Farmers, ranchers oppose water bill

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said he came to San Angelo looking for ammunition to fight pending legislation that he says would damage private property rights. He should be leaving with a truckload of it. Cornyn met with several dozen farmers, ranchers, local leaders and heads of more than 10 state organizations Friday in a roundtable discussion about the pending Clean Water Restoration Act. The bill would broaden the power of the U.S. government in regulating surface water. The Clean Water Act is limited to “navigable” waters. The legislation would replace “navigable” with the words “all waters of the United States,” Cornyn said. That includes “prairie potholes, wet meadows, playa lakes and natural ponds,” according to the bill. “This legislation could regulate everything from stock tanks to ditches,” he said. “We need to remind them when they get overambitious it’s time to back off. I want to get ammunition to take back to Washington to slow this down and take a look at this and have a debate.” More than 50 people attended the Friday roundtable, and everyone who spoke opposed the pending legislation...SanAngeloStandardTimes