This is a long and complicated subject to law makers and residents of Montana, so I am offering a synopsis on this very important subject to Montanans. In the last few weeks we have heard of the water shortage of Flathead lake which is located in Northwest Montana. This large natural body of water is a remnant of the massive Glacial damned lake. It has a depth upwards to 371 feet deep. It is famous for trout and bass fishing along with all water sports. It even is host to the elusive Flathead lake monster. Sightings of these water creatures have been reported since the late 1880's. In 1908 the United States opened up the Flathead valley to settlers. These settlers and descendents have relied on the lake for irrigation of their crops and livestock for decades. Nearby were the Flathead Salish people living in their villages along the Flathead river. Today, 90% of all residents/land owners in the area are non-tribal. In 2016 Senator Jon Tester made a motion in a written Bill to give the Flathead/Kootnei people water rights and federal funds to repair their irrigation system. Water is our most precious and abundant state natural resource. And many people, political groups are after it. But they forget one thing, our ranchers and farmers have used our natural bodies of water for irrigation to maintain their family owned businesses, for many generations. Who owns the water in Montana? You will get many responses to this question. The fact is, that the state of Montana owns the water within the state on behalf of its citizens. Citizens do not own the water within state guidelines. Senator Steve Daines picked up where Senator Jon Tester stopped, the Flathead water compact. Which would give the Flathead/Kooteni people $1.9 billion dollars plus water rights to these people living on their reservation. So if our state owns water rights then how did this transfer of wealth and power happen through the CSKT water compact? Excellent question and one Senator Steve Daines and even state Senators refuse to answer. Flathead lake levels are 3 1/2 feet lower this year. We hear so called experts say this is due to climate change. Our governor and senator Steve Daines have appealed to the Hungry Horse Dam federal reclamation department to let water out of Hungry Horse into Flathead lake. Our government has refused. Many family owned marinas on Flathead lake have closed for thr season.They cannot operate without water. Flathead low water lake levels are not caused by climate change, but from the implementation of the CSKT water compact. If you look closely at all the facts, we see before us the Federalization of Montana state waters. And why is this true? Because the Hungry Horse Dam built in 1948 and opened in 1953, is also used for hydropower to help keep the Northwest coast with electricity. This dam stops or collects water from the Flathead river, a major tributary of Flathead lake.So our Senators have sold out Montana water power to outside interests. Another federal group after Montana water is the Bureau of Land Management. They lust for our natural resources. The BLM has acquired many recorded water rights over the years. By Montana law, a recorded water right is required for the majority of water users to be valid, legal, and defensible against other water users. Western states have historically followed the prior appropriation doctrine, in which grants the right to divert water to the first person who started to use it. The Riparian Doctrine which limits water use to the owner of the land adjacent to the water. has played a major role in water use in Montana. told you a very detailed and complicated subject. To learn more about Montana water rights follow: Western Montana Water Rights blog and learn more.
Nancy Kemler
Roundup
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