Well hot damn. Utah, led by the Utah Stream Access Coalition and a pair of insightful legal eagles – Cullen Battle and Craig Coburn – has taken the first step in restoring rational access to her waters. Yesterday Judge Keith Kelly of Utah’s 3rd District Court ruled in favor of USAC and “confirmed that the […]
Access and Public Lands
Kudos to the Brighton Anglers for helping get this one rolling. Details on the BA site here; tickets here.
Yes indeed, New Mexico’s SB 226 is STILL a river access hot potato. Digging around for a bit of news today on the campaign to urge New Mexico Governor Martinez to veto SB 226, the last-minute, terrible-idea bill starting New Mexico down the road to river and stream access hell, turned up something interesting. The […]
From the “say it ain’t so, Joe” file here’s some very critical access news out of New Mexico. Kudos to the Utah Stream Access Coalition for getting this information out yesterday (from their email) – On Friday, in the final minutes before the New Mexico legislative session adjourned, in an all-too-familiar fashion, stream access there […]
The Utah Stream Access Coalition’s Weber Navigability case goes to trial tomorrow the 6th in Room W37 of the Matheson Courthouse in SLC. From USAC – The purpose of this case is to show that the Weber River was used as a highway of commerce prior to and at the time of statehood based on […]
I know it’s the peak of the holiday fundraising season for the hoard of worthy conservation and advocacy groups out there. Please carve a little out of your holiday budget to give generously (even if it’s five or ten bucks) to groups doing good work you value. There’s one group I’d encourage you, even beg […]
The Utah Stream Access Coalition’s most recent newsletter pulled a critical quote from the Utah Constitution – Article XVII of the Utah Constitution – All existing rights to the use of any of the waters in this state for any useful or beneficial purpose, are hereby recognized and confirmed. The access battle in Utah is […]
We’re big fans of the Montana Bully Pulpit blog; they’re one of the many regional groups touting the upcoming Montana Public Lands Rally to be held in Helena at the Capitol at noon on the 27th of September. The event (see the event FB page here) sagely coincides with National Public Lands Day as well […]
Is Montana’s river and stream access law the ‘Best in the West’? We sure as hell think so, though we’re just a group of moronic trout guys according to some of our new neighbors here on the left coast. Access to public waters and lands, though particularly public waters, has been a passion of ours […]
A smile-worthy update from the PLWA sent in the wee hours this morning – The Seventh Inning Stretch The next step in the continued fight over stream access in Montana By George Bauer If the Bridges of Madison County saga on the Ruby River was a baseball game then we would be at the seventh […]
Montana’s PLWA, the Public Land / Water Access Association, has for many years been a staunch defender of public access rights in Montana. Just a few weeks ago they won a major round in the Ruby River access battle with Atlanta media mogul James Cox Kennedy. PLWA president John Gibson recently wrote eloquently about the […]
A hearty well done to the Utah Steam Access Coalition and like minded river and stream recreation enthusiasts who showed up for the rally yesterday on the steps of the Utah state capital in SLC. Sounds like there were 400+ in attendance and the advice from HB 37 primary sponsor (Dixon Pitcher, R) was sound […]
Be there or be square. This one counts. Details here.
The clock is ticking on the access battle brewing in Utah. If you’re a reader of many of the busiest fly fishing blogs, you’ve no doubt perused something lately about the good work the Utah Stream Access Coalition is doing as the showdown over waterway access in Utah looms closer. This debate is a big […]
The Utah Stream Access Coalition is wisely starting what appears to be a well thought out campaign to draw the public’s (fickle) attention to HB37 – the compromise legislation that’s been proposed to address concerns of both Utah’s landowners and the recreating public. Access issues are very near and dear to us and we’d encourage […]