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Methow Valley News September 2, 1999 Thoughts to ponder By Vern Herrst You know, if a person were to stop and consider the number of ways a government could control a population in a given area, you would have to put availability of water at or very near the top of the list. Another way would be to make it too costly for the majority of present landowners to continue to live and work in the area. Without water man cannot survive If there is no water available for farmers, crops cannot be grown. If there is no water available for ranchers, livestock cannot be raised. If there is no water available for people to put in wells there is no development. Lack of water causes reduction in fish populations? What better way for a government to control the water than to use a government agency (NMFS) to enforce a government act (ESA) to supposedly protect species of fish that were not that common this far up the river to begin with. Isn’t it amazing that the agency that is saying there isn’t enough water for fish to migrate to breeding grounds is the same agency that produces pictures showing these "endangered" species of fish swimming in water that doesn’t even cover their backs, and yet with record snowfall and high rivers they can’t get to their breeding grounds? Isn’t it strange how just before the federal government moves in to say there isn’t enough water for the fish the county government came through and reassessed everyone’s property, raising taxes by as much as 50 percent in some cases? Now if a person were unable to continue to make a livable wage, to pay the exorbitant taxes, by ranching, farming, construction or associated jobs, they would be forced to move. Prior to moving, the state or federal government purchases their property for wildlife habitat and removes it from the tax rosters, causing others to pay even more. Major resort gets approval Isn’t it strange how the county commissioners that signed a memorandum of understanding that assists other federal and state agencies in reducing the amount of water available to the landowner, authorize a resort with major financial backing? Trip back in time 1. Remember between five and seven years ago when there was a big stir about making the North Cascades National Park, Okanogan National Forest and the Pasayten Wilderness an International Peace Park? Remember how this was going to be a joint venture between the United States government and the Canadian government? Remember how this was being pushed by several major environmentalist groups? What major elected officials in office are also major environmentalists? It wouldn’t be the president and vice president of the United States, and the governor of Washington would it? What area has the fewest people to complain about this peace park? It wouldn’t be the same area that is now being told they have to give up their water rights for fish would it? 2. Remember when the county commissioners ruled that there would be no new nightly rentals in the Methow Valley? It was effective April 1, 1995. Would it be the same county commissioners that recently approved the resort that would provide hundreds of nightly rentals or the same commissioners that refuse to enforce or even acknowledge the numerous numbers of nightly rentals that have begun operation since 1995? 3. Remember when the new owners of the developing resort applied for water usage that--by my calculations--totaled over 15,000,000 gallons of water per day? It wouldn’t be the same resort that got approval to implement its next phase, would it? It wouldn’t be the same resort that, with major financial backing and government approval, is developing while everyone else is being told to lose/reduce water usage, and could stand to make huge profits if it was the only green spot in the area, would it? Now don’t get me wrong. This could all be very coincidental, but to me it smells like rotten fish, crooked politicians with undisclosed income, and an out-of-control government. Vern Herrst, a 10-year resident of the valley, is the owner of V-Bar-J Embroidery in Winthrop.
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