath Dam removal “will not fail” indicating a predetermined intention to issue a Secretarial determination in favor of removing the four dams on the Klamath River. He alleges this intention to spin or incompletely report the scientific results was later confirmed by his supervisory Deputy Commissioner’s declaratory statement that ‘the Secretary wants to remove those dams’.” This is a great synopsis on this situation from Oregon Senator Doug Whitsett’s newsletter.
Navigating Scott River
A “Sacramento Bee” news article announced that Erica Terance of the Klamath RiverKeepers is planning a big “float” down the Scott River to prove it is navigable. They chose June 2, which is a good time for the flows to be high enough to use inner tubes and small rafts.
Unfortunately, the RiverKeepers are using the term “navigable” to intimidate property owners and irrigators. And, yes, Scott River is considered “navigable” by the Army Corp of Engineers, but I don’t think any of them have tried floating down the river in July or August, when the snow has melted off the mountains.
Of course, the RiverKeepers just want to blame “farmers and ranchers” for the lower flows in late summer, because of irrigation. Believe it or not, we can now prove that irrigation water in ditches actually benefits the surface and ground water system in Scott Valley. But fear-mongering by the Greenies is constantly against those who own property and have legal water rights.
Speaking of Scott Valley, the Karuk Tribe is hiring a company to do a surface water flow study on the Scott River. Hum, this will likely be done in the next few months, while the flows are high from snow melt. I bet their study will show that the water flow decreases in late summer. And I bet I know who will be blamed from lower flow.
Also the Karuk Tribe released last week its six-month study of ground water in Scott Valley. Talk about sham science and tweaking the data to fit a pre-set agenda!
Scott Valley POW encourages all land owners to put “NO Trespass” signs on their property at entrances, property corners and a few along fences. Sheriff Jon Lopey says this is sufficient notice.
And we must be diligent in reporting to the Sheriff’s office any trespassers. Take photos of them. Write down car license numbers. Erica Terance has stated they will use “navigable” waters to hike creeks like Patterson and Kidder. This is an invasion of our property rights and a threat to our livelihoods. Record and report – please.
Sheriffs Event
Youtube videos are going out this week of the five sheriffs who participated in the Support Rural America Sheriffs’ Event on Feb. 25 in Yreka. Sheriff Lopey did a great job explaining his concerns about public safety. Our next event is scheduled for April 21 in Alturas with Modoc Sheriff Mike Poindexter hosting. Vendor and info tables are available. Call Louise Gliatto at 530-842-5443 or Doug Knox at 530-233-3599 and we do reserve the right of refusal.
Remember the Scott Valley POW meeting this Thurs. March 29 at Fort Jones Community Center at 7 p.m. Property owners from Lake Shastina and Shasta Valley are invited as we will discuss the RiverKeepers potential lawsuit to remove Dwinnell Dam.
Garden report — still didn’t get the peas planted.
Liz Bowen is a native of Siskiyou County and lives two miles from the ranch where she grew up. She writes biographies and freelances.
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