Fact-based knowledge helps
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
Editor,
I have been following letters and articles regarding the water compact. Much of the divisiveness on this issue appears to be based on lack of knowledge. Someone famous (I cannot remember who) said something like, “Knowledge is the cure for ignorance.” I am not so concerned if people are for or against, but I am concerned that many of the citizens of Lake County just plain do not have the facts and that their stance is based mostly on lack of information.
Among the false information I have heard, just to list a few things, are: the tribe is going to put meters on our wells, that the tribe will take over all the roads and charge us to get to our houses, that the feds would take away all the state lands on the reservation and give them to the tribe.
Did I just believe this information? No, I did not, instead, I researched, made calls, spent hours on the phone to Daines’ office in Kalispell, Tester’s State/Tribal liaison person, DNRC offices in Helena, Missoula and Kalispell. I Looked at DNRC’s maps online and looked at Water Resource Surveys. I went to meetings on both sides of the issue and asked questions. Will having all the facts make everybody happy, probably not, but like much of life, compromise is what’s realistic.
So just to explain the state lands issue because that seems to be one of the biggies. State lands in Lake County are in several categories: school trust lands are generally sections 16 and 36 that were designated to produce revenue for Montana schools, often through timber sales or grazing leases. These are in the compact as lands that the State Land Board may, if they desire, swap out for federal lands outside the reservation. They would have five years to accomplish this. They do not have to swap out any land.
They do not include state parks, Wildhorse Island or wildlife management areas. They are not in the county’s tax base. So … learn your facts, do not believe everything you hear, especially if it seems to be coming from one source. Facts may not change your mind, but at least they will help keep you from being uninformed.
Vicky MacLean
Ronan
