Water compact good for region

Compact  good for our region

 As a real-estate broker, I have been involved in water issues for the last 40 years in the Flathead Valley. I sat in on the first meetings between the state, the tribes and the federal government concerning this complex issue. 

I have followed the process since its start.  

Despite all the fear and misinformation concerning this complex issue, the public should know that this is and has been a very good-faith effort by all parties to resolve what could be a total expensive 40-year disaster if left to litigation and courts.

Much of the complaint is borne by fear and ideology and surely those who are making the noise are welcome to put their complaints to the court as well. I believe that is their right and privilege to challenge what good people have put together, but it is also fair they spend their own money in mounting this challenge especially after seeing the last 20 challenges to the Hellgate Treaty be denied by the courts.

I fully support the 15-year good-faith efforts to create the water compact and the complex issues it settles. This water compact will be good for the streams, the economy, and future growth in Northwestern Montana. 

Water is for fighting; whiskey is for drinking, but we do not need nor can we afford to fight — when we have a good negotiated settlement. 

This compact is a smart, practical and viable way to move society forward both socially and economically by compromise and recognizing our common need of our most precious asset, water.

Bruce Young is a resident of Lakeside.