New Bill Could Limit Stream Access

[rFisherk]

As Regan once said: "There you go again."

I've posted about bills proposed by Representative Robert Ross before. Now he has proposed a bill (House Bill 955) that would reclassify how navigable and non-navigable streams are used by the public, or I should say restrict public use. It would reset the private land boundary for navigable streams from the current high water mark to the low water mark, which would mean that gravel bars would be off limits. On non-navigable streams, it would make the bottom of the stream private property, to the middle of the stream from either side, meaning you couldn't wade it without trespassing.

The bill also would give adjoining landowners rights to alter the streams, divert water and a host of other things, while at the same time possibly infringing upon the Missouri Department of Conservation's right to manage the fisheries in these rivers and streams. It essentially would make rivers and streams the property of those who own the banks and give them rights to manage these waterways as they see fit, as long as they complied with federal guidelines.

That's what I got out of the first reading. Read the bill yourself. Then contact your Senator and Representatives. I am told this bill sort of sneaked in and goes to committee Monday, and Rep. Ross is on that same committee.

[Chief Grey Bear]

This may get some traction!

[duckydoty]

Can CFM put this on there site like they did the last bill? It sure made it easy to contact my representatives. I got responses from both of them on the last issue One by email and the other by a real letter in the mail? The latter one seems like a waste of 47 cent stamp, paper and printing cost.

[Justin Spencer]

Looks like I will be looking for work if this passes. The Missouri Canoe and Floaters association will have a contingency in Jeff City on Monday, please comment if you can, not that they have left much time for comments to be read. The wording in this bill is very strange but seems to take away the publics rights on any streams that have privately owned land along them.

[fishinwrench]

If everything we live for can be taken away with the stroke of a pen, then what good is it ?

[rFisherk]

This one really hits home to me, because stream smallmouth are my main fish and float-camping is my favorite thing to do. If this passes, I'll move from Missouri, maybe the country, because the current political climate, since 911 and the Patriot Act, is to strip us of the rights and freedoms that once made our country great.

I don't know why CFM isn't all over this one. Maybe they are on vacation.

[Smalliebigs]

I just obliterated Representative Deb Lavender in district 90 as she lives a street away from me. She is a chiropractor as well in Des Peres. I had a 15 minute conversation with her. She seemed to be unaware of the bill as they always seem to be. My wife and I have both emailed and have written a letter to Eric Schmitt our state Senator in regards to this as well.

I have Ann Wagner insured and she has been a friend of mine for a long time, I spoke with her husband at 9:00am and he is having her call me back, I'm waiting on her call right now. She is US Congresswoman but, I am trying anyone and everyone on this one.

I am with Ron on this........TOTAL BS!!!!! who the hell do they think they are?????

This is war and Representative Robert Ross is the enemy and so is any Representative or Senator that will vote for this......everything is on hold for me until this is dead.

I have made 5 of my office partners promise me they will contact their state Representatives today......get on your computers and phones and tell them what you think.

I am sending a Blitzkrieg their way, it's the only thing I know to do.

[rFisherk]

It is the most powerful thing you could do, Smalliebigs, and I heartily commend you for it. I have contacted CFM and they are working to put it on their Action site to make it easier for everyone to contact their representatives. I'll post a link as soon as I get it.

I'm happy to say that, thanks to a rally by normally apathetic conservationist and outdoors people, we are winning this battle on many fronts, but the "war," as you describe it, is not over, and cannon volleys are still coming in. This is just the latest. I'll be posting about another development right after I post this.

[SpoonDog]

This guy's district (Phelps, Howell, Texas & Pulaski counties) include some of the most popular float streams in the state- what he's proposing seems pretty crazy given the number of folks in his district benefit, directly or indirectly, from floating and tourism. I'm sure the Missouri Trappers Association folks will be righteously pissed about it, too.

This bill is nonsense- privatizing a public resource and protecting ag interests at the expense of anglers, sportsmen and recreational users. I've fished states out west where there is no public right to access streams, and I've seen the damage done to fisheries when landowners are given carte blanche to trash streams. We don't want that here, and I have to wonder if many of Mr. Ross' constituents understand what sort of legislation he's pushing in their name.

I think writing letters and talking about the issue with coworkers and other interested folks are all good ideas, but I have to wonder how easy it is for legislators to sweep all that under the rug. We already know lots of these folks aren't entertaining criticism from outside their own districts. I'm not that technologically savvy, but Representative Ross has a Facebook page and a Twitter feed, and I'm sure Perhaps it's a good idea for folks to (respectfully) raise their concerns regarding HB 955 and other legislation through social media channels- it may raise the profile of these issues and get more folks talking/thinking- out in the open.

[Jeff Tief]

Just left message with my State Rep. and talked to the secretary of my State Senator.The Senators office said this bill is pretty far down the line as far as any action taking place and I took that to mean it is close to being voted on.Don't know what Rep. Ross has "against" or "for" his sportsmen in his representative district but wouldn't want him representing me on anything.