Utah House Votes to Negate 100 Years of Water Law

From Bryan Gergsen at the Utah Water Guardians.

CONTACT THE SENATE NOW!!

HB-141 passed 50-25 today and is now moving onto the Senate.

This is NOT GOOD! Please contact all Senators NOW...
VISIT YOUR SENATOR IN PERSON!!!!

The vote http://www.facebook.com/l/0dc02;le.utah.gov/~2010/status/hbillsta/hb0141s1.001h.txt HB 141: YEAS - 50 NAYS - 25

KEY POINTS of INTEREST --HB 141:

 It is a clear violation of separation of powers, making it in direct contrast to the Utah Constitution Article V Section I and the ideals of our founding fathers.

 It was done in secret, and the substitute bill came out after it passed committee and was sprung on the House for a quick debate.

Approves a political and controversial process of adding waters to a list that can be accessed by the public and saying what waters can't be accessed by the public.

 Negates over 100 years of water law in Utah.

Flies in the face of 3 Utah Supreme Court decisions separated by over 70 years declaring and defining the public's easement in State waters.

 Refuses to balance two competing constitutional rights, but unconstitutionally disregards one in the favor of the other.

This bill is unconstitutional....PERIOD!

Please, take 5 minutes out of your day to send a short and sweet email. Even if its a one line sentence staying…VOTE NO HB-141

SENATE ROSTER
 lrobles@utahsenate.org; bmcadams@utahsenate.org; gdavis@utahsenate.org; pjones@utahsenate.org; kmayne@utahsenate.org; waddoups@utahsenate.org; rromero@utahsenate.org; kmorgan@utahsenate.org; wniederhauser@utahsenate.org; dcbuttars@utahsenate.org; hstephenson@utahsenate.org; bgoodfellow@utahsenate.org; mmadsen@utahsenate.org; jvalentine@utahsenate.org; mdayton@utahsenate.org; cbramble@utahsenate.org; pknudson@utahsenate.org; jgreiner@utahsenate.org; achristensen@utahsenate.org; sjenkins@utahsenate.org; jstevenson@utahsenate.org; sadams@utahsenate.org; dliljenquist@utahsenate.org; rokerlund@utahsenate.org; lhillyard@utahsenate.org; kvantassell@utahsenate.org; dhinkins@utahsenate.org; dstowell@utahsenate.org; surquhart@utahsenate.org

Keep up the fight!!

Bryan

The mood inside was bright

Dick enjoys some salmon fishing on the Klamath - Courtesy of the AMFF Cheney Collection

Up until now there have been no reports from the American Museum of Fly Fishing Dinner where everyone's favorite fly angler Dick Cheney was the special guest. Ted Williams has just posted some stomach churning excerpts from The American Fly Fisher, a publication of the American Museum of Fly Fishing.

“…a Grand Hyatt ballroom was filled with enthusiastic museum supporters gathered to welcome ardent fly fisherman and former two-term vice president Richard B. “Dick” Cheney. The mood inside was bright...”

“…His familiar reticence gave way to gleaming eyes and bright smiles as he discussed the people and places of fly fishing…

Read the rest of the excerpts and Ted's commentary on his blog at Fly Rod and Reel.

LINK

"Shame on you Gail Shea"

In light of recent B.C. discussion (April Vokey Fishschtick Episode 27 interview included), this clip couldn't be more timely. Unfortunately, it's PETA driven.

Shame on Gail Shea?  Shame on her hair stylist as well.

via Houston-Today.com

Waiting for the Ministry

The long-awaited ministry response to the Skeena Quality Waters working groups recommendations should be in by the end of January, from the promised November 2009 publish date.

LINK (Via: Houston Today)

Potentially bad news for Idaho anglers?

 Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter has proposed the elimination of general funding for the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) as part of the 2010 state budget. The elimination of IDPR potentially means the loss of public access to state parks and facilities all over Idaho, including the world-famous Harriman State Park in Fremont County. 

More via Henry's Fork Foundation

1859 Interview of David James Duncan

In this 1859 magazine interview DJD discusses water, salmon and the poicies that are killing them. His take on The River Why movie alone is worth the read. 

They wrote a crappy screenplay, filmed in a rush to outrace my lawsuits, used a non-fly fisher to play a "Mozart" of a fly fisher, used a rubber salmon to play a wild chinook, and so on. I wish them the best because at this point, why not. But as for their movie's chances, how to put it?

Read the rest. LINK (Via: 1859)