JULY 1959
KLAMATH TRIBUNE
Page 3
Details of Remaining Area Agricultural Program
Told; Hunting, Fishing Rights, Etc. Discussed
Following is the third and final
article in the series dealing with
the remaining area and its man
agement by the U. S. National
Bank as trustee. This article
deals with the farming and graz
ing prospects of the area, hunting
and fishing, water rights, and
miscellaneous topics.
The Managing Trustee is in
tent, upon developing a progres
sive program for the agricultural
phases of the Management Trust.
plan cannot be developed over
flight hut does require the con-
.''solidation of ideas proposed by
experts in the particular fields."
Thus William Hradshaw, U. S.
Xat'l Hank trust officer in charge
of remaining area management,
summarizes farming alid grazing
pnfspects on the area. A forward
looking program is being sought
which will realize maximum in
come from agricultural resources.
Determination of the exact pro
gram to be followed will be made
within the year.
"Any program of improve
ments will involve expenditure of
funds from the earnings of the
trust," Hradshaw points out.
"Surveys and studies of the areas
will have to be completed so we
may ascertain whether or not
such programs will be economical
to complete. We have requested
assistance in the preliminary sur
vey of th area from the Soil Con
servation Service. The recom
mendations received will be
studied and final determination
made by the trustee, as to what
program will be followed, during
the balance of this calendar year."
As of now it is expected that
much of the development of the
fanning and grazing resources
will be in relation to facilities al
ready available.
"A great deal of the anticipated
'productivity of the area will de
pend on what can actually be done
O physically improve the existing
cilities," Hradshaw explains.
"The present facilities do require
maintenance and improvement.
The trustee believes this program
to be all important. However, we
also foresee substantial work in
the form of reclamation and im
provement of areas not presently
useable which must be taken into
consideration in the expenditure
of funds on presently useable
areas. Marsh and swamp areas
may be drained and irrigation
projects started. This is partic
ularly true with the Agency
Farm and the Three Creeks graz
ing area. It may also apply to the
Wocus Hay area."
Jut what are the agricultural
resources in the management
area, presently useable or subject
to development ?
The Agency Farm, as a unit, is
at present, the most important
such resource. Hradshaw provides
the following information con
cerning it; "The Agency Farm
consisting of approximately
acres is considered as a
moderate size cattle operation.
The area encompasses lands suit
able for pasture and hay produc
tion. A large portion of the total
acreage, however, is subject to
uncontrolled flooding and, at the
present, is not useable as produc
tive 'land. The original appraised
value of the farm including land,
timber and improvements, was
$-Y)4,270.(X) while the value of
some 200 head of cattle was $28.
850.00. It has been the practice,
in the past, to utilize the southern
portion of the farm area for the
Tribal Herd and to lease the area
north and west of the farm build
ings as pasture lands to other op
erations in the area. The pasture
areas and hay production of the
southerly portion have apparently
been sufficient to maintain the
Tribal Herd of approximately
200 head of cattle on a year
around basis.
"Water for irrigation and farm
use is available from Crooked
Creek, Agency Canal, Fort Creek
Canal, Crooked Creek Canal and
Wood River. Uncontrolled water
supplies from Wood River and
apparent underground springs
have resulted in substantial areas
remaining in marsh lands not
useable for pasture or other farm
purposes."
Also an important grazing area,
whether actual or potential, is the
Three Creeks area, consisting of
.approximately 6,000 acres and
located in the Xorth Klamath
Marsh.
"These lands are best suited for
pasture and some hay produc
tion," Hradshaw states. "As in the
case of the Agency Farm, how
ever, a substantial portion is sub
ject to uncontrolled flooding by
waters from the Williamson
River, Three Creeks, Cole Creek
and Mosquito Creek. Continued
water on the land has converted
areas of good grass into marsh
and swamp, again reducing -the
desirability of the area even at
useable intervals. (The Irea has
a rated seasonal capacity of MOO
head of cattle in good years. Over
the past 3 years, however, about
half the area hasn't been used at
all and the other half only on
about a 50 or (lYo of capacity
basis)."
Still another area retained for
remaining members, having both
grazing and hunting potential, is
Wocus Hav located in the south
ern portion of Klamath Marsh.
