CSKT water compact shouldn't be taken lightly

Individuals capable of looking beyond immediate ramifications of how this proposed water compact will affect themselves personally, can see the possibility of a water control scheme.  There is urgency for certain motivated people operating in their own interests to get this legislation passed.  Land without water is of little value. The law of supply and demand will lead to cheap land becoming readily available.   

When irrigation water becomes limited, for any reason, productive revenues and potential land salability both decline but property taxes continue. Seasonal droughts are understandable, but water supply controlled by  very few people gaining control and manipulating distribution feeds favoritism.  Constitutionally the water is State responsibility.  When that is transferred to a 5-member board on the reservation, the economic security of landowners as well as the economy of the state is in jeopardy.  Add to that the tax-free advantages and the take-over of Kerr dam and water stored behind it.  Private lakefront properties, docks, and even public recreation would become subject to potential new regulations.  To what extent would there be federal or even state influence and control?  This compact is a “forever” document immune to corrections/modifications.  At this very late date public comment will be of little significance for the supposedly “revised” compact scheduled for legislative action.

 You may have received an invitation to participate in debate style e-mail correspondence sponsored by Ed Berry. Time would probably be better spent studying the details of the proposed CSKT water compact itself and arriving at “informed” opinions based upon “facts”. Extensive information has been made available on the internet which would be of much greater value than reading ongoing emotional, uninformed reactions of those who have formed opinions while visiting with other equally uninformed individuals. Too many people have opinions based upon how they anticipate the outcomes will personally affect themselves without considering the long range and widespread ramifications of how it would ultimately impact the entire community or even the entire state. Exchanging personal opinions based upon ignorances is of little value.

This is not a game for light “chit chat” or entertaining “banter”. This is a very involved matter with long-lasting “forever” impacts virtually devoid of much needed potential corrections submerged in a massive document. People’s lives, the economy and the future of our state are basically at stake. Complications now extend beyond the tribal water compact and include Kerr dam, power generation and land values. Noone wants to endorse legislation which would create lasting damage to the best interests of the people, economy and our way of life. Unfortunately the compact as proposed includes a mutual defense clause which means that Montanans will be fighting their own state as well as the federal government and the Tribes if they legally challenge the compact and its administrators and dictatorial perpetrators.

Community leaders and planners, especially, should be observing and giving serious consideration to this very critical issue. They may be taking for granted proper control, availability, distribution and use of our water - all essential to life. Now is the time to bring up the subject in conversation with others, to carefully explore the reasoning and possible motives concerning what is technically, legally and morally right or wrong in this pending legislation now underway in our Montana state legislature.

Excellent sources of Montana water information are as follows:

www.westernmtwaterrights.wordpress.com or www.landandwateralliance

—Clarice Ryan, Bigfork