Some landowners on some rivers, like the Klickitat, own the ground the water flows over to the centerline of the river. Some friends of mine own property there and that is the case. Drift boats etc are free to ply the river at will but the landowners have a say who can wade it and when.

Was a real surprise to me as I thought the public could access any waterway, navigable or not, to the high water mark as long as they didnt cross private property to get there.