[fishortho]

I am just putting this out there for the benefit of all fishers who regularly fish this system. It has been noted that outdoor canoe clubs, private raft & tour companies regularly run the Squamish River from the upper (20mile bridge to the Easter Seal or Estuary on a regular basis. They are travelling thru mostly reserve land on both sides of the river for most of the journey. Is this also true above mile 20?
I have several other questions.....

If I launch a pontoon boat at mile 20, or higher where can I stop and fish along the way without being asked to leave?

Where are the access points that are not first nations land?

What do you do when you are told you cannot fish here "because this is first nations property"?

Where are the sign and boundaries so conflict can be prevented?

Is the upper river above the 20 mile bridge pontoonable?

Can somebody help? This is not a personal issue, but I am planning a float down the river during the winter or early Spring and don't want to cause any problems.

Thanks, Ortho 8)

 

[Jinfoot]

i am not 100% sure about this, but as long as your below the river high water mark its public land?

 

[dinsdale piranha]

that is my understanding, too. the riparian zone is free access. however, i'm not sure about through a reserve. otherwise we would all be fishing the mouth of the cap a bit differently.

DP

 

[mcallagan]

i am not 100% sure about this, but as long as your below the river high water mark its public land?

I know of two types of land ownership that what you are stating is incorrect.
They, I believe , are called "King's / Queen's Grants" and quite possibly relate to Reserve lands as well.
One type is that you own the river bed and is much like foreshore rights on lakes except they extend into the water.
My uncle's family on the Maramachi River have this and have owned the property since they pioneered the property.
The other, is that you own the river bed and anything that goes through, or on, or over your property, includes the land.
These are very few in Canada and are from the colonial days and were given to the nobility.
As far as reservations go I wouldn't worry about it.
If challenged I would very humbly plead ignorant of the ownership of the property you are passing through. :2cents:

 

[Jinfoot]

Interesting stuff, so if the law is the 1st one you stated as long as i am floating on the water im ok? (i.e. as soon as i step on the river bed i am on private land but not when i am floating)

 

[fishortho]

There is a property owner on the South Allouette river that apparently "OWNS" the river that flows thru his property. The fence & the signs are clearly posted so you are not to float the river thru his property.

We still need more clarity as to how these boundaries/ownerships are defined.
If I am asked to leave any property, I want to know why, and if the apparent owner is upset, I would like to have some fuel for my right to be there.

Another example of this was last year's cleanup of the Allouette. Some property owners were so upset with the guys cleaning the river, they came as a group to our meeting point in Maple Ridge Park and we almost had a full scale scrap!
Pumping Iron, myself and a few others from this site and other fish sites were absolutely appalled. We were very aware of the salmon redds and sensitivity of the stream, but this was done when the river is at it's worst at the end of the summer, the water low, and minimum impact is made on the stream.

Now back to the Squamish.....

 

[mcallagan]

Jinfoot you are correct with the first one.
However the second is, even the water as it passes and the birds that fy over and the animals that walk through belong to the property owner.
Unbelieveable isn't it!

 

[dmuskrat]

If you are bored or so inclined, check out Water Rights at this site.

Possibly, First Nations Land claims is specialized law.

http://www.duhaime.org/LegalResourc...cleId/66/Air-Water-and-Subsurface-Rights.aspx

 

[Furious_George]

fishortho

Any topographical map of the area should show you which sections of the riverback are part of the Squamish Nation.

 

[finaddict]

Another example of this was last year's cleanup of the Allouette. Some property owners were so upset with the guys cleaning the river, they came as a group to our meeting point in Maple Ridge Park and we almost had a full scale scrap!
Pumping Iron, myself and a few others from this site and other fish sites were absolutely appalled. We were very aware of the salmon redds and sensitivity of the stream, but this was done when the river is at it's worst at the end of the summer, the water low, and minimum impact is made on the stream.

that was pretty damn selfish of you guys to want to clean up the river for the property owner. I can't imagine the gall of some one who would want to actually contribute to the cleanliness and beauty of a river. I mean.... can you imagine the anarchy if everyone wanted to do this selfish act?!?!?!? Next thing you know we would have people wanting to clean up the streets and stop gang warfare. This would just be too unacceptable :wallbash: :wallbash: :wallbash: