ESA bill passes in the House

A scene in the the documentary takes a look at a July 2004 anti-ESA demonstration in Klamath Falls, OR where proponents of this bill held a hearing and demonstration.

The bill to "revise" the Endangered Species Act passes the House, 229 to 193. The bill's main sponsor is Richard Pombo, (CA-R), from the central valley town of Tracy, a booming bedroom community over the Oakland Hills from the Bay Area. More on the bill from the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/30/politics/30species.html?pagewanted=print

The legislation won't get through the Senate in its current form, but the negotiations (and probable weakening) of the ESA have begun. Count how many times the phrase "best available science" is used by proponents of this bill in the coming months. That's code for "gut the ESA."

Watch a clip from the documentary

Click here to see a clip from Battle for the Klamath.

The Republican War on Science

Republican War on Science

Chris Mooney's book,The Republican War on Science, has a chapter entitled "Fishy Science" that covers many of the issues that are in Battle for the Klamath. The effort to rewrite the Endangered Species Act, Mike Kelly's whistleblower case, and the 2002 fish kill are all there in a book that lays out the systemic undermining of the scientific community under the Bush Administration.

The fight over water and fish in the Klamath River is a small story in this overall war, but it has many elements that make it the perfect example of political power colliding with regional environmental interests. Check out the book and make your own judgement about Mooney's findings.

Farmers lose court battle in Klamath Basin

A big blow to farmers in the Klamath Basin. This decision stems from the 2001 water shutoff controversy.