Fisherman, hunters, boaters, birdwatchers and nature lovers; everyone and anyone who uses water for recreation in the state of Utah needs to voice their support! Please join Utah’s recreational water users at the capitol building for a rally in support of HB-80!

This years rally is just an important as last year’s. We need to show without a doubt that the people support this decision. After the rally we will enter into the capitol and lobby to our elected representatives (just like last year)

When: Friday February 5th at 11:30am
Where: South Steps of the capitol building
What: Rally, press conference and public lobbying

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BE CIVIL AND RESPECTFUL – While we all recognize that this is a “hot button” topic, it is important to remember that we are trying to acquire allies; not enemies. There are a variety of ways to convey your concerns about an issue without resorting to demeaning, crude, or offensive tones

PDF flyer –> Rally_2010_v1

In This issue:

• Water user meeting
• Capitol meeting
• Donations
• Rumors from the Riffle

Water User Meeting

Discussions on Draft #4 went well and everyone seemed to be pleased with the drafts process.  A few of the concerns which were raised in draft #4 have been addressed in draft #5. This still leaves some future discussions to be made. The kayak(er) in attendance brought up some valid points regarding portage. He would like to see portage as a whole – rather than breaking it down and restricting it to “natural” vs. “man-made”. Also, other than kayakers, many of the public’s water users are kids who go “tubing”. This separation puts the public water users at risk of a trespass ticket or injury.

Capitol Meeting – Draft #5

• Meeting at the Capitol Building took place Friday December 4th, 2009
• Representative Fowlke presented Draft #5.
  • Draft was discussed and revisions were made.
• The revised draft #5 will be out soon and it appears this will be the final Bill.
• Please note section 4-26-4 has been struck.

Click here for Pre-Draft #5 -Fowlke Access Bill_#5_v2

Fund Raising

• Donations have been trickling in. So far 50 people have donated! Thank you!
• With the help of individuals, fisherman, fishing industry companies and organizations, local businesses its over the half way mark, nearly $17,000.00 has been raised!
• With the help of angling bloggers the newly installed “Button” raised over $500 in the first two weeks!
• Collection Jars are out! Now accepting Couch Change!
  • 5 shops have put up a jar, see flyer for details — ACCESS and USE UTAH_Flyer_v4

Right now the fundraisers are looking for a Rod and Reel Donation. All donations are received as payment for full retail value! Please contact us at utahwaterguardians@gmail.com for more information.

Rumors from the Riffle

These are tiny tid-bits of information that have been siphoned through and are only for awareness.  However these are from very reliable sources but not to be taken as factual.

• Representative Ferry – Rumor has it he will be bringing another Bill in this year. It’s said to have some kind of a permit/tag fee. Supposedly similar to a CCMU type of thing.
• Victory Ranch – supposedly VR has hired a lobbyist. None other than former Representative and current angler Steve Barth. Rumor has it Steve wants ”wet boot” and 10’ as the easement and a number of rods allowed per year. When asked why he took the job being an angler, he reportedly stated, money is money.

Keep up the momentum everyone!

“Donate for (Recreational) Access and Use Utah! Fund”

Your support keeps ALL our gained recreational rights preserved

It’s easy…just <click> Donate on the left side column.

History -

A very well connected lobbyist (Hartley and Associates) will fight for the public’s right to Access and Use Utah’s State Waters, but lobbyists don’t come cheap.  His fee is $30,000.00 for this year’s legislative session.   Half of the fee has been raised already!   Times are tight for all of us folks,  but if you can spare ANY AMOUNT, please do.  Surely we can all skip a fast-food lunch or two and send in the savings.  There are 400,000 fishermen in Utah, please pass this on to all you know.  Just a few bucks from some of us would get the job done, please step up and help out.

Please note, the landowners have hired their guns and will not underestimate the people this next go-around. The legislature is not going to be giving us neither another sympathy vote nor the bad process vote. We need professional talent(s) AND a heavy backed grassroots effort to accomplish this enormous task we are all faced with. The ball is now rolling, we need to preserve our rights and stand-up against those those are trying to take them away! We learned in the first round not one single person is going to do it for us… it’s up to ALL of us, as a unified voice, to stand together to keep free water free.