Sen. Alan Bates
Sen. Jason Atkinson
River rights bill for 2009?
Just a few days ago the Albany Democrat Herald wrote that there will be a bill. What we don’t know is who is writing that bill, who are they involving in the process and what does it say? Does it protect your river rights?
Most likely Senator Bates or Senator Atkinson will introduce a bill on river rights since their districts include the Rogue River which was just declared navigable by the State Land Board in June of 2008.
As the only organization in the state that is devoted to protecting public river rights, CWO would very much like to preview the bill and get it out for all Oregonians to review. Currently, the navigable rivers belong to all the people of the state. If anything is going to tamper with that right, it should be strongly considered by all the people.
Please help make the legislators aware of Common Waters of Oregon and let them know we would like to review any bills that involve public river rights.
If you could send a note to Senator Bates and to Senator Atkinson asking them to get any information on river rights bills to us, we would greatly appreciate it.
Dear Senator :
I understand that a bill is being created that will change public river rights. As a person that believes in the immense value of public river rights, I would like to have you send a copy of the proposed bill to Common Waters of Oregon as soon as possible.
Common Waters of Oregon has been doing education on public river rights since 2005. They work with many organizations that have members who are interested in protecting their river rights. They are a resource of information and good stewardship practices for river users.
If you could e-mail a copy of the proposed bill to me and to Common Waters of Oregon, I would greatly appreciate it. Please e-mail Common Waters of Oregon at info@oregonriverrights.com.
Once again, thank you for helping everyone interested in public river rights, participate in the legislative process.
Sincerely,
It is my understanding that the “bill” is being prepared by the AG at the request of Senator Bates.
By: Bill Butler on January 23, 2009
at 7:45 am
I heard that the legislature’s legal office is preparing the bill.
As far as I know, Senator Bates hasn’t invited a pro-river rights group to the drafting of a bill proces.
By: heathermcneill on January 25, 2009
at 11:21 am