'This affects every single person.' VanderSloot urges community to act on longterm water solution
#eastidahonews #water #vandersloot
IDAHO FALLS -- One single firework shell shot high into the air Thursday night as the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration was about to begin.
The patriotic soundtrack and 31-minute firework display would soon follow but not before Melaleuca Executive Chairman Frank VanderSloot stepped up to the microphone and shared a passionate message about the water situation in eastern Idaho.
VanderSloot visited the EastIdahoNews.com studio over the weekend to raise a warning that the entire economy is at stake if an acceptable agreement is not reached by October. He wants the community to stay informed and is encouraging stakeholders to develop a longterm water solution that protects farmers in eastern Idaho.
Watch our new interview with VanderSloot in the video player above. On Tuesday, we will speak with two local farmers who are affected by the issue.
Below is a transcript of VanderSloot's statements made at the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration:
Good evening and welcome. This is Frank VanderSloot with Melaleuca.
The shell that burst into the sky just moments ago was not part of the show. We sent that shell up to get everyone’s attention. Tonight, we will dedicate 31 minutes of fireworks to honor the veterans who gave their lives so that we can be a free nation.
But for the next 3 ½ minutes, I want to call your attention to some other heroes who live in our midst. Given the serious situation that has developed in our region over the past 30 days, I thought we should take a moment before the show and inform you of some alarming facts that you may not be aware of.
The farmers in our area desperately need your support. As you know, last month the governor ordered 500,000 acres of farmland to be shut down. What you may not know is that there are only 900,000 acres under groundwater irrigation in our entire region. That means the governor’s order would have shut down more than half of all those farms stretching from Dubois and Ashton to Pocatello.
The effect on our economy would have been devastating. Not only would this order have caused hundreds of families to lose their farms, but because most of our local economy is based on agriculture, dozens of industries would have been impacted. Potato processing plants, dairies, ranches, and dozens of ag related industries would’ve gone bankrupt. Many of our banks would have gone under. Thousands would have lost their jobs. Restaurants would close. Property values would have plummeted.
You would think that no one would ever do that to our region and our economy. Yet, just last month, hundreds of wells were tagged and ordered to be shut down.
But then, at the last minute, Governor Little announced that he was going to give the farmers one more chance to come to an agreement that would allow them to keep their farms.
Upon hearing that, we all thought that the problem had been resolved. But we have now learned that that is not the case.
We have learned that those 500,000 acres of farm ground are still in jeopardy of being closed down.
This is a serious situation because the farmers in our region have nothing to negotiate with. They are telling us that the only choice they are being offered is the timing of when they have to shut off their wells and lose their farms. In other words, the only choice they are given is will they agree to lose their farms all at once this fall or will they agree to close down their farms over the next few years.
The Governor’s Department of Water Resources has told us that the department intends to shut down hundreds of thousands of acres of farm ground in our area.
They want to do this in order to raise the level of the aquifer to an artificially high level so that the water will travel downstream underground and then back into the Snake River where it can be used by Idaho Power to generate electricity.
Our water will then continue to flow down to the Boise Valley area where powerful politicians and large corporations believe it is needed to support the phenomenal growth in the Boise area.
If you had told me last month that could happen to our region, I would have never believed you. But it is happening.
These farmers do not have the political clout to fight the large corporations who have expensive lobbyists. We cannot afford to stand by and watch our farmers fight this battle by themselves.
Farmers have long been the backbone of America. They are a great example of the American dream. They demonstrate a culture of hard work, sacrifice, personal responsibility, and family values. We should stand by them. This is the United States of America. And we should be united with the farmers of our community.
You can read the rest of the statement on EastIdahoNews.com.
Пікірлер: 96
Being a Zimbabwean, the biggest tragedy was the government interfering with agriculture. DISASTROUS results. I love farmers, the earth is precious, so are farmers.
@user-jk3ht5hn3m
24 күн бұрын
@@janetwale1019 this ain’t zimbabwe
@ohnoyce
23 күн бұрын
@@user-jk3ht5hn3m and?
