On the subject of farmers and water. I know where they are coming from; we
produce the nation's food and are underappreciated. We deserve water
rights...BUT, and gov't subsidy enters into this....you see the situation as
described in an earlier post. Idaho shouldn't be growing potatoes, but it
is what we do and we have a right...not unlike the commercial fisherman.
There are two abuses that I am aware of on the Yakima. One is the farmer
that is near the confluence of Wilson Creek and the Yakima, at the head of
the canyon. Wilson Creek flows clear, for all its distance and through
Ellensburg until it hits the last farm before it enters the Yakima. This
farmer, I have been told, has "A" rights. The farm is long established and
he gets all the water he needs. I think he is a pig farmer. Anyway, he
floods his fields whether they need it or not. The affluent flows into
Wilson and muddies up the YAK, otherwise it would flow clear. Then, 2/3 of
the way down, at Squaw Creek, the cattle farmer there, on the other side of
the road, allows his cattle to roam, right in the creek. Just fencing off a
small border of the creek would greatly improve the situation, but he has
the right, and does it. The farmer is fearful to give an inch thinking that
would be just a start of more restrictions to come and they are a strong
lobby in the West. Anyway, frustrating if you are environmentally
concerned.(Hope I have SOME of my info correct) Jere
