February, 2010

Below is a letter from Kathleen Curry regarding her proposed bill on the commercial float issue across private land.  The letter explains where Kathleen is coming from and why she proposed the House Bill.  Nobody what side you stand on this will be a very important bill concerning Colorado rivers and streams.

Letter to constituents about the float bill

I am writing to tell you about the commercial floating bill from my  perspective, in my own words. The bill passed the House on second reading today (Friday), and is expected to pass on thirds this coming Monday. In last week’s paper, it was reported that the bill could be expanded to include private boaters. There was no such expansion in the House. The bill is still strictly limited to commercial outfitters running historically run reaches of river.

The bill allows commercial outfitters to pass through private property under very limited circumstances. If the bill becomes law, they would be allowed incidental contact with the bed and banks, and that is defined in the bill. They are also allowed to portage in the event of a hazardous blockage of the river. The portage issue has been the most controversial, but as the bill sponsor I decided to address the issue head on, otherwise we will be right back where we are now a year later. Portaging is limited to the beds and banks. Otherwise it is trespassing.

So how did we get to this point? Last summer, Ches Russell and Mark Schumacher asked me to run legislation to address the fact that a landowner on the Taylor River had exercised his right to deny passage through his property. Let me be clear – he has the right under current law to file a civil trespass complaint if a boater floats through his property.

By: Kathleen Curry Date: February 13, 2010 5:16 pm

Click here for the rest of the Kathleen’s letter.

Other articles on the bill.

Colorado Farm Bureau Letter

Aspen Daily News Online Article