Water transfers concern state senator
Washington Ag Today December 20, 2010 State Senator Bob Morton believes in free enterprise but when it comes to water right holders transferring their water right, he is concerned about the free market’s impact on agriculture. Speaking at a Spokane Agri-Business Council breakfast meeting in Spokane Friday, the Republican lawmaker cited the example of a cattle operation in his 7th District selling a water right to a golf course in Wenatchee. He said water going from agriculture to recreation is the wrong direction. Morton: “We have practiced free enterprise in this nation and we need to keep that. But we also need to prevent water coming out of the north and going south. Can we do it legally? Can we do that? It is challenging. Where can we come up with legislation that says you cannot sell that water? It is mine. I have been here and granddad before me and that water is ours, and we have the right that you gave us in the state, that water right, and we are going to utilize it the best we can. But it is ours. Well….that may or may not be true in the future.” As for the governor’s budget proposal, Morton said don’t get too excited about it. It still has to run the legislative gauntlet. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net. ? ? ?
