Yes, we know that the Salish/Kootenai tribes are promised $1.2 billion if the tribal water compact is approved, and Montana is committed to pony up another $55 million.

That’s a lot of money in play.  

Now we hear that upwards of another million has been added to the mix with the emergence of an intensive media campaign purported to be in the scope of a gubernatorial or presidential campaign — that much in radio contracts alone.

Concerned water users in the Clark Fork Basin, puzzled by the dubious assertions made by the spokesperson for the newly formed group, Farmers and Ranchers for Montana, have had their attention jerked to this even more puzzling development. Who is paying for the radio ad campaign? What special interest can afford the sidebar ads on the Internet? They are not cheap.

In a letter in January, it was indicated that the expressed purpose of the above group is to “educate Montanans” about the Salish and Kootenai water compact. Yet there seems to be no substantive information made available and it seems to be the case with the other promotional ads, too. Only glowing statements supporting passage. 

Montanans do need educating about the 1,400-plus page water compact! We need to learn exactly what Montana stands to gain, other than an ethereal promise of less water litigation. We need to know the cause of these actions hanging over our heads. Are they related to 12,000 actions threatened by the tribes if the compact is not passed by the Montana Legislature? Anywhere else that could be perceived as a threat.

We need to know if Montana’s best interest here is the same as the interests of non-tribal water users who have properly filed on water they are putting to beneficial use and depending upon Montana’s Constitution and court system to protect their rights.

We need to know the ramifications of agreeing to a precedent-setting deal — the like of which never before in these United States has given a sovereign tribal nation the right to control distribution of off-reservation water.

Wake up, Montana, before special interests, Uncle Sam and/or the Salish Kootenai buy enough advertising to convince your legislator to capitulate to their demands. Make no mistake — they want it all, and too many people we have sent to Helena seem willing to help them get it.   

The U.S. Justice Department has never backed off from representing tribal interests on the reservations — now the compact opens the door to a whole new playing field. It makes perfect sense for the federal government to ante up $1.2 billion if it can buy them the ability to see that control of water in the entire Clark Fork Basin is placed within their grasp as custodians of tribal interests. Water is today’s gold! —Aubyn Curtiss, Fortine