The first call to action concerns two competing pieces of proposed Utah legislation which are scheduled to come to a vote next Monday or Tuesday. You may remember the battle that was waged to keep access rights on Utah's rivers and streams? Well that fight continues and the outcome could effect access rights in other states as well.
The GOOD!
House Bill 80 (Rep. Lorie Fowlke) upholds the Utah Supreme Court’s ruling(Conatser 2008)which recognized the public’s right to access the streambeds of public waters on private property for lawful recreational activities. In the spirit of cooperation, Rep. Fowlke held a series of public meetings that included landowners, farmers, ranchers, fishermen, rafters, kayakers and hunters to develop a compromise bill that addressed the concerns of all parties involved.
The BAD!
House Bill 141 (Rep. Kay McIff) seeks to overturn the Utah Supreme Court’s ruling(Conatser 2008) which recognized the public’s right to access the streambeds of public waters on private property for lawful recreational activities.
Both these bills are scheduled to come to a vote early next week, take some time this weekend and go to the Utah Water Guardians web site where you will find e-mail links to members of the Utah House Judiciary Committe. Send every member an e-mail asking them to support HB-80.There are also e-mail links to members of the House Natural Resorces Committee, send them e-mails asking them to oppose HB- 141.
The second call to action comes via the Trout Underground.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is preparing to introduce a legislative rider that would dramatically reduce Endangered Species Act protection for salmon and other fish in California. The amendment would lift restrictions on the amount of water that farmers can pump from the Sacramento-San Joaquin river delta for the next two years. But it could also scuttle a delicately negotiated effort to balance protections for endangered fish with the water needs of farms and residents of Southern California.
Please take some time and click through to the post on the Underground. Tom has provided a draft e-mail in oppostition to the plan and a link so you can forward to Senator Feinstein's office.