Nelson Reed was a businessman, civic leader, and philanthropist in the Klamath Basin of Oregon and California. He was appointed chairman of the Oregon Klamath River Commission, the legislative study group that developed the Klamath River Compact with the California Klamath River Commission in 1957. Collection contains a folder with donation records, deeds of gift, and thank you letters from Nelson Reed.

The Oregon Water Resources Congress (OWRC) has promoted the protection and use of water rights, as well as the supervision of water resources, since 1912. Collection contains OWRC minutes, proceedings, correspondence.

The Water Policy Review Board was created in 1975 to supervise the Water Resources Department. Collection contains pamphlets, hearing records, minutes of the Board meetings, related to the activities of the Board.

The collection consists of documents, photocopies and images from the Klamath River Commission addressing land and water use in the Klamath River watershed of Oregon and California. The Commission was instrumental in the creation of the 1957 Klamath River Compact. Nelson Reed was a founding member of the Klamath River Compact Commission. Nell Kuonen was appointed Federal representative and Chairperson of the Commission in 1983.