A River Between Us

Filmmaker J. Martin's painful but enlightening documentary tells the story of historical conflict over the Klamath River, a major waterway running from an upper basin in Eastern Oregon to the Pacific coast in Northern California. Before the arrival of white settlers, the Klamath was at the core of a way of life for multiple Native American tribes. Over time, the newcomers re-routed parts of the river, drained it for irrigation, polluted it with industry, and filled it with the debris of deforestation—all of which significantly reduced the salmon population and deeply affected the tribes. Damming up the Klamath in multiple locations made things far, far worse—warming the cold water (which is necessary for salmon) in lakes that were formed by the dams. During the 1970s, conflicts between tribes with legal rights to fish vs. farmers and loggers came to a crisis point, with the federal government stepping in to create the Endangered Species Act and the courts supporting the tribes. All sides were hit by further federal decisions that wound up damaging both farmers and then tribal fishing, setting the stage for protracted negotiations between all parties to find a workable compromise about how to save the dying Klamath. A River Between Us includes interviews with former Oregon governors, current Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, tribal representatives, farmers, and others who have a stake in this tragic issue. While not fully resolved, however, there is reason—as the film demonstrates—to be hopefully optimistic about the future fate of the mighty Klamath River. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (T. Keogh)