MEETING UPDATE – 10/31…..Notes from Chris Barkey
re: recreational us of water over beds
There was a new draft presented in print but not it’s not available for the web yet.
Marty Bushman addressed concerns of the DWR regarding the fee issue and about funding. Jim Karpowitz stated a survey has been sent out to 40K anglers and they would like all language regarding funding excluded until they receive those results. The question is in regards to a $1.00 license increase I believe. I did mention that the funding may already exist in regards to the Gov. appointed Blue Ribbon Advisory Council. The avg. costs from Montana/Idaho showed at near $200.00 per project I would say the dollars needed measured around 40k to complete, based on 2000 projects. The BRAC has spoken often on the record about being able to throw money at these projects and, maybe, here is their chance. It is going to get looked into.
The other topic was the actual user paying a fee but there seemed to be difficulty in thoughts on how to capture kayakers, birders, etc. with a fee and the fact it may not be necessary. Add all that to the DWR WIA program and other funded access areas and walla.
The issue of wet boot was still a hot topic for landowners but the new definition of bed was beneath ordinary high water mark. There will be no navigability definition and the definition of private bed will be changed to reflect existing code if I understood them correctly. There will also be no definition of a vessel. They still try to define public/private water, but there was not much discussion on those topics due to time. But I will address them at the next meeting.
With “Bed” being defined I personally see no reason to define public or private water being that private water is not in question. It is what is captured by shares. Whether that be for irrigation or home use I don’t think is a question.
The definition of recreational activity was another fun topic. There was an addition from the last draft about ingress and egress with a 5′ limit from the water. I believe it will not be in the next draft being unnecessary and in direct conflict with the definition of a “Bed”.
The hunting issue was a big topic in the sense of where water fowlers are divided….Public hunting vs. Private hunt clubs.
That is about the gist, there is another meeting scheduled and there will be another draft so I will do my best to update you as soon as I can.
- Chris Barkey
ACCESS AND USE FUND
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