05/16/08 Federal water

I know you won't believe this but the federal government wants more control of water. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be back right after this with details. Senate Bill 1870 would strike the word "navigable" from the Clean Water Act's definition of "waters of the United States." This would expand the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act to just about any puddle or area that might get wet sometime. According to a news release by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Montana rancher, Randy Smith testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works to voice his opposition to the bill. Right away, many people will say this is just another rancher that's disgruntled by federal lawmaking. Well, Mr. Smith's cattle ranch has been honored for its environmental stewardship and his is chairman of southwestern Montana's Big Hole Watershed Committee. This committee, just like the one I'm a member of in our county is a group including federal and state agencies, county government, wildlife, conservation, agriculture and citizens at large working together to try to provide and protect water for future needs. It might be a shock to radical environmentalists and some government officials but ranchers and farmers do know how to manage and conserve water  we have to. Maybe that's why we still see water on ranches that are over one hundred years old. Mr. Smith says cooperative efforts at the state and local level can often be more effective than sweeping federal regulations. I'll second that and Amen! I'm Jeff Keane. Western Livestock Reporter 4/16/08