Help Protect Access to the Jackson

Perhaps you've seen our reviews on the Jackson River, or perhaps not.  But if you didn't know, below the dam, things can get a little touch and go with the landowners if you're wading or even floating their sections of the river.    This has recently gotten back into the news and this time it sounds like the fishing community is putting up a fight. (For some background on King's Grant and the last serious dispute on the Jackson River, check out this)

I was contacted by Steve from Switchfisher.com last week about raising awareness.  Unfortunately, I was so swamped with my Urology acting internship that I wasn't able to post a message until now, so I'm a little late on getting the message out!  Here's the background for the most recent events per Steve's email:

"A developer is suing 3 anglers in Virginia for fishing a section of the Jackson River that the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries considers public. If the court rules in favor of the developer, rivers throughout Virginia will be off limits for recreational use at the whim of the riverfront landowner in spite of a Virginia law that places the riverbed under the ownership of the State. These things have a way of spreading, so an unfavorable decision could ripple nationwide as a horrible precedent."

An organization has already been put together to try and help with this fight.  The Virginia River Defense Fund tried to get Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli involved in the case.  It appears as if he isn't going to get involved which is a shame.  There is still a way you can help however!  The fishermen involved are paying out of their pockets for their defense.  If you'd like to help protect our right to fish here in Virginia, you should consider donating.  I'm going to.

Visit their website to donate!  I'll post updates about the issue in the coming months.