Don't Take Our Water!

 

Here are the details on what is going on with water rights for farmers, and other private landowners for that matter.

Over a year ago the Water Resources Board (WRB) created a Water Allocation Policy Advisory Committee (WAPAC) which in turn created nine sub-committees to address the issue of water allocation in Rhode Island. RI Farm Bureau spent well over 150 hours participating on four of those sub-committees, which met monthly for over a year, as well as the general WAPAC committee which also met monthly. However, most of the members of the committees were government, quasi-government or water distribution workers. Farm Bureau is really the only organization that represented significant water users. At the end of the process, due to the makeup of the committees, the results were quite predictable.

The WAPAC made over 20 recommendations to the WRB on water allocation. Among the recommendations that a vast majority of farmers don't like are:

RI Farm Bureau has consistently stated throughout this process that RI does not have a serious water allocation problem. While we may have a distribution problem concerning drinkable water, we certainly have enough water in this State for any one who needs it. That does not mean we should not be careful in the allocation of this valuable resource. RI Farm Bureau recommended to the WAPAC that there should be a voluntary water registration program, incentives for conservation of water, and to try to find a way to get so called wastewater to farms for use on non-food crops such as turf and ornamentals. We also suggested education and more public information about potential water shortages should be disseminated to the public. Finally, we suggested if these methods did not work, we should look into alternative sources of water such as another reservoir (Big River) or desalinization. We also insisted that if in fact the State wanted to change the riparian water structure, they would have to pay the landowner for those riparian rights. With the exception of education and public information, our recommendations were ignored. As an example, at a Registration Sub-Committee meeting a vote was taken on making water registration mandatory as opposed to voluntary. The vote was 7-1 with Farm Bureau casting the dissenting vote. Farm Bureau was the only organization at that meeting that represented water users.

At the WAPAC general meeting where the recommendations from the group were presented to the WRB, Farm Bureau again challenged the need for the recommendations made by the WAPAC. At this meeting, attended by about 50 people, only a handful represented water users. Most of the people were government employees or quasi-government employees.

As of September of 2005, the Water Resources Board has not acted on a lot of the issues that are of concern to RI Farmers. So far they have not required mandatory reporting of water Farm Bureau believes that in the long run any data collected will be used against us rather than for us as the WAPAC says the intent is. So far they have not considered charging farmers or anyone else for using their own water. We think they still may work toward the establishment of a central state authority to decide reasonable water use and will establish a minimum stream flow to protect aquatic life. We like our current riparian rights vs. a State central authority telling us when we can use our water. This system has worked for years with no significant problems. We don't mind protecting aquatic life, like fish, as long as we are allowed to irrigate. But, we fear that over zealous environmentalists in the near future will suggest farm pumps be pre-maturely turned off to protect the fish. The fish will live, but our crops will die and the State will not compensate us for our damages.

For more information call the RI Farm Bureau at 647-3570. If you would like to become a member of RI Farm Bureau or send us a donation to help us with this fight, send the form below to RI Farm Bureau, 2227 Plainfield Pike Rear, Johnston, RI 02919.

 

Name___________________________________ Phone________________________

Address________________________ Town_______________ State____ Zip_______

Fax_____________________ Email___________________ DOB ________________

Spouse Name__________________________ Children's Names___________________

[ ] I want to help Farm Bureau protect water rights and preserve our open spaces.

Please sign me up as an Associate Member. Enclosed is a check for $45.00 made out to RI Farm Bureau.

[ ] I want to help you with the current fight to save water rights. Enclosed is a check for

______$100.00 _______$75.00 ______ $50.00 ______ $25.00 _______Other $_____

 

________________________________

Signature.