Making the right call on water

Inter Lake editorial

A big turning point has been reached in the seemingly eternal tug-of-war over water rights.

A recent move by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation effectively reopens the opportunity for Flathead County residents to obtain water rights.

Since late 2006, no additional water rights had been granted in this county because of a state hearings examiner's ruling in a Thompson Falls case.

That ruling, involving the power company Avista, set a bizarre precedent that forced people who wanted water rights to meet an impossible standard of "no adverse impact" on Avista's water right for Noxon Rapids Dam.

That in essence closed the Flathead River Basin to further water rights. And it gave Avista obviously excessive rights.

Thankfully - and in large part due to the persistence of state Sen. Verdell Jackson, R-Kalispell - the state agency has changed course.

Now state DNRC offices have been advised that the Thompson Falls case should not serve as a precedent that shuts down water rights.

As a result, the Flathead River and its tributaries upstream of the Flathead Indian Reservation are now open for water appropriation. People can once again file applications "with a good chance of obtaining a permit," one state official said.

A year ago, we decried the ridiculous situation over water rights and said the DNRC should be advocating for domestic and irrigation water use as a priority, not going overboard in protecting Avista's water rights.

We're glad to see some sense finally prevail in the water world. Jackson deserves kudos for his determined battle to right this water-rights wrong, and the state deserves credit for returning some sanity to the water-rights situation.

It's rare enough that any of us have the chance to be real heroes, but that opportunity befell Jason Prewitt last week from out of the blue - literally.

Prewitt and his family were fishing in Ashley Creek Tuesday afternoon when a light plane flown by Jamie Whealon and Nathaan Demers crashed in a horse corral nearby while practicing touch-and-go landings.

The plane began burning almost immediately, yet Prewitt ran to assist the two men after first sending his family to safety. As the flames grew, Prewitt was able to free both men from the wreckage and pull them to safety.

By the time, professional responders arrived from the Kalispell Fire Department, the plane was fully engulfed in flames. In other words, Prewitt's selfless efforts were instrumental in averting a tragedy.

The pilots, their families and the community all owe this good Samaritan a heart-felt thanks.