Raid on Public FL Lands

Senate Bill 1362 by Senator Alan Hays and House Bill 1103, by Representative Tom Goodson will drastically change who owns lands on our rivers and lakes. The bills would redefine the present boundary line between privately-owned land and public land (sovereign submerged land) in and along Florida's rivers and lakes. The present boundary line, known as the "Ordinary High Water Line" would be redefined at a lower level (essentially from ordinary high water line to ordinary water line) thus moving the ownership boundary of private lands further into the water. By doing so, the bill would potentially transfer many acres of public land into private ownership.

If you are a sport fisherman, hunter, birdwatcher, kayaker or boating enthusiast, it would mean that you could encounter a barbed wire fence and "No Trespassing" sign blocking your way. Your ability to traverse any body of water may be limited to the main channel of our rivers and the deepest parts of our lakes.

Please contact Governor Rick Scott (850) 488-7146 and tell him to please oppose this bill. Similar bills were previously killed by Governor Bob Martinez and Governor Jeb Bush to protect public waters and access. Also please call Senator Alan Hays(850) 487-5014 (sponsor of Senate Bill 1362) and Representative Tom Goodson (850) 488-3006 (sponsor of House Bill 1103) and ask them to pull these bills.

It was only a matter of time.

I hope everyone starts making contact to their representatives as soon as possible and as enthusiastically as the people did for the Wakulla access.