Conference Organized by PERC
Klamath Falls, Oregon
June 8, 2004
Summary
The Klamath Basin conflict
between endangered fish
and farmers stems from a
failure to establish who actually
owns the water. The
establishment and clarification
of ownership rights
may help resolve matters.
The Property and Environment
Research Center
hosted a June 8 conference
in Klamath Falls to address these issues.
I . Solutions for the Klamath Basin
by Jane S. Shaw
We used to hear the expression “Let George do it” to describe the very human
tendency to leave the solution of a problem to someone else. Today, we tend to
let the federal government be “George.” … But decades of government intervention
have shown that the federal government
isn’t up to the task.
Read the complete article — PDF
II. Property Rights for Klamath Water
by James L. Huffman, J.D.
The problem we face in the Klamath Basin,
as in every environmental controversy, is
the allocation of scarce resources. We have a
limited supply of water, but potential uses for
that water exceed the available supply. This
issue is crucial not only for those associated
with the Basin, but also for the world at large.
Read complete article — PDF