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Show Land Trusts? What About Water? In regard to Patrick Deihl's letter to the editor on May 6, 1999. (I was surprised it took so'long!) I only had to read Mr. Deihl's letter once to reaffirm my former position on land trusts. Surprisingly Surpris-ingly enough I did agree with ONE thing he said. Whether or not a farmer sells his development rights, it should be his "choice." To me a land trust is like a pyramid scheme. The first owner who "sells off his development rights" may make out like a bandit. But what about the owners down the line? What choice do they have? And isn't that what America should be all about, "Freedom of choice?" Now, about a local land trust. Who is going to put up all -this incentive money? I can't think of too many local people who would be willing to sink their money into a land trust-operation. But environmental envi-ronmental groups are known to fund land trusts all the time. Maybe locally? I don't like the sound of the "deed restrictions" Mr. Deihl speaks of. I, for one, will not be calling the phone numbers he provided any time soon. Land acquisitions, of all kinds, are becoming be-coming more prevalent all the time. I prefer to "control my own destiny" des-tiny" just as long as I possibly can. I find it interesting that anyone would move into a town and immediately imme-diately begin promoting land trusts to save OUR agricultural lands, of which he has none, and in the next breath want to put a stop to our new reservoir! In an article in the Salt Lake Tribune, on April 11, 1999, Mr. Deihl was quoted as saying that he doesn't dispute the supply problems that can arise, but questions why the proposed reservoir has to be so much bigger than the current one and wonders if proponents of the project don't have ulterior motives. He said, and I quote, "This is supposed to be irrigation water, but there are various signs that irrigation irriga-tion water could easily become culinary cu-linary water for a new residential development here in town." "There's potential for really rapid growth. Six-thousand-plus acre feet sitting up there. ..that water could be very valuable for higher value uses." Unquote. Who appointed him judge and jury? Would he be against giving people a drink of water if they needed one? And how do you keep agricultural lands in production without water? Our water board has worked for years to get a new and improved reservoir to meet our needs. Not because they had ulterior ulte-rior motives, but out of necessity. If you moved to Rome, wouldn't would-n't you do as the Romans do? At least for the first little while? Most Escalante residents will agree that it was overly presumptuous of Mr. Deihl to speak out, so strongly, about the water issue. One that was so important to all of us. Especially Es-pecially since he has hardly lived here long enough to be eligible to cast his vote!!! Marlene flaws Escalante |