Approximately l.OM) acres in size
this area has heretofore had very
limited grazing use, the usage
again depending, as in the Three
Creeks area, on weather conditions
and the w ater level. Its present ca
pacities for hunting are also re
garded as limited and this area
is in a strictly developmental
stage.
Also entering the jnVture are
the grazing-qualities of the forest
areas.
"Along with tlfe cutting of tim
ber in the forested 'areas, there
has been developed as secondary
revenue substantial income from
grazing rights and permits,"
Hradshaw relates.
The forest unit s of the remain
ing area have a rated seasonal
carrying capacity of 35(X) sheep
and 170 cattle. Further, they have
been used at their rated capacity
for a good manv years, under the
permit system. lYrmits have been
issud on a yearly basis, being bid
upon by operators.
Hunting and Fishing'
"Fishing and hunting rights
and privileges are, at this time,
in a state of confusion. As to
whether or not these rights may
be converted to an income-producing
program will depend a
great deal upon the progress of
the Reservation Terinination pro
gram," Hradshaw reports.
Attorneys fop the trustee have
indicated that until withdrawing
members are paid in full they re
tain hunting and fishing rights on
the reservation area, including
the remaining area. It is there
fore considered that any program
undertaken now to issue pennies
for hunting and fishing, deriving
income therefrom for the reniain
ees, would conflict with hunting
and fishing rights of the with
drawees. "Until there is a definite break,
we won't try .to capitalize on
hunting and fishing rights.
They're just for the members to
use," Hradshaw affairms.
Hradshaw further advises that
future development of an incoiue
prodticing program through sale
of hunting and fishing privileges
will be subject to tribal approval,
hunting and fishing rights of the
members being of a personal na
ture, secured by treaty. Policing
of limiting and fishing, Hradshaw
states, is presently a responsibil
ity of the trustee.
Mineral Resources
In regard to possible mineral
resources on the management
unit and their development, Hrad
shaw reports that his staff has
taken full cognizance of Stanford
Research Institute's mineral re
sources survey conducted in 1 955.
Considering its negative findings,
he savs it is not now deemed rea
sonable to expend funds on min
eral research and development.
Water Rights
Concerning water rights, Hrad
shaw first observes that these
rights have primary value in re
lation to the fanning and grazing
resources. He points out that the
Hut-can of Indian Affairs consid
ers water rights on reservations
supreme to Indians and their suc
cessors in interest. He adds, how
ever, that the State of Onigou
has opined that it has jurisdiction
over all water in the State in
cluding that on reservations.
"We are going ahead witli fil
ing water rights with the State.
The application is conditioned on
the fact it does not detract from
any previous rights the land mav
have acquired."
Taxations
Two types of taxation are to
be considered in relation to the
management program. A prop
erty tax will be imposed on real
estate in the unit for the l95-r0
fiscal year. What this tax will
amount to in total dollars is nut
vet definite.
The money now being distrib
uted to individual beneficiaries as
income will be subject to income
tax regulations. However, it is
loiescen that only a small amount
of it will be reportable. Hradshaw
explains that income derived from
timber sales is subject to capital
gains tax, but only in such
amount as is in excess of the
appraised value of the timber. It
is anticipated that this amount in
excess will be relatively small.
Income from grazing leases will
be reportable as straight income,
subject to income tax, but such
income will represent'.-! small per
centage of the total. Proceeds
from sale of cattle would again
be capital gains matter, w ith pro
ceeds in excess of the appraised
worth of the cattle being report
able. j As to exactlv how much will be
reportable and in what category,
Hradshaw states: "This is a mat
ter we will have to compute. In
dividuals will be advised at the
end of the year how much they
must report and in what cate
gories." Ellen Cook (Con. from Pnge 2)
right that you would think peo
ple would want to hold." Kou
Kllen enjoys hunting and fishing
with her father, and as a remain
ing member will continue to ex
ercise these rights.
I he special education program
for Klamath Indians is a "wond
erful op portunitv", according to
Lou Kllen, but "It's a shame that
so few are taking advantage of
it." She feels that the credit for
her attitude towards education
and her determination to go to
college belong to her parents.