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SALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah House has killed a bill that would have limited public access to river and stream beds.
House Bill 187, sponsored by Rep. Ben Ferry, R-Corinne, would have granted public access to only 19 sections of Utah waterways for recreational use.
"This victory shows what we can accomplish when we work together," said Ted Wilson, executive director of the Utah Rivers Council.
Ferry wanted to limit access because of complaints from landowners along waterways who say they didn't want fishermen on their land. He says the 19 sections were chosen based on year-round steady water flow.
The House voted to kill the bill 41-34 on Tuesday because lawmakers worried the list would continually have to be adjusted.
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Story compiled with contributions from John Daley and The Associated Press.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
