Reader comments
Ruling opens up access to waters

I hope Ray Grass will write follow up articles soon to expand on the last two paragraphs of this one.

Literally the only chance sportsmen have of holding onto this extraordinary opportunity is to police themselves in showing the utmost respect in using the right the Utah Supreme Court has given them.

Reports have already come to the attention of law enforcement officials of gloating, taunting, and other verbal abuse, urination, leaving of trash, seeking access through private lands, and various other private land and landowner abuses by fisherman within just days of the ruling.

This is the best way to assure that the new access will last about a year.

Those thoughtful sportsmen who want to hold onto it permanently will do everything they can to recreate appropriately, practice wise land use, and help police the Billy-Bob jerks who can and will spoil this for everyone if they are not controlled.

We live in a desert and in a desert water and water-related recreation should be available to the public to the maximum extent possible. But, this new access right will be short-lived if restraint, respect, and responsibility are not practiced and emphasized in the extreme.

I would be interested in doing all that I can to ensure that this ruling remains for years and years to come. I will organize, assist and help to fund the cause to keep this ruling in place.

I grew up fishing with my Dad and listening to him talk about fishing in areas 50 years ago that were once accessible, but have been unreachable for more than 30 years now. In several instances we politely took the time to find the land owner and ask for permission, only to be coldly denied in nearly every instance the opportunity to enjoy a resource owned wholly by the citizens of this state.

I have never fished those areas. I have always wanted to. I completely agree with "Informed Source" and likely hope against hope that sportsmen will show their gratitude for being able to access the people's resource by acting curtiously and respectfully. I will never have enough time in the next year to get to these areas, and losing this "right" would be a tragedy.

Good job Utah!

Thank goodness the Utah Supreme Court is not in the pockets of large land owners. If the Supreme Court ruled as such, then wouldn't it take a constitutional admendment to change that position. Just because a bunch of limp wrist legislators pass a bill does not make it law if it violate the state constitution???