I am writing in response to some of the articles that I have read on the controversial closing of the already famous culvert on the 777 grid road. Contrary to what some would have you believe, not everyone north of this grid is trying to make a living selling lots or living in a cabin on Lenore Lake, although I don't see why they shouldn't have the right to speak out, too.I am a farmer north of this famous grid. My grandfathers homesteaded this land: one in 1905 in Verndale, the other in 1927 by Lake Lenore. I am the third generation farmer on this land for the last few years. I, too, am a mixed grain and cattle farmer running about 100 cow-calf pairs, a herd that I have sold down to half due to the flooding of pasture and hay land. I have watched my cultivated acres dwindle by one third because of the rising waters. To date, I have seven quarters completely submerged, and two more that are about half gone. The land is both titled and leased but it is land that I had made a living off of, nonetheless. In 1986, the Watershed authority passed a law making it illegal to ditch without a permit. If you are one of the people south of 777 who lost land, homes, cattle or cabins, I know the frustration and anger you feel, as mine are as great as most. I think we need to come to a joint solution that will work favourably for everyone. With record rainfall, snow and high runoff, nobody could have predicted that the water would rise to the point that it has. However, if you are one of the people who pulled one of those ditches without a permit since 1986, I believe that you have relinquished your right to be heard. Why should you be able to increase your farm size by draining sloughs you have gone around for three generations, and take away my land that has been farmed for three generations? I can guarantee that you cannot find one drop of my water on your land; can you say the same?In fact, since I started farming in 1979, I have not pulled one ditch. I have as many sloughs as most, and I have not laid my burden onto the next guy down the line by draining it all on him so I could farm more acres. When I bought the land, I paid the going rate for it, sloughs or not. So if you're one of the people draining land into larger basins and you're flooding yourself out, it's time the circle finally came around. Maybe instead of pointing fingers at everywhere else, the fastest solution might be dealing with the man in the mirror. As for your water and your whine, keep them. I am pretty well full of both.To the people who worked tirelessly at closing the culvert on 777 and had their names dragged through the mud, I applaud you and I thank you. My family thanks you, and if they could, I bet the fish would thank you, too.
