Is racism to blame for Oregon’s water crisis?

On Wednesday, November 17 at 19:30GMT:
In the drought-stricken Klamath Basin, which lies along the California-Oregon border, the outcome of a water war is set to determine who, or what, survives.

The conflict between local farmers and Indigenous tribes, both trying to protect their ways of life, has been going on for decades and is the subject of a new film from Al Jazeera’s ‘Fault Lines’.

The farmers desperately need water from the Klamath lake to irrigate their crops, while the Native Americans are trying to save two species of fish sacred to their tribes. Indigenous activists say colonialism is the root cause, while the farmers accuse the Native Americans of using the endangered species act against them.

In this episode of The Stream, we discuss the conflict with those on both sides of it.

On this episode of The Stream, we speak with:
Emma Marris, @Emma_Marris
Environmental Writer

Ben DuVal
Farmer & President, Klamath Water Users Association

Joey Gentry
Member, Klamath Tribe