Rich

I can certainly see your point on this issue, but what do you feel about rivers and streams that run through numerous private properties? Should those streams be open for public use? Does the state own all the water rights on every river, stream and creek? If the people who have property that the stream or river runs through do not own or hold the "water rights", is it then the states?

If' it's the states, then it means it's "ours". Did your uncle hold the "water rights" on the pond? I really don't know how that one works, but one would think that if you did not have the "water rights" you could not control what happens with or to the usage of that water. I guess they could keep people off the water by not allowing access over there land, but if someone else owns the land that was adjacent to the pond, you would think that it would be hard to keep people off of the pond.

Is it only lakes that have outlets that the state can hold water rights on, or are you talking about man made lakes on private land?

If you don't own the water, how can you control its use?

If you own the land that water runs on, do you believe you can keep people off the bottom of the river or below it's normal high water mark? I believe that you said that you were an ocfficer of the law, if that is true, have you ever had to deal with enforcing this kind of laws?


Cowlitzfisherman