The Stream Access Fight in UTAH needs your help (SUPPORT HB37)

[mrkristofo]

Maggots -

Help is needed in Utah….more than we need a good dump of snow.

SUPPORT HB37 | Protecting Public Water & Property Rights!
In the state of Utah, it is against the law for the public to recreate (fish, wade, etc.) in public waters that are adjacent to private property. This law severely limits the freedom for not only the residents of Utah, but also to any persons who come to Utah to enjoy our precious streams and waterbeds. It's the public’s right to lawfully access and use its public waters in place for any lawful activity, including recreation, allowing the public to reasonably touch privately-owned beds of public waters in ways incident and necessary to such use. This right is defined in Utah's constitution, and has been upheld by the Utah Supreme Court several times.

YOU CAN HELP RIGHT NOW!

RESIDENTS: Contact your local Representatives: http://le.utah.gov/GIS/findDistrict.jsp

NON-RESIDENTS:
Contact the office of Governor Gary Herbert, his chief legal counsel, and his senior environmental advisor. Tell them to SUPPORT HB37!
+ Utah Governor's: Gary Herbert -you must now go to this link. http://governor.utah.gov/goca/form_governor.html
+ Legal Counsel: Jacey Skinner -jskinner@utah.gov - 801 538-1645
+ Sr. Environmental Adviser: Alan Matheson - amatheson@utah.gov - 801-538-1574

EVERYONE: Donate at http://utahstreamaccess.org/usac-wp/donate/

More details to come, including about the RALLY Feb 11, 9:45AM - and also why you should give a shit.

[schwerty]

Thanks for sharing. Hopefully this will stay on top!

[dfinn]

been meaning to do something about this for a little bit now, thanks for the reminder and motivation. emailed reps and donated.

[teleee]

Thanks for the bump, only continued pressure will have any results. I saw a pretty good compromise bill that was proposed this week.

[mrkristofo]

Thanks for the support, all. As promised, here's some more information. But first, why you should give a shit:

This was posted on the chiwulff blog on Jan 20 - http://chiwulff.com/2014/01/20/utah-...l-11-february/

A friend asked me yesterday ‘why do even give a sh*t anymore, you don’t live there and haven’t fished in Utah in over a year?’ The answer is very simple – ANY encroachment of recreational stream and water access is a loss for all fishermen and river enthusiasts in the country, particularly if privatization oriented groups are encouraged by restrictions passed in neighboring states that leads to further restrictions and loss of access in other locations.

We have a lot of friends in Utah as well, and I cut my fly fishing teeth there on the Upper Provo now nearly 30 years ago.

Finally, greedy bastards curtailing previously established access just pisses me off.

Any of those things resonate with you?

How about the fact that nearly 3,200 miles of Utah rivers and streams, constitutionally protected for the public's use, was GIVEN AWAY to private interests in 2010.

The Utah Stream Access Coalition has created a Grassroots Media Kit, with all the information that you need to join us in the fight. Open it up, click the 'Read Me First' PDF, and get involved. It has everything from quick bullet-points, talking points for legislators, and more complex legal 'White Paper.'

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/lsavd9on6gui1qb/jgUHTI0SXW

FINALLY, JOIN US ON FEBRUARY 11, 9:45AM, on the Capitol steps for the biggest stream access rally in Utah history. Let the maggots be seen and heard.

Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/events/439591996170304/

[skifishbum]

fuck yeahs bumps
http://utahstreamaccess.org/category/usac/
war aint overs but the battles are sure shaping up in a
fuck this shit it's OUR water and you don't own it, the inhabitants or the river/stream bottom, or have the right to prevent our high water mark access to it

[alias_rice]

That is fucking killer!! Good work USAC!!! Probably time for another donation

[Sirshredalot]

fuck yeahs bumps
http://utahstreamaccess.org/category/usac/
war aint overs but the battles are sure shaping up in a
fuck this shit it's OUR water and you don't own it, the inhabitants or the river/stream bottom, or have the right to prevent our high water mark access to it

I don't fish when it's sub-freezing, but I am stoked to fish some waters that were effectively closed for a few years.

[Lumpy]

USAC will still need all the help it can get to continue fighting the good old boys, cow punchers, and big Utah gubbament. This will not go away. Buy a USAC hat, shirt, donate directly, if you are a skeezy law interpreter (licensed) do some pro bono if its in your DNA. If you aren't just be respectful of what Barkey and the boys have forged. Pick up a little trash, be polite, and do NOT exercise your right to access these waters. But do it in a respectful manner. Fight aint over here yet by a long shot. I did not fish rivers last month, but drove by some closed access points and chatted up both fisherman and disgruntled land owners. Tough situation still.