@rlbrown1009
22 күн бұрын
Thankyou for your input ❤
As a governor elected by the people of Idaho to lead our state, you would think he would be insuring the safety of the farms under threat, preventing the economic impact, and directing everyone to a safe and sustainable outcome. Instead he is acting like a referee and these farms are still under threat? Not my idea of leadership.
@ohnoyce
23 күн бұрын
Remember that come election day.
Thank you Nate and Mr Vanderaloot for bringing this awareness to us and for fighting to keep our farm lands. Idaho is great and I would hate to have to leave the place I was born and have raised my children. God bless us all 💗🤗
The Gov of Idaho should have Mr. VanderSloot on his water task force for advisement on Idaho famers representative. Thank you Mr. VanderSloot for sharing very good information concerning the farmers.
Dear Lord please help them to do right. Help folks to work together. In Jesus name Amen 🙏
East Idaho News, you are needed on this! Mr. Vandersloot and Idaho need you to show that same bravery in journalism for this issue that you showed in that parking lot in Hawaii.
Nate, how about interviewing some actual water and legal experts (scientists). Depletion of the water table is the canary in the coal mine.
I shop with Melaleuca, it's crazy to see Frank Vandersloot on East Idaho News! Great speech, sir.
Water has historically been a problem in the west. Wars and lives lost over water. Farmers cannot be deprived of water. They are the bread and butter! Maybe he Governor should be be more involved and educated rather than a blanket order “hey you guys work it out”. I’m glad Nate and EIN isn’t back burnering this issue. Gotta say EIN is the best. 👍🇺🇸
I am thrilled to hear EIN is doing a series on this issue! Thank you for that. Please look at whether the cobalt mine is also involved in the water issue. And, what about the wells for already approved residential subdivisions? Jefferson County has approved subdivisions which will be HUNDREDS of wells. Why do residential wells get approved when farmer wells are taken away? Maybe housing developers want the $800 per acre so they can buy up the farmland and build houses to appease the influx of people.
@nada7.077
24 күн бұрын
Please educate yourself as to the geography of Idaho and especially the rivers and drainages!! The cobalt mine near Salmon has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the water issue going on in southern Idaho!!
@RedRose4141
24 күн бұрын
@@nada7.077 please elaborate you seem so sure. A suggestion to you is educate yourself more thoroughly on cobalt and lithium mining and the tons of water out takes, water air and land pollution for centuries to come and human health impacts.
We the People need to stand up for the farmers. No Farmers No Food! We also need to get rid of Little and get a governor who will work for the people not for the establishment.
WOW sad thing for the farmers and the citizens. I live in Las Vegas where yesterday we had a record high of 119 °. Water is definitely an issue here. But how could "A" single politician be allowed to so deeply effect the properties of farmers which would effect the rest of the country eventually? I pray you all find a solution and better GOVERNOR .✌️
This is the same as shutting down the forests for logging, the coal mines for energy
Thank you for bringing this to the light Nate. It’ll be all over our state. Our water & farmers are our lifeline.
You forgot to mention these ground water districts breached the 2015 agreements in 2021 & 2022. Thats before the methodology change. You also didn’t mention that judge Wildman ruled that averaging is not in the agreement.
I wrote to Gov. Little back when this all first started. This issue isn't just an East Idaho issue. I am up in North Idaho and can see how this problem can affect even us. It shouldn't be a political issue which it certainly looks like to some extent. We all like to eat and have good food. We want Idaho to have an economy that will benefit us all. Everyone needs to support these farmers who have had their water taken away from them. Perhaps this year things will work out, but we need a more permanent solution and certainly not the federal government stepping in because we can't manage this water issue.
Fantastic, Nate. Thank you for doing a series on this matter. I live in Washington state and am watching this. Something isn't right. Keep digging!
Thank you Nate.
Keep up the good work Frank.
Somebody is making a bunch of money, and it isn’t the farmers or general public.
Thank you. Great explanation.
Thank you, Frank!
It is important to recognize leadership AND THE LACK OF LEADERSHIP!
