ABOUT

This blog chronicles and supports the efforts of Virginians seeking recreational paddling access to the state’s freshwater rivers, streams, and creeks. Its purpose is to gather and present the information relevant to this issue.

River recreation has grown in recent decades, and in its expansion, it has run into the wall of Virginia’s antiquated navigation laws.This website was created to share ideas that will help craft a bill that will get passed.

For the first time in over a decade, a concerted and organized effort to create and submit a bill was made through the hard work of many individuals and organizations. The result of this hard work was SB 629 which was sponsored by Senator Marsden.

HISTORY & STATUS QUO

As of now, Virginia state law does not clearly define, grant, or protect the access rights of recreational paddlers.

No Man’s Land is a documentary film detailing the history of the access controversy. You can watch the entire feature for free at AmongstItTV.

WHY CHANGE?

As a sport and pastime, paddling is expanding. Advances in technology and knowledge have increased popular access. Virginia’s legislature needs to update its laws to reflect these changes and to encourage the economic benefits of eco-friendly tourism and recreation.

FREE THE FRESHWATER & THE FUTURE

To change this, Virginia’s paddling enthusiasts are drafting a proposal to the General Assembly. You can read the current draft on the Bill page.

FURTHER READING

• On kings’ grants as they apply to fishing access—Spencer S. Hsu, “Virginia Fishing Feud,” Washington Post, Spring, 1995. Available at: www.surveyhistory.org/virginia_fishing.feud1.htm.
• On the precedent of Kraft v. Burr and its effect on fishing access—Elizabeth A. Murphy and Kurt Stephenson, “Inland Recreational Fishing Rights in Virginia: Implications of the Virginia Supreme Court Case Kraft v. Burr,” Special Report SR13-1999, March, 1999. Available at: http://vwrrc.vt.edu/pdfs/specialreports/sr131999.pdf.
• Virginia Code § 28.2-1200. Available at: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+28.2-1200.
• Article XI, Section 1, Constitution of Virginia. Available at: http://constitution.legis.virginia.gov.
• On the economic impact of commercial whitewater rafting in West Virginia (based on data collected in 1995)—Steven A. Whisman, Steven J. Hollenhorst, Christopher Jones, Candice Elliott, Virgil Norton, Stratford Douglas, and David Greenstreet, “A Summary of the Economic Impacts of Commercial Whitewater Rafting in West Virginia.” A summary of the original report submitted to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources as part of the Design, Management, and Implementation of a Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) Process for a Three-Year Study on the Gauley, New, Cheat, Shenandoah, and Tygart Rivers of West Virginia. Available at: http://www.wvdnr.gov/lenforce/white/rivermgt/ww_econ.shtm.
• Check out the Important Links at the bottom of the page!

THANKS!