Water compact right for ranchers, irrigators
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As a fourth generation family ranch, we strongly support the CSKT water compact and do not support the referendum to retain the Flathead Joint Board of Control (FJBC). Unfortunately, there has been a lot of misinformation out there about these issues, and people may not have the facts straight.
First, this issue is not only about the irrigators. The CSKT water compact will provide certainty, shore up property rights, and even make more water available for use from Kalispell to Missoula, and even beyond, if necessary. This is the only water compact that has actually provided more water for development, mitigation, agriculture, etc. Somehow, this fact has been overlooked by those who oppose the compact.
Second, contrary to statements that the compact as it currently stands will take away property rights, the reality is that the compact will crystallize water rights for the irrigators. Now, all we have as irrigators is the long-standing use of a certain amount of water. We do not have water rights at the current time. The compact would fix this problem and provide us the ability to pass on our water rights with our property by sale or through estate planning.
Third, again, contrary to the naysayers false statements, the compact does not provide the Tribe with excess control of our water rights. In fact, the Tribe has agreed to participate in a joint board that would follow Montana water law to manage allocation or disputes concerning water within the CSKT compact boundaries. There is a long history of success between the Tribe and others in the surrounding community related to joint boards. A joint board manages utility issues, hunting, etc.
Instead of working towards a resolution of water rights issues that would bring the communities from Kalispell to Missoula together to work cooperatively, those who oppose the compact have spread untruths. They want to take the road of litigation and spend hundreds if not millions of dollars on lawsuits. Our family has been farming in the Mission Valley since 1910. We do not want to fight with our neighbors, the tribe, or anyone else. We want certainty, good relations, a win-win solution for the community, and to avoid the risk of multi-year litigation that would only benefit the lawyers.
The current referendum is confusing. Those who oppose the compact are using the referendum and misinformation to scare irrigators. If you want certainty, to protect property rights, increase values in the property, and to create better community ties, then you support a “no” vote on the referendum.
Since these issues not only impact our family farm and other irrigators, but will also impact everybody who lives in the area, we hope you will take the time to understand these issues and support the compact.
