There was a fascinating story in The Wall Street Journal on July 30 that speaks volumes about the interplay of science, policy, and politics inside the Bush administration. It also adds to what's known about Karl Rove, who is credited with selecting George W. Bush as conservative darling and molding the man and his politics to carry water for right-wing zealots and corporate America.

"Water Saga Illuminates Rove's Methods," by Tom Hamburger, follows the role Mr. Rove played in the wrangling over water in the Klamath River basin. Farmers wanted more water, farmers vote Republican; salmon need the water, salmon don't vote. Mr. Rove, as reported in the article, met with 50 top-level Interior Department employees on January 6, 2002. Flashing color slides, he spoke of poll results, critical constituencies, and water levels in the Klamath River basin. Three months later, Interior Secretary Gale Norton stood with Sen. Gordon Smith in Klamath Falls and opened the irrigation-system head gates that increased the water supply to 220,000 acres of farmland -- a policy shift that continues to stir bitter criticism from environmentalists and Indian tribes.

The next September, upwards of 33,000 salmon in the river perished from elevated temperatures and parasites that were the result of low levels of water in the river. (The administration claimed its decision to release water to the farms was based on a National Research Council report, which itself was tainted by testimony from a federal biologist, Michael Kelly, who says he was pressured into approving the low-water plan.) "This month," Journal reporter Hamburger wrote, "a federal judge ruled [in an Earthjustice case, by the way] the administration violated the Endangered Species Act in the way it justified the water diversion."

Surprise, surprise.

Tom Turner, Senior Editor
yourturn@earthjustice.org