Legislative update: Water rights

When I was appointed to the Montana Reserved Water Right Compact Commission (RWRCC) my charge was to help facilitate a negotiated agreement. That is still the goal.

The Flathead Joint Board of Control (FJBC) for the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project‘s task is to negotiate with the tribes and the federal government in order to ultimately create the water rights agreement for the irrigation project. When this document has been approved by the FJBC, it will then be passed on to the Compact Commission, of which I am a member. It would then be incorporated as a main component into the compact draft. Once negotiations between the CSKT, the RWRCC and the federal government on the whole compact are complete, public comment on the finished document will be heard and issues will be resolved. The commission will then vote on the compact. If passed, it will then move on to the Montana legislature.

The current stipulation agreement is labeled as a “draft.” The construction of a draft is part of a process. It is very seldom that a document is created and immediately passed, that is why it is called a draft. Often, it requires reconsideration and written revisions before it becomes a completed work.

Cognizant of the fact that the clock is ticking on this matter in order to have a finalized document ready to be put before the 2013 legislative session, all parties involved have worked extremely hard and with a sense of urgency. This deadline appears to be driving the process at this time.

I feel that an agreement, propelled forward without the backing of the people it affects, is a recipe for disaster. This is a very serious issue that impacts many people in several different ways. This is also the busiest time of the year for the very people it mainly affects, the irrigators!

As a legislator, I would rather make an argument for the need to extend the time required to complete a compact that would have the backing of the majority of the people and resolve the major issues. It does not make sense to shotgun through something that doesn’t suit the needs of the people or resolve any issues just for the sake of meeting a deadline.

During the many recent community meetings and discussions several valid issues and concerns have been identified that need further discussion and clarification and may further require revision and re-negotiation within the present draft stipulation agreement between the FJBC and the CSKT.

I would rather see the parties take a longer period of time to get it done and have it done right.