For those of you that are unaware, I resigned my affiliation with CORR (Coalition for River Rights) several weeks ago. I simply could not support the direction that the leadership of the organization was moving. Nor could I or would I support a proposed bill that could deny us the right to use hundreds if not thousands of miles of streams.
For the details of why I resigned go to the following link:
River Rights... a hard decision for me.
I was never a member of the Board of Directors of CORR, nor did I have a strong voice in the formulation of it's policies. I mostly just provided background information. I served as a spokesman on occaision but was frequently chided by the Board for not being properly on message.
Recently, the Fly Fishing Federation announced the withdrawal of their support for CORR. I suspect other groups may follow suite.
Somehow, CORR's very highest, number one priority became
protecting landowner rights and private property, not assuring the public's right to float, anchor, wade, and walk to the high water mark on a navigable stream. I don't know when this became CORR's mandate. I had no part in the process which lead to this change in stated goals.
In fact, when you read CORR's goals, you'll see that assuring the public's right to use Oregon's waterways is no longer included in CORR's list of objectives. Note that item number four only says "clarifies the public's right." Legislative action that denies a right is just as much a clarification as legislation that assures the public's right. Senator Ted Feriolli has fought for five sessions to
clarify the public's right not to use the bed and banks of Oregon's navigable waterways and he is currently working with CORR to get a new bill written and sponsored.
Inga Deckert, the author of the two bills we fought in 2003 is currently working to draft the CORR legislation. She works in Treasurer Randall Edwards' office. Contact her and let her know how the public feels about float, anchor, wade, and walk on a stream that is navigable by any type of water craft.
Also, there should be nothing in any piece of legislation that would prevent or hamper the state's right to exercise its claim to a navigable streambed. They are by current Oregon Law recognized as state property. The claim of ownership is moot because the state already exercised it. For reference, I posted the actual law in several earlier posts.
You've been promised a CORR bill. When you see it emerge, read it very carefully. For the record, the following statement of goals came from the CORR web site.
Quote:
The Coalition for Oregon River Rights (“CORR”), is a non-profit organization committed to a legal or legislative solution that:
Protects Landowner Rights and Private Property
Increases Enforcement on Recreational Waterways
Resolves Recreational User and Landowner Conflicts
Clarifies the Publics Right to Float, Anchor, Wade, and Walk to the Ordinary Highwater Mark on Rivers Susceptible to Recreation Use
Clarifies the Law for Governmental and Law Enforcement Organizations
Provides a Self-Funding Mechanism for Increased Enforcement and Expanded Access
Allows the State to Refrain from Exercising it's Dormant Claim to the Beds and Banks of Navigable Waterways
|
Right now, the best shot we have for a legislative solution is Senate Bill 423, a bill sponsored by ANWS. You can find the legislation at the following link:
http://www.leg.state.or.us/05reg/mea...423.intro.html
My personal situation has changed and my job now requires that I travel a lot. That means that while I will try to keep up with what is going on, I need others to do likewise. When I am out of state, I am also out of touch with what our elected officials are trying to do to us. So please, the more people watching this stuff the better off we all are.
River Rights Legislation
Siwash
Linear Mode
