Access to fish streams at stake

Bill would preserve some roadside angling

February 4, 2007

By MARK KELSEY/Frontiersman

JUNEAU - Anglers who enjoy the convenience of roadside fishing along the Parks Highway are one step closer to having that access legally affirmed.

Legislation that supporters say would protect future access to portions of popular Susitna Valley streams is making its way through the state House. House Bill 40, sponsored by Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage, breezed through the House Resources Committee on Wednesday.

Gara calls the bill &#8220a proactive measure” that would encourage the state departments of Natural Resources and Fish and Game to identify private land along fishing streams where public access may be lost if the land is developed. Among these are about three miles of private land on the banks of Montana Creek, as well as smaller sections of Willow, Little Willow and Goose creeks.

It is essentially the same bill that passed the House 38-1 in 2005, before dying in the Senate Resources Committee.

The land in question, although currently in private ownership and legally off limits, is undeveloped, so access is not restricted. Gara said his bill addresses the inevitability of development that would take away public access.

&#8220Alaska has a great natural heritage. We want to make sure the next generation does, too,” Gara said.

Participation in the program would be strictly voluntary, Gara said. His bill would direct the commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources to take action, as funding is available, to negotiate land sales, easement purchases and land trades with private property owners before these lands are developed and access is blocked.

Rep. Carl Gatto, R-Palmer, who co-chairs the House Resources Committee, called Gara's proposal &#8220a good bill that is well-supported.” It passed out of Gatto's committee with a unanimous vote Wednesday afternoon and is slated next for a hearing in the House Finance Committee, perhaps as early as this week.

&#8220Rivers and riverbanks ought to be open,” Gatto said. &#8220If we don't do something before the problem rises, we'll pay dearly for it later.”

Steve Runyan, sport fishing enthusiast and sales staffer at Three Rivers Fly and Tackle in Wasilla, said that, as the Valley's population grows, per capita availability of streamside fishing spots is diminishing. So protecting future access is essential.

&#8220I support this bill because I've seen the loss of some of my favorite fishing spots,” he said. &#8220Without this bill, not only do we lose out due to more people using the available access, we also lose what's available today.”

Mike Coughlin, who operates Susitna Valley River Guides in Willow, agreed. He said passing HB 40 is important to the future of fishing in the area.

&#8220I need to know I'll be able to put my boat in,” said Coughlin, who guides anglers on Willow, Little Willow, Montana, Sheep and Clear creeks. &#8220Eventually, it'll all be built up. It'll be developed and we won't have access.”

Fishermen today, and in the future, should be able to access the creeks &#8220without a hassle and without a fee,” he said.

&#8220We need to make it fair for everybody,” Coughlin said. &#8220It would be nice if people can just have access to the streams.”

A pair of popular Kenai Peninsula fisheries also would be covered by the bill. Stretches of Deep Creek and the Anchor River are lined with undeveloped private land that someday could be developed and closed to the public, Gara said.

&#8220If you want to lose fishing access on these steams, then just keep doing nothing,” he said.

The Alaska Flyfishers, Alaska Sportfishermen's Association and the Kenai River Sportfishing Association are among the outdoor groups that have lined up in support of the bill.

Valley residents wishing to weigh in on the bill have a local representative on the House Finance Committee. Rep. Bill Stoltze is that committee's vice chair. He can be contacted at 866-465-4958 or by e-mail at Representative_Bill_Stoltze@legis.state.ak.us.

Contact Mark Kelsey at

352-2268 or at mark.kelsey@ frontiersman.com.