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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2002

A White House-ordered review of the Klamath Basin that restored water to non-Indian farmers has been criticized as politically influenced and without sound scientific backing.

The critique was drafted by two Oregon State University researchers. The Oregonian reviewed a copy of the report, which was submitted for publication in the scientific journal Fisheries.

"Politicians have assumed that (the review) has primacy in the scientific debate, when in fact its speedy construction contributed to multiple errors that detract from its scientific usefulness," the paper quotes the report as saying.

The White House review was performed by the National Research Council at Secretary of Interior Gale Norton's request. Based on the results, she denied water to fish that area tribes depend on.

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Report says Klamath panel erred (The Oregonian 11/14)