Legislative Panel Asks for More Info on Flathead Water Compact

The future of the 12-hundred page agreement is in the hands of the Water Policy Interim Committee, which met in Helena this week to go over the post-session report ordered by Governor Steve Bullock. The calls of both support, and criticism came as expected... CHAS VINCENT/ R- LIBBY "Through the noise of opponents, and proponents, it's a very controversial compact. As we heard yesterday there are still some very passionate proponents and some very upset opponents. The good thing we did find out yesterday is that everybody is still wanting a compact. The biggest fear in this is that the sides that are involved, and the parties that are involved are going to rather adjudicate it than negotiate it." Irrigators in particular continue to attack the compact, saying it will put farmers and ranchers out of business. But backers of the agreement point to the report's findings that without approval, everyone concerned is headed for years of litigation and confusion... VINCENT "We could be twenty to twenty five years down the road, 30-million dollars later and not quite sure who's winning or losing. And that's not what we want as a desired outcome. We want a negotiated settlement that both parties can live with." The panel didn't take a specific position, but ordered staff to research more info that wasn't in the report. Vincent says that will allow the committee to "objectively look at this compact in the proper light", even if that means making changes... VINCENT "I believe, again that there is going to be a return to the negotiating table to fix some problems that have happened as of late. And I think that this committee in working with the irrigators there's probably going to be some recommendations that I think would make it sit better with everybody involved." Vincent says he was "excited" about the progress made this week, and expects more work on the compact when the committee meets in March, and several more times this year. Dennis Bragg, MTN News.