I am asking everyone who can, to attend the Utah Waterways task force meeting tomorrow in room 205 of the capitol at 11:00 Am.
This is the final meeting and it would be really good for fishing in UT to have a showing like we have had in the past for the rallies.
This task force will be writing the report on their findings and recommendations for the future of fishing access in UT.
If you don't want your license fees to increase for an access program, you should be there, If you want your children to have free access to Utahs waterways, you should be there. If you like fishing in UT at all, you should be there.
Lets pack the room and show the legislators that the people of UT really care about fishing.
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Thanks to anyone who came to the meeting.
A resolution was passed by the committee to advance the walk in program pertaining to fisheries. Meaning the DWR would begin to buy rights to access streams.
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So if the DWR has to buy access to streams, does that mean our fees will likely increase in the near future? Or are they going to do the access stamp so only those interested need to purchase it?
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As I understand it, the DWR has recieved federal money to implement the program. They at this time do not plan to increase license fees for the 2011 year.
I did not see an access stamp type of program mentioned at todays meeting. An access stamp would be a nightmare for UT fishers as if a seperate fee for stream fishing was imposed it would not be long before a still water fee was also imposed.
Next thing we know there would be a trout stamp, musky stamp, bass stamp, ice fishing stamp and who knows what else they could come up with to get more money from us.
I for one, do expect an increase in the license fees for 2012, because,
1. We did not have an increase this year nor will we next.
2. There will be funding needed for our invasive species prevention program (Iike Idaho and Wyoming are doing)
3. More and more lands will be enrolled in the WIA (Walk in access) programs
4. The amount of money taken in from license sales are what determine how much federal money is given to a state, more license fees means more federal money.
These are just my opinions.
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Federal money is our money. The government does not make money, they take it from us.So if we have an increase in license fees to pay for access, and then the feds match it with our tax dollars, aren't we really just paying twice? And expecting people who do not even fish to help out?
The federal government needs to cut expenses, not add more. This whole thing is just another government cost that should have never been implemented.
Seems like a compromise for stealing our right to access that we get to pay for.
No compromise, no settlement. No feel good program that will only end up covering 1/100th of the waterways and cost millions. This is just a way for the DWR to save face after being in bed with the landowners during the battle to keep our streams public.
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Wy. has had a Walk in program for both fishing and hunting that my Family and I have enjoyed for years. The money I believe comes from license sales and also a block to check off when you apply for a hunting permit with a dollar amount for donations going towards the program. We always donate $5 extra for each permit we apply for which amounted to $40 last year. That's a cheap price to pay for all the access areas they have in the state. I think it is a great program.
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Bob,
Your entitled to your opinions and I'm sure you have some good ones.
Yes, federal money is our money. The fund that this federal money comes from is a tax on sporting goods sold called the Dingell/Johnson or Wallop/Breaux act and has been in place since 1950. [url "http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/fasport.html"]http://www.fws.gov/...sdigest/fasport.html[/url]
This explains where the UT DWR gets it's funds from.
[url "http://wildlife.utah.gov/dwr/about-us/191-financial-overview.html"]http://wildlife.utah.gov/...ancial-overview.html[/url]
If we have a license fee increase for any reason what so ever (access (stream or lake) or invasive species control) we are paying twice, that's the way it is and has been for 60 years now. Very few people who do not fish pay this tax, only the motor boat fuel portion of the tax is paid for by them and for that they get ramps that provide access for their form of recreation.
Yes the federal govermnet needs to cut expenses, not add more. These taxes will be collected no matter if they cut expenses or not and they go into a seperate fund that can only be used for fisheries and boating, so we may as well get some of those monies for UT.
It is these monies that are being used to reduce the carp numbers in UT lake, for instance.
Yes it is a compromise, that is what successful politics consists of, compromise.
As I said, you are entitled to your opinions, if you feel that there should have been no compromise and no WIA program you are entitled to feel that way. I do hope that you notified your state represenatives of those feelings so that your voice was heard as this great system that we have here in America has moved forward on this issue.
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