The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

I read a few more of the responses to your original message since posting my previous response. I beleive the reference in Charlies message accurately describes the state definition. The Fed definition was based on past commerical use. The State definition is much more liberal and based on the ability of small recreational craft to navigate. In either event, the County Govt has no role in defining navigability. I lived in Siskiyou County for five years a while back. I had the unfortunate opportunity to deal with the County Supes on several issues including navagbility. They are the most right wing rabid property rights folks I have ever met. Marsha Armstrong wasn't on the Board back then, but I did have some dealings with her. She may be the most radical of the bunch.

Sadly, your observations seem right on point.

Actually, Armstrong's reference wasn't a definition of navigability -- simply a listing of those rivers already defined as navigable.

Typically misleading.

First, a heartfelt "thanks" to everyone who took a minute (literally) to contact Siskiyou County's supervisors regarding their attempt to criminalize wading and fishing in the Upper Sac and McCloud Rivers (among others).

Two e-mails were even sent from overseas.

Several supervisors are starting to back away from the provision of the county's Natural Resources Plan that designates the Upper Sacramento, McCloud, Shasta and Scott Rivers as "non-navigable" -- which means the rivers would become private property, and wading below the high water marks -- rights you've enjoyed for hundreds of years -- would become illegal.

The supervisor most responsible for this terrible Natural Resources Plan has even suggested changing it so that only the Scott and Shasta Rivers are designated non-navigable, but that's simply not good enough.

We have a legal right to access ALL Siskiyou County's rivers (which are clearly "navigable" in fact and by definition), and there's no reason to give any of those rights away.

If you haven't yet taken a minute to contact the supervisors (at the e-mail addresses listed in my original post), please do so. Simply tell them you're not willing to give away your legal right to access all the navigable rivers in Siskiyou County -- and that your interpretation of law says they're all navigable.

I'll keep you posted on our progress. Thanks again!
Tom Chandler