It really is difficult to believe that governor little would risk the economic disaster shutting water off to eastern Idaho would bring. Super glad Frank is getting the word out there.
Gee. An unelected agency making law..without the people voting. Hmmm....the Chevron case. Tell them to kick rocks.
We're watching
What about the people downstream who have water "rights"? If you are going to change the rules to limit those rights, then be prepared to limit your rights when downstream users need more water. If those rights can be limited or reduced to benefit Twin Falls area users, they also can be reduced to benefit Southwest Idaho users, and eventually users in Oregon, Washington, Nevada and California.
The Idaho Department of Water Resources is not present at the table of every home closing in the State. They shld be disclosing the rules for Domestic Well water usage for all home owners. Their rule states 1/2 acre per home owner. If an additional permit is sought which also has limitations and restrictions and requires a meter to monitor water usage, the meters are required to be installed and monitored by the Dept. Of Water Resources. They claim it is cost prohibitive and refuse to do it. Ground water is being used at the expense of these farmers. They have also dropped the ball in that dry acres being developed i.e. residential subdivisions which go Un detected for 1/2 acre rule. Many fully irrigating properties of mutlti acres. There is only one employee to enforce rules for the entire state of Idaho. If their own rules were being informed there would be more than enough water for these farmers. Fight for your rights and force them to enforce their own rules.
Ask the people in that region of Idaho and state government how high they want food prices to go, because non-local, area requores import of food which results in higher cost to provide food.
Does government at any level work for the people at all Any more ? Regardless which side of the aisle u r on we should all start realizing those elected on both sides at all Levels are doing great. The citizens on all sides suffer
Take a look at long term effects of water "management" in Arizona. The power company took the water right out of a 40 acre piece of land I was on. First they talked with the county. Some got the well depth certification to get a baseline and had it measured after the power company started pumping the water. Our well dropped 4 ft! Compensation?!? Not much. The ones without certs got nothing! Look at the agriculture in AZ now - no orchards, no rose nurseries, only farms that support surface crops. Try paying for a green lawn! Most "lawns" are gravel and large rocks! Now AZ lets Saudis grow alfalfa and wonder why that huge reservoir called lake Powell is down to a small stream. As long as the state can make money selling water to various corporations, this is the result of not having clear water rights laws. The BLM wants acres of windmills so California can have Idaho generated electricity? And leave us with dead birds and gravel lawns! Wake up we're talking state/fed green laws that allows populations to dictate our natural environment that we hold dear... 🤐
Plenty of water that flows through Idaho to the Columbia doesn’t get used by Idahoans that needs to change.
@walkinharmonyhomestead2888
22 күн бұрын
Yes, as well as tons of water going South to Salt Lake.
Hmm the planet is 3/4 water, they're lying about shortage of it.
@user-ch7mn1kj4b
24 күн бұрын
The rest of the planet has nothing to do with water that drains into the aquifers and reservoirs that serve the farmland of Idaho or any other Agricultural State. Salt water isn’t useful for farming.
@annewandering
24 күн бұрын
Figure out how to use the ocean's water for irrigation then you might have a point.
@hangemhigh3578
24 күн бұрын
@@annewandering they know how to desalination.
Ask Weaver & The Dept. of Water Resources why they did it and follow the money.
Data farms. I'm afraid that'll be the only farming anywhere there is an abundance of " renewable energy ".
Is this the conspiracy quack that thinks Idaho Power is manipulating stock price?
There's several cuts in the footage on this interview. I wonder what he said that Nate cut out. I'm surprised he's even allowed to do coverage on this story in the first place.
@3_Klos1122
24 күн бұрын
I think Vandersloot is a great Idahoan. I’m glad he’s in the conversation and the state. That being said we need to take a look to see if the last agreement were held up. If people haven’t held up their end no new agreement is needed. It won’t matter. I think that is why we created water rights. Eastern Idaho farmers can buy ground in southern Idaho. If water is scarce it won’t work to keep everyone in a little bit of water. Crops don’t grow for anyone without the right amount of water. People with junior rights could spend more money on irrigation systems like Israel uses. Drip irrigation systems. If they can get water in the desert in Israel than they can do it here. Nate should cover southern Idaho’s side of the story too
@walkinharmonyhomestead2888
22 күн бұрын
@@3_Klos1122He should, but the canal companies in S ID are the ones who need to update their equipment and practices.
