If compact passes, lawsuit should follow
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Editor,
The sovereign nation of the United States, through Congressional law, created the Flathead Irrigation District in 1908. The act specifically described the district as being in the “former” Flathead Indian Reservation.
Homesteaders and settles purchased lands along with the water rights within the established irrigation district with that express understanding. After more than 100 years, successors in title are now threatened with the loss of those water rights, along with the accompanying loss of the monetary value of the lands.
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are now claiming, in their capacity as a sovereign nation, the absolute right to dictate the use and control regarding the quantification of all Montana waters west of the Continental Divide via the Flathead Water Compact.
If this claim is authorized, the State of Montana, together with the irrigators and affected landowners, should initiate and file a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of the Interior to recover all damages they will suffer as a result of this compact debacle.
Lloyd Ingraham
Ronan
