Forever is far too long for a water compact

Letter to the Editor:

This entire water compact fiasco has reached such a level of controversial debate and crescendo that it would be laughable if the potential decision and disastrous outcome were not so serious.

How could any conscientious elected official even think of inflicting forever upon the good citizens of Montana in the form of such a massive document, already virtually cast in stone and partially in operation on the reservation?

The creators and proponents continue to openly admit it is not perfect, in need of modification and are freely making additions and deletions, even after having been submitted for review and vote by the legislature, while banning any amendments for improvements suggested by legislators on a matter as critical as water, a basic necessity for life.

Even if initially perfect, forever is a very long time to expect such a document to be in force in this rapidly changing world. Any future modifications would be limited to top-down administrators and levels of government. The three governments involved are state, federal and tribal, with tribal likely being the final decision-maker due to their close relationship with the federal.

Unfortunately this manuscript, after 13 years of compilation along with its appendices and set of procedures, is even now being looked upon, if passed, as the model for other tribes, within the state and elsewhere, and may even be considered a precedent-setting example of legal process for other states where water has become a big issue.

One has to wonder about the rationale for the initial decision made for removing water from the constitutional responsibility of the state, with a well-established and functioning set of procedures assuring fair allocation of water to all its citizens both native and non-native, and transferring the entire management and control over to a small committee of five appointed, non-elected persons within a foreign self-proclaimed sovereign nation.

The entire concept upon which this massive program, requiring top-level professionals, numerous lawyers and a massive amount of tax dollars to create, was founded upon a faulty, unconstitutional basically illegal foundation, not in tune with current equality-seeking times.

In the frantic effort to cram it through, additional tons of promotional dollars, evolving from largely undisclosed sources with questionable motives, are being applied to perform a high-pressure sell-job on the public and their elected decision-makers. As time goes on and public awareness increases, more and more questions are being asked openly and behind the scenes. Public meetings and forums have proven ineffective in achieving serious debate, public input or submission of possible needed changes. The situation as it now stands concerning this highly significant piece of legislation is under tremendous threat of a potential, very long-lasting, unchangeable decision which would undermine our very form of government, and our entire way of life.

— Clarice Ryan, Bigfork