The Klamath River Basin provides essential habitat for several fish species including Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, Steelhead trout, Pacific lamprey, and Shortnose suckers. Some of these species are important components of ocean and/or in-river harvest, while others are rarely harvested due to fishery regulations, limited availability, and/or listed status under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In addition to its importance as fish habitat, the Klamath River and its tributaries also provides water to agriculture through the Bureau of Reclamation's Klamath Irrigation Project. Oversubscription of Klamath water has thwarted recovery of depressed fish stocks and led to economic hardship for farming and fishing communities  prompting federal disaster relief for farmers in 2001 and for fishermen in 2006.
In February 2010, the U.S. Government, the States of Oregon and California, the chairmen of the Klamath, Yurok and Karuk Tribes, and the utility company PacifiCorp signed the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA) and the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement. These agreements define a set of activities, including the removal of four dams on the Klamath River by 2020, which are designed to restore fisheries and provide water supply certainty in the Basin. The Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement calls for the Secretary to determine whether dam removal will advance restoration of the salmonid fisheries of the Klamath Basin and is in the public interest.
By March 31, 2012, the Secretary of the Interior is expected to make a final determination regarding dam removal and the KBRA, based, in part, on results of an economic analysis that will address benefits, costs, and distributional effects of dam removal. An interagency economics team consisting of representatives from DOI agencies including the Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Reclamation, and NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service is responsible for completing the economic analysis that will inform the Secretarial determination.
To comply with the National Environmental Policy Act, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) must be prepared. One important area of benefits that needs to be addressed as part of the EIS is "nonuse value." Nonuse values accrue to members of the public who value Klamath Basin improvements regardless of whether they ever consume Klamath fish or visit the Klamath Basin. To measure these benefits, DOI has contracted with RTI International in Research Triangle Park, NC, to design and implement a nonuse valuation survey of the U.S. public. A key aspect of the survey design process is to thoroughly pretest the survey instrument using focus groups and cognitive, one-on-one interviews (the cognitive interviews will be addressed in a later ICR). The main objectives of these information collection activities are to ensure that the survey questions and scenarios are presented to respondents in a way that is accurate, easily understood and least burdensome, while at the same time collecting all of the necessary information for estimating nonuse values. Because of the controversy over the agreement in the Klamath Basin, the survey text needs to be neutral and present all sides.
Statute at Large:
123 Stat. 991
Name of Statute: Secure Water Act of 2009
Statute at Large:
32 Stat. 388
Name of Statute: Bureau of Reclimation's General Planning Authority Act of June 17, 1902
The initial approval was for four focus groups with small sample sizes. The focus groups were used to hone the questions in the final survey. The survey requests a larger burden, as it will be sent nationwide and requires a larger numbers of responses from the public. Without a large population to draw from, the survey may not accurately gage the country's response to the Klamath Basin Dam removal efforts.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Nonresponse bias sample mailing respondents (households with telephone numbers)
Justification for Nonsubstantive Change.docx
30 day notice, Klamath, 20110216.pdf
Supporting_Statement_PartB_Klamath 20110204.doc
Nonresponse bias sample mailing respondents (households without telephone numbers)