The time has come to make reservoir happen
Dear Editor,
I became a strong advocate for the reservoir prior to the election on the local option tax. I felt that the reservoir was something that generations following us will badly need just as we badly need West, Three and Twelve Mile Lakes today. Without these three sources of water, the citizens of Clarke County would not have available the abundance of water we enjoy today. Yet these sources will not last forever. I have heard reports that part of West Lake that originally were twenty-feet deep are now eight-feet deep due to silting or erosion into it.
We owe it to generations that follow us to give them water just as generations before us have given us the water we enjoy today. The only usable source of water for those of us who live in southern Iowa is surface water. We have no rivers that would serve this purpose and our ground water is deep and unusable. We have to build reservoirs to catch and hold rain water when it comes. The building of a reservoir and making it fit to drink is not something that we as individuals can do. We form governments to perform services that we cannot perform for ourselves.
In order for the government to provide us with clean and abundant water, land is necessary in order to build a reservoir. That means the taking of land from citizens who do not want to give it up. But there are times that in order to serve the many, that a few have to suffer. I understand the feelings of those who have to suffer. I built my home with my own hands, and if the government wanted to take it from me, I would fight them with every means available. But in the end, I would lose. If those who are asked to give up their land do not suffer, many others after them will. Not “if,” but when, a drought comes, farmers could be told to severely ration water. Without water, many farmers will have to sell their stock and could lose their farms. If this were to happen, the government would not be standing there with its hand out offering them top dollars for their land.
Elected officials are given the responsibility to provide services to the people that they, the people, cannot provide for themselves. Many would agree that in some areas of the government has gone to far in the giving of services, but clearly, all politicians can agree that water is one of the services which the government has a duty to provide to the people.
The idea of a reservoir on the South Squaw Creek in Washington Township has been planned for a long time. Back in 1993, the Comprehensive Plan was prepared for Clarke County. It called for a 650-acre reservoir at this location. Many good citizens over the last several years have worked very hard on this project. The time has come to make it happen. I hope that you agree.
Ron Wheeler, Murray, IA
