Smaller farm operations threatened by water compact
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Alan Mikkelson’s recent letter calls on readership to join him and 33 other families in supporting the existing Water Use Agreement, Unitary Management Ordinance, and Water Compact. He points out that erroneous information is being circulated in our community by those whom oppose these agreements.
Accurate information is certainly very important and necessary to make an informed decision about your future and the future of your water and land. I’m concerned that the information brought forward by Mr. Mikkelson paints a picture of the facts surrounding this issue that is very inaccurate and misleading to the public.
“A six member board to oversee water rights on the reservation.”
Two members appointed by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe of the Flathead Reservation, two members appointed by the Governor whom may be “Tribal” members, and one member appointed by the existing four-member board. This fifth member may be a “Tribal” member.
Does this sound like “unilateral” control of water rights? Yes, very possibly so.
“Large amounts of dollars to improve the project.” It sounds to me as though Mr. Mikkelson is telling the public that no amount of state or federal dollars will be available to the “Tribe” or the irrigators for the project if they do not sign this agreement.
Does Mr. Mikkelson control state and federal dollars? Where does he get his insight into who will and who won’t get state and federal dollars? Sounds to me like Mr. Mikkelson is using state and federal dollars, which are not his to use, to intimidate and coerce the public.
“Monitored or metered wells.” The compact makes it very clear that any well can be monitored at the discretion of the Unitary Management Board. Further, the compact states that any new subdivision of four homes or more “will” have metered water and the compact makes all existing community water supplies into “municipal” water supplies that will report monthly with metered water supplies.
Does this sound like wells will be metered? Yes, it certainly is very possible that your well can and/or will be monitored at the complete discretion of the Unitary Management Board.
“Protection for existing water uses and provides for future uses including new wells.” I do not need this agreement to protect my existing water use. My existing water use is already protected by my federally registered and recorded land patent and by the laws of the State of Montana. These agreements, in the words of a prominent CSKT tribal attorney are designed to limit growth and future development on this reservation, not to account for future growth as Mr. Mikkelson contends.
Today 93 percent of all locally produced agricultural products leave this valley for the world market compared to 50 or 60 years ago when 93 percent of all agriculturally produced products stayed in this valley. This valley, and the rest of America, was once made up of self-sufficient farmers and ranchers who made it on their own without government assistance and without allegiance to monopolistic corporations like Monsanto.
These “family” farms, as Mr. Mikkelson calls them, average out to 454 acres each. Many if not all have revenue in excess of one million dollars annually which makes them “large” business by definition in the State of Montana. This translates into big agriculture, not into small local family business.
Why is this important you might ask? Follow the money. Complete control of all food production and complete control of all land throughout the world by monopolies the likes of Monsanto and by globalists the likes of George Soros. The small guy with his back yard produce is pushed out of business. Those who dream of someday owning their own small piece of producing property where they can live off the land have their dreams crushed — an American way of life destroyed forever.
This is your wake up call, public. Do you want to control your own future or do you want to be George Soros’s boy?
