Sunday, May 6, 2012

Maintain access: New law keeps fishing stream rights on the state’s agenda

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Editorial

The governor signed a small piece of legislation last month that has a big concern behind it. The new law, which contains just a few sentences, says state land managers must report annually on their efforts to protect public access to fishing streams in Alaska.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage, was not controversial. It passed unanimously in both legislative houses — and so one also might reasonably conclude that it does nothing of note. That would be too dismissive. Preparing the report will make managers think regularly about ways they can help all Alaskans find their way to the state’s public waters, and that’s a worthy thing to think about.


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