Colorado Rafting Issues

So, I'm not great at keeping up with the news, but I saw this article on NPR's website this morning and was shocked about the content and the fact I had not yet heard anything about it.

Basically, some private land owners are trying to ban recreational rafting on strecthes of rivers that flow through their land. Though this goes against the state constitution, there are legislative proponents to this "banning of rafting" idea.

Here's a link to the article:

npr.org/templates/story/sto…

What do you think?

I think with my limited familiarity of water rights, land owners can restrict access TO the water, but not the actual water that transfers through the land. For example a fisherman can float or walk down a river, but cannot walk out on the private property that surrounds it.

My personal opinion is that it's ridiculous!

i had thought you can float on it, but can't walk with your feet on the bottom. i'm definitely not an expert though. there is an area on the south platte from the happy meadows campground down to cheesman reservoir that is kind of kayaking holy grail.

just after the happy meadows campground (at the very beginning) there is a private development known as 'sportsmans paradise' that owns the property along the river. in the older past, they were MEGA anti kayaking, but in the last few years have arranged to drive kayakers through their property to the other side during the morning hours. seems like a good truce at that location, hopefully it holds up.

In my personal opinion they have that right if you are floating on water molecules which originate on their property, so if it is raining you probably need to pull your raft/boat over until it stops, then you can proceed knowing their water molecules have flowed down stream. You should also avoid eddies.

I am all for personal property rights but they are a bunch of A-holes for even trying to do this.

Ive heard stories of disgruntled land owners putting up cables at about kayaker head level across the river. I wonder what that man slaughter case would look like.

I hope they also pull out of the water every trespassing log that floats by, or let's say a fish that was spawned upstream but doesn't have the right to swim past their precious beach front property. The waterways ARE public for transportation, as long as you don't stop on their shores, drink the water or pipe it onboard your vessel by the gallons, or fish their stocked fish, you have all the right to be on that river.

This essay I am linking to explains in detail including boaters rights to use the land owners land to portage around obstacles.
If Land owners are pursuing this than they are wasting their time, their argument will not float long because it has been decided a long ass time ago by Federal Law.
nationalrivers.org/states/c…