Didn't they get all these water issues sorted out a few years ago? Big agreement.
This affects the country as a whole. We buy Idaho produce here in SC. Demand will be strangled if this country keeps losing farms.
If you can't change your employee's change your employees. Vote these anti idahoan people out
Can all of you join together and hire independent investigations?
Got My mug shirt today thank you
Everthing owes its existence to six inches of soil and water.
Your appearance tells me this works is important, Nate Eaton,!
@dyslexiaDIY
23 күн бұрын
😂
Whiskey is for drinking and waters for fighting
Wonder if this group is connected to the Klamath OR basin group? If not, they should
What can a small (.5 acre) farmer do?
@walkinharmonyhomestead2888
22 күн бұрын
This is what I think about all the time. We may or may not agree with the methods used by these larger farms, but how scary is it that if THEY have little to no power in this, what chance do we have?
Might ve time for Idaho to fetch anew Governor.
@walkinharmonyhomestead2888
22 күн бұрын
Way past time.
Didn't they want to use the water for mining to make lithium batterie instead?
Is it true that much of Utah and Idaho farmland is being sold to China?
@lindamoses3697
23 күн бұрын
😮It was on Dr. Phil about huge region of Utah is owned by China. It appeared to be odd that one side of the state had so much land sold. It made me wonder if it was federal land because it wasn't spots of land but all of it down one side region
I call Bull on this crap!
What is being grown with this water? How does a firework display show respect for the water we must share?
I call conspiracy on rhis nonsense!!!! This effects nore than just Idaho.
you have a clear problem, alphabet agencies and some appointed/elected persons are being allowed to set policy, essentially becoming a legislative body, This is not supported in the state constitution. This problem is likely with a long history and as usual the government is pushing an agenda that is not completely necessary but I have to wonder how responsive and involved the farm community has been. My guess is that farmers have generally taken a hell no we won't bend to reduced water consumption. Maybe that is the moral high ground, maybe not? What has been the growth pattern of irrigated farming acreage, what has been the utilization of surface and ground waters? It is a touchy balance, the waters are a public resource, farming is a necessity but there is the issue of farming for profit, Big Business where crops are grown for export. Yeah a farmer needs to make a living but how much should he be allowed to tap water in order to serve export markets?
When you are using something you do not own or using more than you own, someone stops you from using what you do not own. This is the problem. Then you cry wolf because you got caught. No one is to blame except the individuals using more water than they have the right to. Don't twist the facts.
Sounds like inept governance. Don’t judge by the rhetoric but by the deeds that are done or withheld from being done, right?
@soupportidahofarmers this all goes back to a Ukrainian bill for minining
WOW it sounds like a California trasplant is running Idaho farmers businesses.
As you watch this battle unfold let’s not forget all the environmental activists groups that are fighting to breach every dam in the Snake & Columbia river system in the name of protecting some small insignificant fish runs.. Who supports environmental activists… Liberals and the Democrats.. Who’s party dominate west coast state’s government… water in every aspect will bring unprecedented conflict across the western states..
Completely unchallenged/uncontested as of yet. Weaponized tech.
Racing inflation around the world has to do with ideology politicians.
I hope Mr. VanderSloot would reach out to Glenn Beck regarding this. Glenn's been talking about this and has such a huge audience and political resources.
Ok frank. Still can’t decide who exactly your supposed to be representing. You seem to be blaming the administrators as if they act on their own. Are you deflecting? This stinks and although you seem to be concerned you don’t appear to have real answers just a lot of hand ringing and blaming of local officials. Just a little to convenient don’t ya think.
@willj1598
24 күн бұрын
Frank represents Frank's bank account.
This feels like pandering to me.
Funny how this man is the self appointed leader of the community just because he is LDS and runs a very successful pyramid scam. I love Nate and this channel but the church influence really comes through sometimes.