Leah Sattler wrote:...if you want to do something with your land that will be detrimental to the waterway that also passes through mine I would be pretty ticked off.
Background:
My father is currently planting trees and fencing off (so-many??) feet from the creek the runs through the lowest canyon on our 1200 acres. He only runs 35 head of cattle. The creek is approx. 2 -4 inches deep during the summer, spring time run-off makes barbed-wire fence rebuilding at every creek crossing a PURE JOY every year! But to the astonishment of the geniuses coming up with the riparian rights laws and programs...NOT ONE Native has pleaded with my father to set up gill nets along the banks of the creek for the HUGE Salmon runs. (please note the subtle use of sarcasm) Fact is, a bigger "sponge" is needed upstream. And if someone is doing something to their land that (a) increases depth of the water table further upstream, (b) regulates seasonal run-off so that there is LESS erosion downstream and (c) leaves the H2O in as good or BETTER condition leaving their property than when it entered...I'd say that you should probably bake a pie, walk upstream and deliver it to that neighbor with a "Thank You!" and a smile.
Here's a solution.
Take measurements....where the river/stream ENTERS a property AND where it LEAVES...at the same place each time.
Measure flow (at least twice a year...spring melt/run-off and end of summer)...in both places
Measure pathogens...in both places
Set an agreed upon acceptable level of scientific variation (when taking initial baseline measurements)
Then set up a reward and punishment system.
If what you do leaves things (in this case water) in as good or better condition than what you received it, you are either "even" or you earn a reward (maybe a significant tax break or something of that nature)...However, if what you do leaves things in worse condition, you will be penalized (not only for what you're doing to your downstream neighbors, but also for what you're doing to MOTHER...Earth). Your punishment should increase exponentially and drastically the further "out of bounds" your activities leaves the water after it runs through your property. In other words, a good law would make running a CAFO on your land (regardless of overall size) prohibitively expensive.
Mi dos pesos,
C.S. Reeves
