Federal Court Defends Water Release for Klamath River

A federal judge in Fresno ruled Thursday in favor of the Bureau of Reclamation’s plan to release water into the Klamath River in order to save the fall Chinook Salmon from a deadly epidemic. Last week Judge Lawrence O’Niell had issued a temporary injunction to halt the planned release from Trinity Lake in Northern California. The additional water flow is critical to saving the fish from an outbreak of a parasite that kills the fish. The Westlands Water District sued to stop the action, saying the water was already promised to their farmers in the San Joaquin Valley. Members of the Hoopa and Yurok Indian tribes journeyed to Fresno for two days to voice their concerns. On Wednesday they spoke to the Westlands board of directors, and Thursday demonstrated in front of the Federal Court building. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.