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Vol. 17, No. 51
September 8, 2021
County tables irrigation resolution following public meeting By Kristi Niemeyer for the Valley Journal
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Mussels pg. 5
9/11 exhibition pg. 9
Sports pg. 12
hen the Lake County Commissioners held a public meeting last Monday regarding collection of irrigation fees, only one thing was certain: Confusion and controversy continue to muddy matters surrounding the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project. Commissioners sought public comment on a Resolution of Intent to cease billing, collecting and distributing fees or assessments related to the project, beginning in tax year 2022. Currently the county collects operation and management fees assessed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, as well as administrative fees for the Flathead and combined Mission and Jocko irrigation districts. Commissioner Gale Decker opened the meeting expressing his frustration about the lack of legal guidance from the state’s attorney general about how to proceed under the Mon-
KRISTI NIEMEYER PHOTO
Robin and Steve Connell adjust a wheel move on their ranch south of Charlo. Irrigation water, delivered by the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project, is the lifeblood of Mission Valley farmers and ranchers.
tana Water Rights Protection Act (MWRPA) signed into law last year. Commissioner Bill Barron noted that letters have been sent and
phone calls made to no avail. “The only time Lake County gets noticed is if we sue somebody or do a resolution that nobody likes, then
w w w. v a l l e y j ou r na l. ne t
we get attention,” he said. “That’s part of what this is about for me and that’s why it’s stretched out to 2022, to give us time to find out what is
legal.” Although several irrigators and two attorneys attended the meeting, see page 2
