My name is Matt “Gilligan” Koles. I am a fly fishing guide and regional citizen on the Truckee River in Hirschdale CA.
I have actually begun, with the aid of 4 others, www.truckeeriverpublicwaters.org to fight the general public gain access to concern in Hirschdale on the Truckee River, a gain access to concern that is now going on 5 years.
Considering that 2019, public gain access to around Hirschdale CA on the Truckee River has actually been substantially impacted by a handful of brand-new homeowners declaring public gain access to listed below the high water mark surrounding to their homes is prohibited. Hazards, legal, spoken and physical, have actually all been utilized to close down legal river use in among the most greatly utilized and renowned parts of the river downstream from the town of Truckee.
Puzzling the concern is the truth that the previous landowners enabled public gain access to for as long as anybody can keep in mind. Brand-new ownership has actually altered this, and numerous regional homeowners are puzzled regarding what the concern in fact is. Previous landowners did not limit gain access to, however brand-new owners have. They have all embraced a mindset to make the most of individuals’s lack of knowledge to the California state constitution as it refers to stream gain access to and navigability, not just closing their land to utilize, which is their right, however trying to dissuade the general public’s legal usage through stop and desist letters from a regional law practice, spoken risks, and even physical and gun run-ins. Regional river runners, anglers, and very long time regional guides have actually all been consistently bugged and frighten.
It is legal to access the Truckee River in Hirschdale from all 4 corners of the bridge. Considering that the bridge is public, there is a 40 foot public easement from all 4 corners of the bridge. As long as you get in from the bridge and remain listed below the common high water mark you are legal to fish or recreate on the river. The landowners do not own the streambed.
Given That 2020, the abovementioned landowners have actually not just tried to impose these incorrect guidelines, however have actually broadened to consist of obstructing access to the river from the Hirschdale community, to their own next-door neighbors from their home surrounding the river. We now see “No Trespassing” indications right down to existing summer season water levels, obstructing gain access to for the general public to utilize land listed below the rivers high water mark to take a trip securely and lawfully along the river.
Several public Fish and Wildlife parcels exist downstream of the bridge, on both sides of the river. In 2013 a Hirschdale local and homeowner took it upon himself to obstruct CA Fish and Wildlife land at the end of Iceland Rd, a county roadway that has actually been made use of by the logging market, an ice business, and the general public for 150 years. In 2022 a gate was set up and locked by the brand-new landowners midway up Iceland Rd. past Hirschdale which is a county roadway. These landowners will pester anybody they see on Iceland Rd. successfully closing down public gain access to on both sides of the river for more than a mile. This has actually worked for them, individuals are terrified, particularly if they have actually heard stories of individuals having a gun pulled on them, revealed to them, and possibly more accusations that shots have actually been fired.
Just recently landowners have actually installed no trespassing signs translating their own high water marks extremely near the river north of the Hirschdale bridge. On the West side of the river there is signs extremely near the river mentioning the exact same. Our company believe the high water mark is finest figured out by an expert, not a regional landowner.
These landowners call the Constable anytime they feel somebody is trespassing on their home, lawfully, or unlawfully. The department has actually been utilized as a weapon by the landowners, who appear to feel defenseless to impose the general public’s right to gain access to, and in some supposed cases, have actually recommended to the general public that we simply keep away from the location to prevent dispute. This is totally undesirable.
The County of Nevada is not keeping their residents safe and successfully fallen on deaf ears about the scenario in Hirschdale. On the Nevada County site, District 5 manager Hardy Bullock declares he’s remedied the general public gain access to scenario in Hirschdale, however unfortunately that is not the case, https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/3342/Responsible-Hirschdale-Recreation-Access
Hischdale has actually long been a greatly made use of public gain access to area for entertainment due to the truth the river is not too quick here, has great banks for swimming, fishing, strolling the pet dogs, and so on. The truth there is a county bridge permitting gain access to has actually kept Hirschdale greatly made use of by the public for river gain access to for several years.
We feel the very best strategy is to develop high water elevations, and enforcement of the general public’s right to access the river listed below them securely, and stop the harassment of the general public while accessing the river lawfully.
Update: Thanks to push from Truckee River Public Waters, on September 30th, a conference with the landowners, their legal representative, the CA State Land Commision, and county authorities consisting of regional police occurred. The objective of this conference was to define the common high water mark. While this did take place, stakeholders such as Backcounty Hunters and Anglers, TU, and Truckee River Public Waters, and the general public, were not welcomed. While we did participate in, we were not welcomed to stroll the riverbank with the above stated authorities. There was a gentlemens arrangement on where this OHM will be set. No GPS collaborates were taken by the State Lands Commision, their hydrologist eyeballed the OHM. This is something that normally takes months. Personal landowners will be publishing stakes at that area all up and down the riverbank. We hope that these stakes are not misrepresented by the personal landowners and are motivating other stakeholders to be present.
We would enjoy to have your assistance atwww.truckeeriverpublicwaters.org It’s complimentary to be a member. Gain access to concerns can take place anywhere anytime, and the governing firms are not going to do a damn thing unless you call them out on it.
