I've read the insertion on the Property Rights site and it is excellent, but to
me, somewhat in academic terms that is easy for my brain to say "oh well:
or "so that's what's happening."  The gut of the issue for me
was proclaimed at Tuesday's meeting at the PUD.  D.O.E. and the Planning
Unit with one voice stated that they voted for placing a meter on every
well!  Folks, that gets down to the nitty-gritty.  D.O.E. wants total
control over the water in Jefferson County:  first comes the Rule, then
comes the Meter, then comes the $Cost/Tax.  What government entity has
ever metered anything without wanting money?  Historically, he who
controls the water controls the populace.

At the same Steering Committee meeting on Tuesday, 10-11-05 at the PUD meeting
room, D.O.E. also threatened to go after illegal wells, i.e.those
exempt wells being used for market gardens.  Phil (D.O.E) stated others in
his office wanted and were ready to move to enforcement in order make them
comply, but he wanted to "work things out."  It has been related
to me that D.O.E. already has a list of 30 to 40 farmers that are being pressed
to put meters on their wells.  And,...the
pressure comes in this fashion:  The farmer is approached by a D.O.E.
representative and told "you need to put a meter on your well.  If
you don't put a meter on your well, then in five years if you cannot prove that
you have used your allotment of water, if you can't prove that you have used
your water right, then you will loose it"!

It is already here now!!  They are implementing their plan!  And telling us in the meetings that they have no intention of
metering our wells.  It appears they lie!  This is not
academic--it is happening.  Talk about a police state based on arguments
that uses questionable science.  Kees Kolf and David Sullivan and others on the Planning Unit are
apparently in lock-step with D.O.E., but there is a sense that perhaps all in
the County Government are not, but will not be able to speak their minds for
fear of retribution.

The makeup of the Planning Unit for Jefferson County consists of bureaucrats,
environmental groups and the tribes.  Agriculture (small or large) and the
rural landowner are not represented even though these rules will impact them
most significantly and for them it translates to "a lands taking."
As a legal aside, the Planning Unit has not taken minutes for a number of
meetings which I understand may be a violation of the laws regarding these
meetings.    Perhaps you might want to ask for these minutes so
you can update yourself on their decision-making process.  As a citizen
they should be available to you.

Another point to bear in mind is that apparently the Dept. of Ecology has huge
sums of money to advance for this program in the form of grants.  I am
ignorant of grant money but somehow the tax payer must in someway
bear this expense, at least partially.  The government is adept at finding
ways to use our money against us and then ask for more.  It was suggested
that there might be grant money to buy up registered water rights from private
citizens thereby taking them out of the public domain
into a Water Trust which would be totally under the control of
D.O.E.  That is probably what they intend to do with those farmers
registered water rights if they can claim them. meter.
Application for water rights are backed up in D.O.E
who processes them by 10+ years.

Now, about the tribes, as I understand the Rule, they are included in the
decision making process.  However, they do not have to adhere to the rules
either on the reservation or off and they are allowed to take legal action
(against the State?) but the rules don't allow we, the citizens recourse once
the Rule is adopted..

If you have not been active in this process, please, at least go to the
meetings and decide for yourselves if this is what you want for your
county.  Your presence will make a difference!

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