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Why do the feds want to control your ponds, ditch water?
By gabesemenza in Crowdsourcing
July 16, 2009

A controversial yet sparsely-covered bill is working its way through the U.S. Senate. Senate Bill 787, or the Clean Water Restoration Act, has many South Texas ranchers and landowners worried and mad.

The bill would amend the Clean Water Act to replace the term "navigable waters" to make all surface water in the country "waters of the United States."

What does this minor change in wording mean? Instead of oversight of lakes and rivers, the change would give the federal government jurisdiction over all water -- including the ponds ranchers use to feed cattle, and even the water that collects in your ditches after a good rain.

The bill is lengthy, as you can immagine. Highlights of the federal government's new jurisdiction if the bill passes, as it relates to you and ranchers:

(3) of dredged or fill materials resulting from normal farming, silviculture, and ranching activities;

(4) of dredged or fill materials for the maintenance of currently serviceable structures, the construction or maintenance of farm or stock ponds, irrigation ditches and maintenance of drainage ditches, or farm, forest.

Legislators say the amendment clarifies the government's jurisdiction and puts in place measures to ensure the country's water is clean. After all, streams and runoff reach rivers. This water needs to be regulated, they say.

Many in South Texas say they'll have to pay for a permit to build or maintain a stock tank, and face further meddling from federal figureheads who have know idea about ranching.

Here's a link to the complete bill: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s787/text

What are your thoughts?

Thanks for your input,

Gabe Semenza / Advocate public service editor

Comments


  • victorianbybirth victorianbybirth Report a ViolationReport a Violation
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    It makes me sad.

    Speaking of control & government running amok, this happened to me this week. My daughter somehow was "slapped" by our cat last week. I don't know what happened to provoke the cat, but he got her right below her eye. She called me, I told her how to clean it & to keep the good eye on it for infection. My hubby came home, saw it & freaked out (he over reacts) & told her to go to the Dr asap. She went to the after hours clinic & they made her fill out a bite report. She informed them it wasn't a bite just a scratch from our indoor cat. They didn't care. 8:30 Sunday morning my doorbell rang, it was animal control following up on the report. I talked to the officer, explained the situation, got my daughter & showed him her face was completely healed & he still said we had to quarantine our indoor cat or pay a $2,000.00 fine. We went ahead & quarantined our cat at a vets office, good thing as the city is so screwed up they would've either euthanized him or adopted him out by now, to the tune of $400. Now, stray dogs roaming the neighborhood eating cats will get no response from animal control, but a housecat scratching it's owner gets him a 10 day lock up & us hefty fees/fines. When I tell people the story, they laugh, until they realize I'm not kidding.

    God forbid people use fertilizer in their yards & there's a big rain or the cows use the tank as a potty.....the EPA people really don't play.

    July 16, 2009 at 4:19 p.m.

  • tafoer tafoer Report a ViolationReport a Violation
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    Mr. Semenza,

    I think you answered your own question. "Control"

    July 16, 2009 at 3:50 p.m.