Look carefully at options
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Editor,
The CSKT compact negotiations will open for a very narrowly focused discussion on the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project. There is a gap in the compact caused by the dysfunction of the three irrigation districts to support a reasonable negotiation to protect irrigators on the reservation from the senior claims of the CSKT.
The Joint Board has disintegrated back to the pre-1980s three districts and because the Flathead Irrigation District Board members refused to continue the CME, the project management was reassumed by the BIA. Presently the irrigators have no voice in project operations.
The new negotiations will be between the state, the tribe and the federal government. The three irrigation boards are now controlled by the Concerned Citizens of Western Montana and the Western Montana Water Users who have to date been totally opposed to any negotiated agreement unless it allows them to define what rights the tribe has. They are now reassembling the FJBC.
The compact was negotiated in good faith by all parties. No negotiator has said it was perfect but realized that benefits and flexibility of negotiation definitely outweighed the inflexibility and expense of litigation.
The compact document is not going to change other than to add an irrigation component into it.
As president of Montana Water Stewards, I ask you to please look carefully at the options. If you support the negotiated agreement join Montana Water Stewards as we move forward to educate people about the benefits of the compact. If you have questions go to our website at MontanaWaterStewards.com. We are a group of farmers, ranchers, business people and citizens of the reservation and we welcome your questions and your support.
Susan Lake
Ronan
