In a day and age when it seems our rights are being slowly eroded on a daily basis, it isn’t surprising the Democrats in Lansing are making another attempt to strip us of the right to own and/or use the water on our property. Rep. Scripps (D) has introduced House Bill 5319 with the intent of reversing a law that has been on the books for over 100 years. It seems the democrats want to create another “control” on our lives by micromanaging another aspect of our daily life.

Historically Michigan residents, like the majority of the residents in the states east of the Mississippi River, are entitled to riparian rights. Essentially, this means if you own your property you have a legal right to use that water as long as you don’t interfere with the use of that same water resource by your neighbors. 

The proposed legislation would place the “groundwater” on your property into a “public trust”.  This trust would basically put the “State” in control of your water use and add another level of bureaucratic red tape with the associated oversight, approval/denial for use, permitting, fee assessment, and whatever other “regulations” they might feel would be “essential”. 

The politicians in Lansing have already passed legislation that affects our groundwater by passing Public Act No. 33 of 2006 that required obtaining permits in specific situations if trout streams would be affected. If the democrats, with the assistance of the environmental lobby, have their way who knows what their next “regulation” will bring?

Will the agricultural interests in Michigan be denied the use of water for watering their animals and the irrigation of their crops? What rules will be promulgated by the state that will require a permit? What will the cost be  to obtain the permit? Will the amount of water you use be monitored and will you be required to pay a fee based on usage of “your water resources”? What will the cost for the creation and monitoring infrastructure that will be required to administer such a program?

If you feel the government has already infringed into too many areas of your life, vote for the people this fall who will get government off your back and allow you to live your life on “YOUR PROPERTY”.

(Submitted for publication to the Dewitt/Bath Review, Clinton County News, The St. Johns/DeWitt Informer, The Owosso Independent, The Laingsburg Independent & The Perry Independent on May 3, 2010)

(Published in the DeWitt/Bath Review on May 9, 2010 )
