Water Trial In Malta Should Be Well Attended

Hello Valley County,

As we have a very unusual winter taking place this year, I take this time to write a letter regarding a matter of great concern to me and many others in Valley County. In a day when many of our rights are being redefined and sometimes even taken away, I thought it best to inform you of the upcoming water trial in Malta on Feb. 25 at 9 a.m. at the Phillips County Courthouse. Over the past 10 years, Ron and Maxine Korman have tried every avenue available to them to claim the water rights on their ranch in South Valley County.

As most of you may know, almost all (if not all) of the ranches in our area evolved from various ranch and farming operations that were in existence in the latter half of the 1800’s and many of them used the water as was allowed by the Mining Act of 1866. Every ranch in the county could claim a water appropriation on federal land because they were the first ones to put the water to beneficial use so they were allowed to claim water rights.

Now, as we spring forward to today, we see the Korman’s attempting to claim what they rightfully own, they have had moderate success in their attempts to file and receive their water rights. It’s been up hill both ways, but they are not giving up. Now at the same time we see the BLM filing for water rights and that’s the reason for this objection by the Korman’s and also the South Phillips Water Group.

There court proceeding will be in Malta at the Courthouse, Feb. 25 at 9 a.m. I believe that we should support the Kormans more than ever. You know it is tough living here at times and it is getting tougher. With so many outside groups trying to introduce bison, mountain lions, bears, wolves, prairie dogs, and anything else they happen to fancy, I think it is going to get even tougher. These groups will try to claim more of the water and they will need it because who’s water will all this wildlife use.

I had to chuckle about the statement that bison don’t compete with cattle on the range, “well I guess they don’t drink water then.” We now watch as a water compact is negotiated in the western part of the state that may have far reaching effects on all of our ranches and farms. We also watch as agencies purpose new policies that demand that we test our water sheds for chemicals and contamination caused by farming and feed lot operations.

We have all of this thing to keep a eye on and working together and supporting each other is the best ways to deal with all of these problems. If you can be there on Feb. 25 at 9 a.m. it would be a positive step forward to insure continued agriculture production in our county.